Juniperus sabina L. var. tamariscifolia Ait.
Fully-hardy, low growing, vigorous, evergreen shrub with horizontal tiers of spreading, short, sharply pointed, mainly juvenile leaves, borne in pairs or threes and bright green. To 2m. Tamariscifolia is a naturally occurring variety of Juniperus sabina from the mountains of southern Europe. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Horticultural & Botanical History
Introduced to Britain in 1562. [JD]. The species is figured by Elizabeth Blackwell as the Savine Tree or Sabina. ‘It seldom grows tall in England; the leaves are a grass green, the flowers green and the berries a blackish purple. It is planted here in gardens and seldome produces fruit for which some have thought it barren. Savine is accounted hot & dry, opening & attenuating, being a great provoker of the catamenia, causing abortions & expelling the birth. It is esteemed good to destroy worms in children, for which purpose Mr. Ray commends the juice mixt with milk & sweetened with sugar; the juice beat into a cataplasm with hog’s lard, cures children’s scabby heads. Officinal preparations are the Ol. Sabinae per Infusionum et decoctionem, & the Oleum Sab. chymicum.’ [Blackwell pl.214/737].
History at Camden Park
Listed only in the 1845 catalogue. Juniperus sabina was requested of Loddiges’ Nursery on 6th January 1845 [MP A2933-2, p.28] and this is a possible source.
Notes
Published Aug 03, 2009 - 01:21 PM | Last updated Jul 16, 2010 - 05:09 PM
Juniperus sabina L. var. tamariscifolia Ait. | Blackwell pl.214/1737 | BHL
| Family | Cupressaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Southern Europe |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | Spanish juniper, Tamarisk-leaved Savin |
| Name in the Camden Park Record | Juniperus tamariscifolia |
| Confidence level | high |