Indian Juniper, Himalayan Pencil cedar
Juniperus polycarpos

Family: Cupressaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 12-15 m tall. It can be 2 m around the trunk. The crown is a pyramid shape. The wood has a sweet smell. The lower leaves are awl shaped and the upper leaves are scale like and egg shaped. The male flower catkins are on a scaly stalk. The fruit are a flattened round shape. They are 8.5 mm across. They are bluish-black when ripe. They have 2-5 seeds.

There are 50 to 60 Juniperus species. The wood in burnt as incense.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in the Himalayas between 1,500-4,300 m altitude. It grows in semi-arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Central Asia, China, Georgia, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Tajikistan, Tibet

How it is used for food

The oil from the fruit is used to flavour gin after the turpentine like odour is removed.

Edible parts

Fruit-oil, spice

How it is grown

Trees can live for 1,000 years.

Its other names

Local names

Chalai, Chalni, Lewar, Shukpa, Shupka, Shur, Dhup, Padam, Chandan, Dhupi

Synonyms

Juniperus macropoda Boiss.;