Juniperus communis

Juniperus communis
    n 1: densely branching shrub or small tree having pungent blue
         berries used to flavor gin; widespread in northern
         hemisphere; only conifer on coasts of Iceland and Greenland
         [syn: {common juniper}, {Juniperus communis}]
    

Juniper \Ju"ni*per\, n. [L. juniperus, prop., youth-producing,
   and so called from its evergreen appearance, from the roots
   of E. juvenile, and parent. Cf. {Gin} the liquor.] (Bot.)
   Any evergreen shrub or tree, of the genus {Juniperus} and
   order {Conifer[ae]}.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The common juniper ({Juniperus communis}) is a shrub of
         a low, spreading form, having awl-shaped, rigid leaves
         in whorls of threes, and bearing small purplish blue
         berries (or galbuli), of a warm, pungent taste, used as
         diuretic and in flavoring gin. A resin exudes from the
         bark, which has erroneously been considered identical
         with sandarach, and is used as pounce. The oil of
         juniper is acrid, and used for various purposes, as in
         medicine, for making varnish, etc. The wood of several
         species is of a reddish color, hard and durable, and is
         used in cabinetwork under the names of {red cedar},
         {Bermuda cedar}, etc.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Juniper worm} (Zool.), the larva of a geometrid moth
      ({Drepanodes varus}). It feeds upon the leaves of the
      juniper, and mimics the small twigs both in form and
      color, in a remarkable manner.
      [1913 Webster]