The Description.

1. The common Juniper tree groweth in some parts of Kent unto the nature and bigness of a fair great tree, but most commonly it grows very low like unto ground Furze: this tree hath a thin bark or rind, which in hot regions will chop and rend itself into many crannies or pieces: out of which rifts issueth a certain gum or liquor much like unto frankincense: the leaves are very small, narrow, and hard, and somewhat prickly, growing evergreen along the branches, thick together: amongst which come forth round and small berries, green at the first, but afterward black declining to blueness, of a good savour, and sweet in taste, which do wax somewhat bitter after they be dry and withered.

2. The great Juniper tree comes now and then to the height of the Cypress tree, with a greater and harder leaf, and also with a fruit as big as Olive berries, as Bellonius writeth, of an exceeding fair blue colour, and of an excellent sweet savour.

3. This exceeds not the height of a cubit, but grows low, and as it were creeps upon the ground, and consists of sundry thicker and shorter branches than the common kind, tough also, writhing, and hard to break; leaves always growing at equal distances, as in the common, but yet broader, shorter, and thicker, neither less pricking than they, of a whitish green colour on the inside, and green without, encompass the tender branches. Clusius, who gives us this figure and history observed not the flower, but the fruit is like that of the ordinary, but yet somewhat longer; It grows upon the Austrian Alps, and ripens the fruit in August and September.

The Place.

The common Juniper tree is found in very many places, especially in the South parts of England.

Bellonius reporteth, that the greater groweth upon mount Taurus: Aloysius Anguillaria writeth, that it is found on the sea shores of the Ligurian and Adriatic sea and Illyricum, bringing forth great berries: and others say that it grows in Provençe of France: it cometh up for the most part in rough places and near to the sea, as Dioscorides noteth.

The Time.

 The Juniper tree flowereth in May; the flower whereof is nothing else but as it were a little yellowish dust or powder strewed upon the boughs. The fruit is ripe in September, and is seldom found either winter or summer without ripe and unripe berries, and all at one time.

The Names.

The Juniper tree is called in Greeke Arkeuthos: the apothecaries keep the Latin name Iuniperus: the Arabians call it Archonas and Archencas: the Italians, Ginepro: in High Dutch, Wechholter: in Spanish, Enebro, Ginebro, and Zimbro. the French men and base Almaines Geneve: English, Juniper tree.

The lesser is named in Latin; Iuniperus. The great Juniper Tree is called in Latin (by Lobel) Iuniperus maximus illyricus cærulea bacca, by reason of the colour of the berries, and may be called in English, Blue Juniper.

The berries are called grani iuniperi: in High Dutch, Krametbeer, Weckholierbeer: in Low Dutch, Genevrebessen: in Spanish, Neurinas: in English, Juniper berries.

The gum of the Juniper tree is usually called of the apothecaries vernix: in Latin, lachryma iuniperi: Serapio nameth it sandarax and sandaracha; but there is another sandaracha among the Grecians, being a kind of orpiment, which grows in the same minerals wherein orpiment doth, and this doth far differ from vernix, or the Juniper gum. Pliny in his 11th book, 7th chapter maketh mention also of another sandaracha, which is called Erithrace and Cerinthus; this is the meat of bees whilst they be about their work.

The Temperature.

Juniper is hot and dry, and that in the third degree, as Galen teacheth; the berries are also hot but not altogether so dry: the gum is hot and dry in the first degree, as the Arabians write.

The Virtues.

A. The fruit of the Juniper tree doth cleanse the liver and kidneys, as Galen testifieth: it also maketh thin clammy and gross humours: it is used in counterpoisons and other wholesome medicines: being over-largely taken it causeth gripings and gnawings in the stomach, and maketh the head hot: it neither bindeth nor looseth the belly: it provoketh urine.

B. Dioscorides reporteth, that this being drunk is a remedy against the infirmity of the chest, coughs, windiness, gripings and poisons, and that the same is good for those that be troubled with cramps, burstings, and with the disease called the mother.

C. It is most certain that the decotion of these berries is singular good against an old cough, and against that with which children are now and then extremely troubled, called the chin cough, in which they use to rise up raw, tough and clammy humours, that have many times blood mixed with them.

D. Divers in Bohemia do take instead of other drink, the water wherein those berries have been steeped, who live in wonderful good health.

E. This is also drunk against poisons and pestilent fevers, and it is not unpleasant in the drinking: when the first water is almost spent, the vessel is again filled up with fresh.

F. The smoke of the leaves and wood driveth away serpents, and all infection and corruption of the air, which bring the plague, or such like contagious diseases: the juice of the leaves is laid on with wine, and also drunk against the bitings of the viper.

G. The ashes of the burned bark, being applied with water, take away scurf and filth of the skin.

H. The powder of the wood being inwardly taken, is pernicious and deadly, as Dioscorides' vulgar copies do affirm; but the true copies utterly deny it, neither do any of the old writers affirm it.

I. The fume and smoke of the gum doth stay phlegmatic humours that distil out of the head, and stoppeth the rheum: the gum doth stay raw and phlegmatic humours that stick in the stomach and guts, if it be inwardly taken, and also drunk.

K. It killeth all manner of worms in the belly, it stayeth the menses, and hæmorrhoids: it is commended also against spitting of blood; it dryeth hollow ulcers, and filleth them with flesh, if it be cast thereon: being mixed with oil of roses, it healeth chops in the hands and feet.

L. There is made of this and of oil of Linseed, mixed together, a liquor called varnish, which is used to beautify pictures and painted tables with, and to make iron glister, and to defend it from the rust.