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Did you know that Juniper berries are the botanical that is used in gin? You are legally not allowed to call your beverage gin if it doesn't contain Juniper berries!
Juniper is a slow growing, tough, drought resistant plant that can live for centuries. The average height of an 8 year old tree is only 1 foot tall. Junipers grow in some of the harshest sites in the Northern Hemisphere and can survive on as little as 10 inches of water a year; they're also able to withstand the extreme temperatures of the high desert. Grazing has expanded Juniper habitat since it reduces competition from native grasses. Once established, junipers' root system emits a chemical compound that inhibits the growth of nearby vegetation. This competitive edge is termed allelopathy (a fancy word for plant bullying).
Only the female trees have berries, and these berries take 2 years to mature, beginning as a greenish ball with a white waxy bloom and turning to a silvery blue. Junipers begin bearing seeds at 10-20 years old and reach their peak production at 50-200 years. By the time us women are hitting menopause, lady junipers are just starting to hit their stride of peak fertility.
Rocky Mountain Juniper was used medicinally by indigenous people throughout the West. The Blackfoot made an infusion of the berries to treat vomiting and used a decoction of the leaves mixed with turpentine to rub on arthritic joints. The Cheyenne used a steambath of the berries for treating colds and fevers, and they burned incense for protection from thunder and lightening. Juniper was also valued as firewood and was used for making bows. Settlers made use of the rot resistant wood for fence posts and planted Junipers as wind breaks.
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