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Juniper Crimean belongs to the genus cypress. In total, 5 varieties have been bred: ordinary, smelly, red, Cossack and tall.
Description of Crimean junipers
Juniper Crimean - the most ancient plant. The name of the plant consists of two words - "juniper" 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 the Crimean juniper appeared, brought from abroad.
Photos and descriptions of the Crimean juniper can be found on various forums of gardeners and sites dedicated to floriculture.
Grows on the Crimean Peninsula, the Mediterranean and in the area near the Caucasus Mountains. Loves warmth and tolerates drought well. It grows only in the mountains at an altitude of 1.5 km above sea level. It is characterized by weak growth - only a few centimeters per year. Typically, it is about 4m high. The foliage resembles a spruce and is made up of small, thin needles. The stems are covered with reddish berries. In no case should they be consumed, since they are inedible, they can easily be poisoned.
It is characterized by longevity - it lives up to 600 years. The bark of a juniper that is 200 years old is cracked with ribbons. The needles are changed regularly, every 5 years. It falls to the ground and gradually decomposes, creating a fertile soil for further growth. Juniper begins to bloom in March-April and is very fond of light.
Types of Crimean junipers
In total, there are about 70 varieties of plants.
Breeders have bred 5 types of Crimean juniper:
- Red.
- High (tree-like).
- Smelly (smelly).
- Cossack.
- Ordinary.
The smelly and Cossack Crimean juniper belongs to creeping plants and covers the mountain slopes like a carpet. The main difference is the type of needles. In the creeping ones, they are hard and prickly, and 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. 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, which begin to bloom in early autumn. However, they can not be seen on every shrub, since this species is a dioecious plant, and they can only be found on a female.
Crimean juniper high
The high 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 in the form of a creeping plant.
Crimean stinky juniper
Outwardly, it resembles a tall Crimean 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 foul smell that comes from the bush.
Crimean Cossack juniper
A beautiful plant with thornless needles, spreading on the tops of the mountains. The most common shrub among conifers. It is widely used as a decoration for the garden; about 30 subspecies have been bred. The height reaches up to 2 m, but it rapidly grows in width.
The bark can be of two types. If it is a young plant, the needles are hard and pointed. The adult has soft needles. Found in all cities of Eastern Europe, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Crimea, etc.
Crimean juniper ordinary
Distributed in the northern and middle zone of the country in a wooded area. The Crimean common juniper is covered with small dried seedlings.
Only cones of this type can be used as a spice. For example, the Cossack juniper is completely poisonous. However, doctors recommend using only the average daily rate, which consists of about 6 seedlings. Has a pyramidal or ovoid crown. The needles are similar to cypress and have a dark green tint.
How Crimean junipers breed
A universal way of reproduction of the Crimean juniper is cuttings. If all the 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 the open field in summer and survive the winter frosts without any 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 that has recently been cut.
- It is better to choose shoots from the tops of shrubs that are a little woody. Each variety has a different type of planting material collection. For example, in pyramidal varieties, it is recommended to cut off the shoots that are directed upwards and located at the tops of the shrub. It is better not to choose vertical shoots from creeping ones, but from bushy ones, you can take any.
- To cut the sprouts, you should choose a well-sharpened tool, which is best suited for a knife. The sprouts must be freed from excess needles by 5 cm from the bottom. They cannot be stored, so they must be immediately planted 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 put in the refrigerator.
The soil in which the cuttings of the Crimean juniper will be grown should be fluid and loose. Sand and peat are ideal and must be mixed in equal proportions.
You need to plant it to a depth of 3 cm in pre-prepared boxes filled with substrate. Place them in a warm place with humid air. It is recommended to protect the juniper from direct sunlight, as they are detrimental to the plant. At first, it is necessary to periodically spray the shoots with infused water and water. To maintain a moderate level of humidity, spraying should be carried out 6 times a day. Water as needed when the soil dries up.
The first shoots may appear as early as 2-3 months after planting. However, do not immediately transplant them into open soil, since the root system will still be quite weak. Better to wait a year until they get stronger in the greenhouse. Otherwise, the juniper must be transplanted very carefully together with the earthen lump.
Medicinal properties of Crimean junipers
The benefits of the Crimean juniper lie in its disinfecting properties. In ancient times, they fumigated rooms where sick people or women in labor were located, and also steamed in a bath with juniper brooms. According to the rating, it ranks first among trees with good bactericidal properties. However, the Crimean juniper does not tolerate polluted air, therefore it does not grow in large, clogged megacities. But in the Crimea it grows well, despite the fact that there is so little of it left thanks to the extermination decades ago for personal needs, freeing up space for pastures and for 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 the Crimea you can find souvenirs dedicated to the most ancient shrubs.
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 already officially registered in the State Pharmaceutical Industry.
Recipes from the 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 accelerate 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 berries of the Crimean juniper consisted in the fact that they were set on fire and the room was fumigated.
Dishes and cups were made of wood. The food was stored in it for a long time and did not spoil. This was the main advantage of juniper wood, since refrigerators were not yet invented at that time. Houses made of Crimean juniper were also valued, so there is not much of it left in Crimea, since it was cut down without regret before. Before the revolution, it was popular as a source of sugar from ripe fruits.
The use of the Crimean juniper
Juniper oil is now widely available, as is cypress oil. Due to its bactericidal properties, it is simply not replaceable in winter frosts to fight the flu and various infections. Ingredients for a solution to clear the airways:
- 200 ml of water at room temperature;
- 5 drops of juniper oil.
All ingredients are mixed and added to the incense burner for evaporation.
From fresh fruits of the Crimean juniper, you can make a tincture. To do this, you need to rinse ripe berries well with purified water, place them in a 2 liter jar and pour 300 g of sugar. Leave in a dark, warm place for 2 weeks, after which pour 0.5 l of alcohol into them.
Also, the fruits are used as a syrup for the preparation of 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 Russia. Varnish was used to lubricate the strings of musical instruments.
The ancestors did not discard the roots of the juniper either. Heather threads were made of them. During the construction of sailing ships, schooners, pine boards were sewn with them and used to make ship drafts.
Conclusion
The Crimean juniper is characterized by slow growth. It is quite rare in the mountains, therefore it is listed in the Red Book. Possesses bactericidal properties, therefore it is widely used in medicine and other fields.
