Grecian juniper, Greek juniper
Juniperus excelsa

Family: Cupressaceae

What it is like

A tall tree. It grows about 21 m high. It has a loose cone shaped crown. The bark is grey and peels in long strips. The leaves are small and grey-green. They are in sprays on fine branches. The fruit are round. They are green and ripen to purplish-brown and with a whitish bloom. They are 7-8 mm across and have 4-6 seeds.

There are 50 to 60 Juniperus species. The fruit is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It grows naturally in Mediterranean counties. It grows on rocky mountian slopes. In Somalia it grows between 1,800-2,900 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 5-8.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Arabia, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Caucasus, Ethiopia, Europe, Greece, Himalayas, Iran, Kenya, Mediterranean, Middle East, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The bark is burnt and used as flavouring in snuff.

Edible parts

Fruit, bark - flavouring

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

African pencil cedar, Ar ar, Cheli, Dayib, Sigib

Synonyms

Juniperus macropoda Boiss; Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch.;