Additional notes (click to expand)

Horticulture

A hardy, coniferous, mat-forming evergreen, 30cm in height by 1m in width after ten years, with upturned branches, and grey, blue-green, foliage and small, globose fruits. The fruits are poisonous and contact with the foliage may aggravate skin allergies.

Medicinal

POM Taxanes

Nomenclature

Known as 'Savin' and an ingredient in Vnguetum Aregonis, there is a drug jar containing this ointment in the Hoffbrand Collection of Apothecary jars, dated 1662, made in Pickleherring, Rotherhithe, London
Hoffbrand Collection at the Royal College of Physicians

Toxicity

Savin oil in small doses is diuretic and induces menstruation, larger doses cause convulsions. Topically the oil causes blisters and skin necrosis. Swallowed causes gastroenteritis and haematemesis, polyuria, haematuria, oliguria, anuria, coma and renal failure. Respiratory arrest after 10 hours. Historically used as an abortifacient, but usually fatal to the mother as well.
Stevens, S & Bannon, A. HowDunnit - the Book of Poisons, 2007. p. 65 https://books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=158297456X

Toxic
Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria
  • Asia-Temperate, Caucasus
  • Asia-Temperate, China
  • Asia-Temperate, Eastern Asia
  • Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Kazakhstan
  • Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Kyrgyzstan
  • Asia-Temperate, Mongolia
  • Asia-Temperate, Siberia
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iran
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey
  • Europe, Eastern Europe
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Austria
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Czech Republic
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Poland
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Juniperus sabina 'Rockery Gem'

Family: CUPRESSACEAE
Genus: Juniperus
Species: sabina
Cultivar: 'Rockery Gem'
Common names: Savin
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Sabina
Distribution summary: N. Africa, Eurasia
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plants of the World (C)
Reason for growing: Medicinal, toxic, prescription only medicine


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