The sallow tree is closely related to the juniper, as both trees belong to the genus Juniperus. But a mix-up can have fatal consequences. Both species look very similar and are often planted in the garden as ornamental trees.
The Sade tree is a small juniper species
Juniperus communis
Like the sallow tree, the common juniper belongs to the Juniperus species native to Europe. Juniperus communis grows as a shrub and sometimes as a tree, reaching heights of up to twelve meters. Its shoots strive upright and are covered with individual needles. The leaves are one to two centimeters long and sharply pointed and can cause minor injuries if touched. A light midrib can be seen on the upper side of the needle.
fruits edible
Juniper flowers from April to May and develops berry-shaped cones that can take up to three years to fully develop. The year after pollination, the fruits are green in color. As the fruit ripens, they become increasingly darker, until they are finally deep blue in color and covered with a bluish layer of wax. They contain four to five woody seeds.
Use:
- as a spice in the winter kitchen
- for marinades, pickles and game dishes
- for flavoring sauerkraut
Juniperus sabina
The sallow tree, also known as the stink juniper, grows in the form of a shrub. The wood stays smaller than the juniper. It grows between one and three meters high and mainly forms creeping shoots. They are occupied by scale-like leaves that are only 0.2 to 0.4 centimeters long. Its upper side is bluish in color. The species got its common German name from the unpleasant odor that hits the nose when the leaves are crushed.
fruits poisonous
The sallow tree blossoms between March and May. In summer, berry-shaped cones develop that are spherical in shape. The fruits ripen in autumn of the same year or in the following spring. Mature cones have a black-blue frosting and contain up to three seeds.
Like all parts of the plant, the fruit is also poisonous. In the past, the sallow tree was a popular ornamental plant in cottage gardens and the fruits were used to abort unborn children. Since the poison attacks the internal organs, treatment often ended fatally for both mother and child.
Symptoms:
- cardiac arrhythmias
- uterine cramps
- nausea