Cupressaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Juniperus sabina

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The whole plant is poisonous and can produce abortions[ 4 Title A Modern Herbal. Publication Author Grieve. Publisher Penguin Year 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 Description Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants. ]. The foliage and the seeds contain sabinol (a terpenic alcohol) and gallic acid, which is transformed into pyrogallol. Consumption of the foliage causes a severe irritation of all mucous membranes. The sabinol attacks the nervous system, causing convulsions. The pyrogallol blocks the intestinal circuit completely. Death occurs quickly[ 329 Title The Gymnosperm Database Publication Author Website http://www.conifers.org/index.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A vast amount of information on conifers and families of gymnosperms. ].

Botanical Description

Juniperus sabina is an evergreen shrub with branches partly decumbent, partly ascending; it can grow up to 4 metres tall, but is more likely to be less than 2.5 metres[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials.It has at times been grown as a medicinal plant, with records dating back to at least the 8th century BCE[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ]. The plant is also often grown as an ornamental, there are many named forms. This is one of the most widespread conifer species in the world, occurring in habitats such as alpine-subalpine meadows with rocky outcrops and steppes or semi-deserts, that are not under serious environmental pressures globally. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurasia - Germany to Spain, east through Siberia, the Caucasus and Turkey to the Russian Far East, Mongolia, China and Korea; N. Africa - Algeria

HabitatMontane to subalpine coniferous forests; invading alpine meadows, most abundant on sunny, dry slopes in mountains with a mesic climate, often on limestone but also on granitic rock, especially on drier slopes; at elevations from 700 - 3,000 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]