juniper

Any of about 60–70 species of aromatic evergreen trees or shrubs that make up the genus of the cypress family, found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Juvenile leaves are needlelike; mature leaves are awl-shaped, spreading, and arranged in pairs or in whorls of three. Common juniper () is a sprawling shrub whose fragrant, spicy-smelling berries are used to flavour foods and alcoholic beverages, particularly gin. The fragrant wood of eastern red cedar () is made into cabinets, fence posts, and pencils. is a popular U.S. ornamental creeping juniper, and wood of the Mediterranean Phoenician juniper () is burned as incense.

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