Habitat
Type: forests, especially mountains and uplands
Distribution: throughout northern hemisphere

General
Growth type: tree
Cycle: evergreen
Height: up to 60 meters
Other:

Leaf
Shape: needle, 4-sided
Texture: hard, waxy
Arrangement: side and top of twigs
Other: 20mm

Trunk
Colour: purple-brown
Texture: rough

Flower
Shape: male: catkin; female: cone
Colour:

Seed
Casing: cone

Bark, and possibly other parts, contain terpenes. Eat in moderation.

(bark) - all year - best April and May
all year
May and June
October and November

Parts with black and white icons are for non-culinary use

Flavour
Rating and Description:
tangy

How to Consume
young: raw, juice; mature: tea
inner bark: cooked, flour
male: raw; female (immature): cooked
raw

Special preparation
crush to extract juice
As the seed is small and could easily pass through the digestive system, it is best to grind them to allow absorption of nutrients.

Nutrition
Vitamin C

Used as ...
food, tea
(bark) food

Action:
: antibacterial, antiseptic, expectorant, sedative

May treat:
boils, abscesses (poultice with sap or resin)

(trunk) timber
resin for varnishes etc.

Collection
Immature pale green tufts from April to May, often found on the ground after a windy spell. Contrasting young tufts are easily seen on the tree.

Plant parts:
leaf
stem or trunk
sap
root, bulb, tuber and other below ground parts
flower
fruit
seed

Parts with black and white icons in the availability section are for non-culinary use

Use:
culinary use
medicinal use
household use

Other:
caution

Glossary of Medicinal Terms and Nutritive Substances

• antibacterial: kills bacteria
• antiseptic: prevents putrefaction (applied to wounds)
• expectorant: removes excess amount of mucus from respiratory system (see also decongestant)
• sedative: calms the nervous system and reduces stress