Common Name: One-Seed Juniper

General Information

Juniperus monosperma is an evergreen shrub or a tree with a crown that is rounded to flattened-globose; it usually grows up to 7 metres tall, sometimes reaching 12 metres. The trunk usually branches near the base[].
The plant has a wide range of traditional uses as a food, medicine and source of materials. It can be used in soil reclamation projects and is often grown as an ornamental and is sometimes used as a 'Christmas Tree'[].
Despite eradication campaigns against it in the past, Juniperus monosperma is still very wide-spread and numerous, occupying many millions of hectares and regenerating after disturbances. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].
An aggressive, grassland invader species in the USA. Eradication is actively pursued but, due to widespread fire prevention now, it will become even more widely spread in the future[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

South-western N. America - Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, northern Mexico

Habitat

In Pinyon-Juniper woodland; in grassland; on dry, rocky soils of intermountain basins; or on rock outcrops, buttes and mesas of limestone, sandstone or igneous rock; at elevations from 970 - 2,200 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	18.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Juniperus monosperma is native to a semi-arid, continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters. Most rainfall arrives in the summer with erratic and local storms from the Gulf of Mexico. Mean annual rainfall in Arizona is around 250 - 380mm and the growing season is around 120 days[]. It is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -30°c when dormant[].
Requires a sunny position. Succeeds in the wild in dry rocky soils in open positions, often on slopes[]. Succeeds in most soils, including chalk, if they are well drained[, , ], preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[].
Trees are fairly fast growing for a Juniper, and are also long-lived in their native habitats[]. They grow better in dry areas with hot summers, western Britain is generally too cool and wet for this species to thrive[].
Plants first produce seed when between 10 - 30 years of age, although maximum seed production generally does not occur until plants are 50 - 200 years old. Plants only 45cm tall can produce seed. Large seed crops are produced at intervales of 2 - 5 years[].
The seed matures in its first year[].
This is the most common juniper in New Mexico and covering millions of acres[].
Plants are often killed by moderate fires and nearly always by more vigorous fires. Re-establishment by seed can be slow[].
Plants are resistant to honey fungus[].
This species is closely related to Juniperus occidentalis[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. Soft, juicy and pulpy[, , ], but with a thin flesh[]. It can be dried and ground into a powder and then be baked[, ], or can be used as a seasoning in stews etc[, ]. The fruits were only used when other foods were in short supply[]. The cones are about 5 - 8mm in diameter and ripen in their first year[].
Seed cones maturing in 1 year, of 1 size, with straight peduncles, globose to ovoid, 6--8 mm, reddish blue to brownish blue, glaucous, fleshy and resinous, with 1(--3) seeds[].

Inner bark - raw or cooked[]. It was chewed in times of food shortage for the little nourishment it supplied[].

The gum is chewed as a delicacy[, ]. No further details are given.

Medicinal

One-seed juniper was commonly employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes, who used it to treat a variety of complaints[]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism.
The leaves are febrifuge, laxative and pectoral[]. An infusion is used in the treatment of stomach complaints, constipation, coughs and colds[]. An infusion was also used by pregnant women prior to childbirth in order to relax the muscles[].
A poultice of the heated twigs can be bound over a bruise or sprain in order to reduce the swelling[].
An infusion of the staminate cones has been used as a stomach tonic and in the treatment of dysentery[].
The chewed bark has been applied externally to help heal spider bites[]. It is also highly prized as a dressing on burns[].
The fruits are strongly diuretic[].
A gum from the plant has been used as a temporary filling in a decayed tooth[].

Agroforestry Uses:

An aggressive grasland invader in its native habitat[], this species can be used as a pioneer in reforestation projects and can also be used in establishing woodland gardens[].
The plant is slow-growing and slow to establish, so is considered to be of low value in the short-term rehabilitation of disturbed sites, However, it can be a very useful plant for long-term projects[]. It is used for the recultivation of abandoned mining slopes in western USA[]. It has been successfully planted on surface coal and uranium mines in the Southwest of the USA[].

Other Uses

Thin strips of the fibrous bark are used for making sleeping mats etc[, ]. It has also been used as a lining in shoes to absorb moisture and to keep the feet warmer[]. When rubbed fine, the bark can be used to make children's clothing[].

The bark is employed as a tinder and is also made into a slow match or can be shredded, bound into bundles and used as a torch to give light in the house[, ]. The crushed bark was twisted into a rope, tied at intervals with yucca (Yucca species), and wrapped into a coil. The free end was set on fire and kept smouldering by blowing on it at intervals. Fire could be carried in this fashion for several hours[].

The dried seeds have been used as beads or as the 'rattle' in rattles. They are used to make necklaces, mainly as a novelty for tourists to buy[, , ].

A green dye is obtained from the bark and berries[, ].
A yellow dye is obtained from the whole plant[].

Ashes from the whole plant have been used as a mordant to fix the colour of dyes[].

The wood is strong, moderately hard, somewhat heavy, slightly fragrant. When seasoned properly it is very durable and is used mainly for fencing and fuel[, , , , ].
As a fuel the wood burns steadily and evenly[].

Propagation

The seed requires a period of cold stratification. The seed has a hard seedcoat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 - 3 months duration[, ]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[]. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some might germinate in the following spring, though most will take another year. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (when the embryo has fully formed but before the seedcoat has hardened). The seedlings can be potted up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in pots until large enough, then plant out in early summer. When stored dry, the seed can remain viable for several years[].
Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/early autumn in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn[, ].
Layering in September/early autumn. Takes 12 months[].