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Crimean juniper belongs to the cypress genus. A total of 5 varieties have been bred: ordinary, stinking, red, Cossack and tall.
Description of Crimean junipers
Crimean juniper is the oldest plant. The name of the plant consists of two words - “mozha” and “spruce”. The first in translation means “knot” or “strong”. In Crimea, it was bred in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden under Steven at the beginning of the 19th century. Subsequently, a huge number of varieties of Crimean juniper appeared, brought from abroad.
Photos and descriptions of Crimean juniper can be found on various gardening forums and websites dedicated to floriculture.
It grows on the Crimean Peninsula, the Mediterranean and in areas near the Caucasus Mountains. Loves warmth and tolerates drought well. It grows only in the mountains at an altitude of up to 1.5 km above sea level. Characterized by weak growth - only a few centimeters per year. Typically, its size is about 4 m in height. The foliage resembles spruce and consists of small, thin needles.The stems are covered with reddish berries. Under no circumstances should they be consumed, as they are inedible and can easily cause poisoning.
Characterized by longevity - lives up to 600 years. The bark of a juniper that has reached 200 years old cracks in ribbons. The needles change regularly, every 5 years. It falls to the ground and gradually decomposes, creating fertile soil for further growth. Juniper begins to bloom in March-April and loves light.
Types of Crimean junipers
In total there are about 70 plant varieties.
Breeders have bred 5 species of Crimean juniper:
- Red.
- Tall (tree-like).
- Smelly (foul-smelling).
- Cossack.
- Ordinary.
The stinking and Cossack Crimean juniper is a creeping plant and covers mountain slopes like a carpet. The main difference is the type of needles. In the creeping ones they are hard and prickly, while in the Cossack ones they are soft.
Crimean juniper red
Another name for juniper is Spanish, red cedar, prickly or cedar heather. It is characterized by high growth - up to 8 m. It is covered with sharp needles, for which it received another name - thorn.
The bark of the Crimean red juniper has a pink tint and is covered with cones that begin to bloom in early autumn. However, they can not be seen on every shrub, since this variety is a dioecious plant, and they can only be found on a female plant.
Crimean juniper tall
Tall juniper is covered with burgundy-brown berries located along the stem.Many botanists describe it as a majestic and spectacular tree that attracts the eye of everyone passing by. Indeed, it is very different from its relatives, which usually grow as a creeping plant.
Crimean juniper stinking
Outwardly, it resembles the Crimean tall juniper, however, its berries are not burgundy, but black and not so large. The plant itself also has a blackish tint. The main feature is the bad smell that comes from the bush.
Crimean juniper Cossack
A beautiful plant with non-thorny needles, creeping on the tops of mountains. The most common shrub among coniferous representatives. It is widely used as a garden decoration; about 30 subspecies have been bred. The height reaches up to 2 m, but it also grows quickly in width.
The bark can be of two types. If it is a young plant, then the needles are hard and pointed. The adult is distinguished by soft needles. Found in all cities of Eastern Europe, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Crimea, etc.
Crimean common juniper
Distributed in the northern and central zone of the country in wooded areas. The Crimean juniper is covered with small dried fruits.
Only this type of cones can be used as a spice. For example, Cossack juniper is completely poisonous. However, doctors recommend consuming only the average daily dose, which consists of approximately 6 fruits. It has a pyramidal or ovoid crown. The needles are similar to cypress and have a dark green tint.
How Crimean junipers reproduce
A universal method of propagating Crimean juniper is cuttings. If all optimal conditions are met, then it can be carried out at any time of the year, however, spring is ideal. The root system can easily take root in open ground in the summer and survive winter frosts without problems.
For reproduction, it is recommended to follow the following rules:
- It is necessary to prepare cuttings in cloudy weather. Direct sunlight can harm both small sprouts and an adult plant from which sprouts have recently been cut.
- It is better to select shoots from the tops of bushes that are a little woody. Each variety has a different type of collection of planting material. For example, in pyramidal varieties it is recommended to cut off shoots that are directed upward and located at the tops of the bush. It is better not to choose vertical shoots from creeping ones, but you can take any from bushy ones.
- To cut sprouts, you should choose a well-sharpened tool, which is best suited as a knife. The sprouts must be freed from excess needles 5 cm from the bottom. They cannot be stored, so they must be planted immediately in open ground. If it is not possible to plant in the near future, then for a maximum of 3 hours they can be placed in a container with water or wrapped in a damp cloth and placed in the refrigerator.
The soil in which Crimean juniper cuttings will be grown must allow liquid to pass through well and be loose. Sand and peat are ideal and must be mixed in equal proportions.
You need to plant to a depth of 3 cm in previously prepared boxes filled with substrate. They should be placed in a warm place with humid air. It is recommended to protect the juniper from direct sunlight, as it is detrimental to the plant. At first, it is necessary to periodically spray the shoots with infused water and water them. To maintain a moderate level of humidity, spraying should be carried out 6 times a day. You need to water as needed when the soil dries out.
The first shoots may appear 2-3 months after planting. However, you should not immediately replant them in open soil, since the root system will still be quite weak. It is better to wait a year until they get stronger in the greenhouse. Otherwise, you need to replant the juniper very carefully along with the earthen lump.
Medicinal properties of Crimean junipers
The benefits of Crimean juniper lie in its disinfecting properties. In ancient times, they used it to fumigate rooms where there were sick people or women in labor, and also to steam in a bathhouse with juniper brooms. According to the rating, it ranks first among trees with good bactericidal properties. However, Crimean juniper does not tolerate polluted air well, so it does not grow in large, polluted cities. But in Crimea it grows well, despite the fact that there is so little of it left due to its extermination decades ago for personal needs, to make room for pastures and vineyards. It grows slowly, so it is quite difficult to restore it. Thanks to this, the Crimean juniper is listed in the Red Book; in Crimea you can find souvenirs dedicated to the ancient shrub.
In Russia, the first mention of medicinal properties was noticed at the end of the 18th century, in the magazine “Economic Store”. Then they were officially registered in the State Pharmaceutical Sphere.
Recipes from Crimean juniper, enhancing its medicinal properties, were used in Ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome. Bandages were applied to people's wounds, which were soaked in juniper oil to speed up regeneration and kill bacteria. Medical instruments were disinfected in an oil solution. In North America, tuberculosis patients were isolated in juniper forests, where food and water were brought to them. The use of dry Crimean juniper berries consisted of setting them on fire and fumigating the room.
Wood was used to make dishes and cups. The food was stored in it for a long time and did not spoil. This was the main advantage of juniper wood, since refrigerators had not yet been invented at that time. Houses made from Crimean juniper were also valued, so there was little of it left in Crimea, since previously it was cut down without sparing. Before the revolution, it was popular for obtaining sugar from ripe fruits.
Application of Crimean juniper
Juniper oil is now available everywhere, as is cypress oil. Thanks to its bactericidal properties, it is simply irreplaceable in winter frosts to fight the flu and various infections. Recipe ingredients for a solution that will clear the airways:
- 200 ml water at room temperature;
- 5 drops of juniper oil.
All ingredients are mixed and added to the incense burner to evaporate.
You can make a tincture from fresh Crimean juniper fruits. To do this, rinse the ripe berries well with purified water, place them in 2 liter jars and add 300 g of sugar. Leave in a dark, warm place for 2 weeks, after which pour 0.5 liters of alcohol into them.
The fruits are also used as syrup for making sweets and jelly products. In the fishing industry it is used to enhance the taste of fish. Previously, juniper resin was very popular among the inhabitants of Ancient Rus'. Varnish was used to lubricate the strings of musical instruments.
The ancestors also did not throw away the roots of the juniper. Heather threads were made from them. During the construction of sailing ships, schooners, and cabs, pine boards were sewn together with them and used to make ship's grit.
Conclusion
Crimean juniper is characterized by slow growth. It is quite rare in the mountains, so it is listed in the Red Book. It has bactericidal properties, so it is widely used in medicine and other fields.
