Juniperus oxycedrus

Scientific description

Taxon: Juniperus oxycedrus
Class: Pinopsida (Conifers)
Subclass: Pinidae
Order: Pinales
Family: Cupressaceae
Common name: Cade juniper / Prickly juniper

Origin:
Mediterranean region, Southern Europe, North Africa.

Description:
Coniferous shrub or small tree 6–10 m tall. Evergreen foliage of sharp needles grouped in threes, dark green to bluish-green. Bark reddish-brown, thick, scaly. Fleshy cones (galbuli) green turning bluish-black; monoecious flowers in spring. Adapted to dry, rocky soils, common in Mediterranean scrublands and maquis.

Propagation:
Seeds dispersed by birds (slow germination), natural layering possible.

Ecology:
Pioneer species; drought, wind, poor soil resistant. Important for soil stabilization and biodiversity.

Uses:
Wood for charcoal and carpentry; essential oil (cade oil) for traditional medicinal and cosmetic use.

Threats:
Not globally threatened; some populations may be vulnerable to deforestation and repeated wildfires.

Creative writing inspired by Juniperus oxycedrus

Cade juniper

In a faraway valley, there lived a goat called Marie. Marie had a sweet tooth and generally liked to taste the fruits of various plants. She was particularly fond of plants with thorny foliage. One sunny morning, as she strolled along carefree, she spotted a tree with beautiful fruit. It was the famous juniper. Ready to taste them, she tasted the fruit and was disappointed, because she didn't like them at all.

She went to rest by the river, where she decided to sleep. When she wakes up, she sees a hungry little goat beside her, which seems to have lost its mother. Marie looks around for trees with fruit to feed the little goat, but finds nothing. Nor is there any grass in the field, only earth. Strange. All she can find are juniper berries. She has no choice but to take what she's picked for him. The little goat not only eats them, but seems to love them. Marie looks at it curiously and decides to try the plant again. She is delighted with the taste this time and sets off to find the same plant to pick the fruit for herself and the little goat.

The whole valley is filled with juniper and it seems that following the line formed by these trees leads somewhere special. With their bags over their shoulders, filled with the fruit they've picked, they follow the path formed by the juniper. They are led to waterfalls, where the little goat is reunited with her mother. From then on, Marie is convinced that this plant hides secrets, and that every time she eats it, something magical happens to her, leading her to new adventures.

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Authentic Specimen