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Juniper is an evergreen shrub sometimes
attaining the height of a small tree up
to 3 mtrs with erect trunk and spreading
branches, covered with a shreddy bark. The
trunk diameter is 25-30 cm. Leaves are straight
and rigid, oval shape, about 6-13 mm long
and with sharp prickly points. It is dioecious
plant. The male and female flowers produced
in April and May usually born on separate
plants, the male flowers in short catkins
and female flowers in small cones. The fleshy
berry like fruit is sub-globose, bluish
black, dark purple when ripe, 10-13 mm in
diameter covered with waxy blook. The three
scales comprising fruit, occasionally gaping
and exposing bony seeds, usually three,
elongated, ovoid, and embedded in the pulp.
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The
plant grows wild in many parts of Europe
and Asia and in North America. In India,
it is found in Himalayas at an altitude
of 1500-4000 mtrs above MSL. It thrives
well on warm sunny places especially in
mountain slopes.
The fruits are used as a food flavourant
and as a food. In Europe it is used for
the preparation of alcoholic beverages.
Juniper oil is used in flavouring liquors
and cordial. The fruits and volatile oil
possess carminative, stimulant and diuretic
properties.
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