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RED CEDAR (Juniperus virginiana)

How to tell them from other trees: The red cedar (juniper) and arbor-vitae may be told from other trees by their leaves, which remain on the tree and keep green throughout the entire year. These leaves differ from those of the other evergreens in being much shorter and of a distinctive shape. The trees themselves are much smaller than the other evergreens enumerated in this book.
Juniper Trees
Altogether, there are thirty-five species of juniper recognized. The junipers are widely distributed over the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic region down to Mexico in the New World, and in northern Africa, China, and Japan in the Old World. The species mentioned here are those commonly found in America.

The twigs of the red cedar are needle-shaped or scale-like. The foliage of the red cedar is a somber green. The red cedar will grow in dry places. The branches of the red cedar start at some distance from the ground.
Juniper Foliage


Distinguishing characters: The tree can best be told at a glance by its general form, size and leaves. It is a medium-sized tree with a symmetrical, cone-like form, which, however, broadens out somewhat when the tree grows old. Its color throughout the year is dull green with a tinge of brownish red, and its bark peels in thin strips.
The Juniper
Leaf: In young trees the leaf is needle-shaped, pointed, and marked by a white line on its underside. In older trees it is scale-like, and the white line on its underside is indistinct.
Juniper Needles and Berries
Range: Widely distributed over nearly all of eastern and central North America.
Juniperus virginiana Range
Soil and location: Grows on poor, gravelly soils as well as in rich bottom lands.

Enemies: The "cedar apple," commonly found on this tree, represents a stage of the apple rust, and for that reason it is not desirable to plant such trees near orchards. Its wood is also sometimes attacked by small boring insects.
Cedar Apple Rust on a Juniper
Value for planting: Its characteristic slender form gives the red cedar an important place as an ornamental tree, but its chief value lies in its commercial use.
Juniper Tree
Commercial value: The wood is durable, light, smooth and fragrant, and is therefore used for making lead-pencils, cabinets, boxes, moth-proof chests, shingles, posts, and telegraph poles.

Other characters: The fruit is small, round and berry-like, about the size of a pea, of dark blue color, and carries from one to four bony seeds.
Juniper Berries
Other common names: The red cedar is also often called juniper and red juniper.

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the lesson.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Recite aloud the vocabulary words and their definitions.
  • Learn the concepts.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

This lesson looks at the red cedar or juniper tree, which is smaller than the other coniferous trees studied this year. The tree produces purple-blue berries coated in a whitish wax covering. The scientific (Latinized) name of the juniper is Juniperus virginiana.

Vocabulary

Evergreen: Of plants, especially trees, that do not shed their leaves seasonally.
Foliage: The leaves of plants.
Cedar Apple Rust: A fungus that requires both the juniper tree and the apple tree to complete its lifecycle.

Concepts

JUNIPER BERRIES

  1. Juniper berries are not true berries. Rather, they are actually modified seed cones.
  2. Birds, including the cedar waxwing, the bluebird, and the turkey, as well as some mammals eat the juniper berries and help to disperse the seeds inside.

HUMAN USE

  1. NOTE: Do not eat juniper berries in the wild. They may be poisonous.
  2. Of the berries produced by around 40 species of junipers, some are toxic.
  3. One type of berry, from Juniperus communis, is used as a spice in Europe for foods including meats, cabbage, and sauerkraut.
  4. The Juniperus communis also flavors the alcohol gin

HISTORICAL USE

  1. Long ago, Greeks first used juniper berries as medicine.
  2. Greek Olympians once ingested juniper berries, believing they enhanced athletic performance.
  3. Juniper berries were found in Egyptian tombs, and were likely imported from Greece as the tree never grew in Egypt.
  4. Romans used juniper berries as a substitute seasoning for pepper.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

  • After reading or listening to the lesson, narrate the lesson aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Study the Lesson Pictures

  • Study the lesson pictures and describe how they relate to the lesson.

Activity 3: Take a Nature Walk

  • NOTE: Do not touch or ingest any berries.
  • Bring a small sketchbook and a specimen collection bag and embark on a nature walk.
  • Search for any type of juniper tree. If you cannot find a juniper tree, choose another evergreen tree to study.
  • Study and sketch the appearance, habitat, and berries of the tree.
  • Collect a leaf specimen from the tree.
  • Use the sketch and leaf specimen to create the field book entry.

Activity 4: Complete a Field Book Entry   

After your nature walk, complete page 41 in 'Science Field Book for Fourth Grade.'

Review

Question 1

How does the juniper differ in size from the other evergreens studied this year?
1 / 4

Answer 1

The juniper is smaller than the other evergreens studied this year.
1 / 4

Question 2

Should you ever eat juniper berries that you find in the wild?
2 / 4

Answer 2

No, you should never eat juniper berries that you find in the wild (unless you are an expert who can tell which berries are non-toxic).
2 / 4

Question 3

What are some uses of the juniper berry today?
3 / 4

Answer 3

Juniper berries today are used as spices and to flavor gin.
3 / 4

Question 4

What are some historical uses of the juniper berry?
4 / 4

Answer 4

Greek Olympians used them believing they enhanced athletic performance. They were found in Egyptian tombs. Romans used the berries as a substitute for pepper.
4 / 4

  1. How does the juniper differ in size from the other evergreens studied this year? The juniper is smaller than the other evergreens studied this year.
  2. Should you ever eat juniper berries that you find in the wild? No, you should never eat juniper berries that you find in the wild (unless you are an expert who can tell which berries are non-toxic).
  3. What are some uses of the juniper berry today? Juniper berries today are used as spices and to flavor gin.
  4. What are some historical uses of the juniper berry? Greek Olympians used them believing they enhanced athletic performance. They were found in Egyptian tombs. Romans used the berries as a substitute for pepper.

References

  1. 'Studies of Trees' by Jacob Joshua Levison. gutenberg.org/ebooks/16116. n.p.
  2. 'Juniperus virginiana.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.
  3. 'Juniper berry.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

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