DefinePK

Abstract

ABSTRACT Juniperus excelsa, M. Bieb. (Himalayan pencil cedar. Snober, Obust) is a member of family Cupressaceae of Gymnosperms. It is dioecious, medium sized, evergreen tree, bark reddish-brown to grey, vertically fissured, exfoliating in fibrous strips. Leaves of two kinds; one sharp and needle like and the other flat and feather like or scale-like, closely pressed, with a large oblong elliptic glands in the center of the back. Flowers unisexual, the male at the tips of the branches, the female terminating short side branchlets. Flower appears between May and June and fruit berries ripen between September and October in the next year. Fruit 0.8 cm diameter, globose, blue-black and very resinous. Each fruit contains 2-5 seeds (Parker, 1926).