Juniper (archa)

The thousand-year guardian of the mountains

The archa juniper grows in Uzbekistan's mountains, among the rocks. It grows very slowly — only 1 metre in 100 years! But it lives more than 1,000 years. Juniper smells wonderful and cleans the air — breathing in a juniper forest is better than a hospital. Its roots hold the mountain soil and stop landslides.

The archa juniper (Juniperus polycarpos, J. seravschanica and other species) is the main forest-forming tree of Uzbekistan's mountains (Zaamin, Hisor, Chatkal), growing at 1,500–3,000 m. It grows very slowly and lives 1,000–2,000 years; junipers 1,500 years old stand in Zaamin and Baysun. It releases phytoncides (bacteria-killing compounds) — 1 hectare of juniper forest produces 30 kg of phytoncides a day. Juniper forests regulate water flow and protect soil from erosion; heavily logged in the 20th century, they are now being restored. Zaamin National Park (1976), Uzbekistan's first, protects these forests.

Fun facts

• A juniper grows just 1 metre in 100 years — the tree of patience.
• One hectare of juniper forest releases 30 kg of germ-killing compounds a day.
• Some junipers in Zaamin are older than the Samanid Empire.