There are many varieties of conifers, one of the brightest representatives is the Crimean juniper. In Spain, it was used as a spice for cooking lamb, in France, hams were smoked on its branches, and in the Crimea, pine needles were placed in chests to protect fur clothes from moths.
Crimean juniper is a gorgeous tree for southern gardens
Varieties of culture
Crimean juniper belongs to the Cypress family.
Today, several varieties of this plant grow on the territory of Crimea, they differ in shape, color and size.
Red
The tree is 6 to 8 m in height with open branches, densely covered with hard needles. The second name is Crimean prickly.
The description of the juniper includes several distinctive features:
- the crown is conical;
- the central conductor is covered with a smooth, light brown bark;
- the needles are dense, dark green with pronounced longitudinal white stripes;
- wood has increased strength, so it is often used to prepare various souvenirs and crafts.
Ephedra is common in Morocco, Portugal, northern and southern France, as well as in the Mediterranean region.
Cossack
A creeping plant with soft needles grows on mountain slopes. This variety is great for decorating home gardens.
Height reaches 1.5-2 m, rapidly expands in breadth. In young specimens, the needles are prickly; closer to adulthood, they become soft, saturated green.
Distributed in Crimea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Eastern Europe.
Ordinary
The place of growth is forest zones, the middle and northern strip of Russia. This plant is listed in the Red Book of Crimea.
The fruits are readily used to make gin and alcoholic tinctures.
This culture is represented by a low-growing creeping shrub with linear emerald leaves covered with whitish stripes. The length of the sheet plate is 10-12 mm with a sharpness at the tips.
On an adult specimen, first green, later black cone berries with a dark blue bloom are formed. The size is 6-9 mm.
Tall
Another rare variety, which is listed in the Red Book of Russia.
Its description:
- evergreen monoecious tree up to 12 m high;
- a conical crown with scaly, blunt needles;
- small berry - 9-12 mm, purple-black tone with a bluish bloom, ripens in the first or second year of planting;
- life expectancy ranges from 300 to 600 years.
Distributed in the Krasnodar Territory and the Black Sea coast. Outside the country, it grows in the south and east of Europe, as well as south-west Asia.
Smelly
Crimean juniper has several varieties
Habitat - Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Crimea, Caucasus and Cyprus.
The plant is dioecious, sometimes monoecious, at maturity reaches 15 m in height. Forms a dense, conical or oval crown. The branches are thick, tetrahedral. Needles of green or emerald tone, scaly, length 1-3 mm, width 1-1.5 mm.
The berry is spherical, with a circumference of 1 cm, dark brown or black, covered with a bluish bloom. Each cone contains seeds - 4 pcs., Chestnut shade, glossy, 5-6 mm in diameter.
The average life span is about 500 years.
Reproduction
Cuttings are recognized as one of the most effective and proven breeding methods for Crimean juniper.
Subject to all the necessary conditions for germination, the procedure can be carried out at any time of the year, but it is better to do this in the spring. Then the young roots of the seedlings will successfully take root in the soil and can easily endure the harsh winter.
Landing technology
They are engaged in harvesting planting material on a cloudy day, since the scorching sun can harm both future seedlings and the mother bush after pruning.
The best are the twigs cut from the top of the juniper. Depending on the variety, different parts are used: vertical shoots are taken from creeping conifers, from pyramidal ones - growing to the top, and from shrubs - any.
A sharp, sterile object is selected for cutting - a knife or pruner is suitable.
- The harvested segments 15-20 cm long are freed from the needles and shoots in the lower part, then immediately planted in the ground so that they do not dry out. If this is not possible, they can be put in water, but not more than 3 hours, otherwise the wood will get wet and the plant will not be able to release roots.
- For planting, take seedling boxes, plastic containers 10-12 cm high with holes at the bottom.
- Pebbles or expanded clay are laid at the bottom - drainage will prevent moisture from stagnating at the bottom of the container. Then they fill it with a nutritious soil mixture of sand and peat, mixed in equal amounts.
- They are planted to a depth of 2-3 cm at an angle of 45 °. Then poured with warm water, placed in a warm place (temperature 20-23 ° C) with diffused daylight.
Care rules
The main care of seedlings is to maintain a stable heat, humidity at the level of 70-75%. For this, plantings are irrigated daily with warm water at least 5 times a day.
They also provide protection from the sun's rays, which can cause severe burns, yellowing and death of young plantings.
When kept on a southern windowsill, it is necessary to create shading with any fabric at midday.
Junipers are watered as the earth dries up. If the soil is crusty from above, it must be carefully loosened with a pencil or other thin object, avoiding injury to the cuttings.
The first buds on seedlings will appear after 2-3 months of germination at home.
But do not rush to plant them in an open area, because they are still too weak to die after the transplant. Ideally, the plants are grown for another year at home or in a greenhouse and only in early autumn are moved to open ground.
Healing properties
One of the main healing properties of juniper is the ability to disinfect any wounds, abrasions, scratches. Therefore, in the old days it was used to fumigate the premises where women in labor and sick people were.
Juniper is used in medicine
This plant also has other healing abilities.
- Bactericidal. Dressings soaked in juniper oil or decoction are applied to the areas affected by bacteria to destroy pathogenic microflora and quickly regenerate tissues.
- In America, all patients diagnosed with tuberculosis were relocated to juniper forests for prevention and early healing.
- Dried fruits are set on fire and fumigated with smoke in order to cleanse them of all viruses, bacteria and microbes.
- The phytoncides secreted by this culture purify the air, have a beneficial effect on the human nervous system - neutralize irritability, neurosis, increased excitability of the central nervous system.
- Patients noted other medicinal properties of juniper - it eliminates headaches, insomnia, normalizes blood pressure, improves mood, and strengthens the immune system.
According to traditional healers, healthy teas based on Crimean juniper berries improve the functioning of the kidneys and the digestive tract.
Contraindications
Despite the presence of useful properties, there are several contraindications to use:
- pregnancy;
- peptic ulcer of the stomach, duodenum;
- individual intolerance;
- severe hypertension;
- kidney inflammation.
Application features
To get the most out of the ephedra, it is necessary to properly prepare the remedy and use it strictly according to the indicated scheme.
Oil
You can buy juniper oil at any pharmacy and at an affordable price. This remedy is especially popular in the off-season as a panacea for colds, viruses and flu.
To clear the airways, you can prepare the following medication-based recipe:
- 5 drops of oil;
- 200 ml of water.
Mix both ingredients and add to incense burner to evaporate.
Tincture
For its preparation, you will need fresh fruits (berries) of the Crimean juniper. They are washed under running water, poured into two-liter jars and 300 g of sugar are poured.
Close tightly with a capron lid, place in a dark and warm place for 14 days. Then pour 0.5 liters of alcohol or vodka.
The tincture is used to treat inflammation and stretch marks on the skin.
Syrup
Ephedra berries are readily used not only in folk medicine, but also in cooking. Fruits are added as syrup during the preparation of jelly and sweets.
In the fishing industry, it is an excellent raw material that enhances the flavor.
Juniper. Medicinal and useful properties, composition, harm and contraindications of juniper
Masks and decoction
Needle-based essential oil is an excellent nourishing mask for skin and hair care. They rub the body or head with it, and wash it off after 15 minutes.
The broth is very popular: the crushed root and branches of the plant are steamed, infused for half an hour, then used for rinsing.
With regular use, the hair becomes stronger, it becomes smooth and silky, and the skin acquires a healthy color and elasticity.
Also, this remedy quickly heals wounds, cracks and other injuries of the epidermis.
Masks based on juniper berries have a rejuvenating and healing effect. They are washed, then ground in a blender and added to cosmetics. In addition to nutrition, such a product provides good lifting.
Reviews
This plant has received many positive reviews from gardeners and consumers.
- Many have appreciated the beneficial properties and quick healing effect after using tinctures, oils and masks. Moreover, such funds do not cause side effects and allergic reactions on the skin.
- Due to its high decorative effect and the ability to effectively purify the air, most gardeners are happy to grow this ephedra on their site, adding it to different compositions.
- The possibility of propagation by seeds and cuttings allows you to simultaneously get several varieties for creating evergreen gardens in different styles. Therefore, the culture is popular not only in private but also in industrial gardening.