Shur (Himalayan Pencil Cedar)

Juniperus polycarpos (Himalayan Pencil Cedar)

Vernacular name: Shur (in Kinnauri)

Click here to watch a short video about this species

Click here to watch a short video about this species

Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch, commonly known as the Himalayan Pencil Cedar or Shur in Kinnauri, is a dioecious evergreen tree native to the western Himalayas. Its range extends from Afghanistan, Balochistan, and Pakistan, through Kashmir, Ladakh, and parts of Himachal Pradesh in India, reaching up to higher altitudes of western Tibet. This species thrives in cool, moist environments, with precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) playing a crucial role in its radial growth, especially in high-altitude regions.

Cultural Significance

The berries of the Himalayan Pencil Cedar tree are traditionally used by local healers to treat tuberculosis and diabetes. Its timber is used in the construction of Buddhist monasteries and as firewood, while its branches and leaves serve as incense and in some regions fodder for livestock. Additionally, green twigs of the tree are used to decorate Lha-thos, which are ancient shrines believed to be the seats of local divine guardians in Ladakh.

Interesting facts

In 2020, scientists made a groundbreaking observation of young saplings of the Himalayan Pencil Cedar growing at an elevation of 4,122 meters above sea level — the highest recorded natural treeline in the western Himalayas. This species is believed to be highly adaptable to cold and arid environments, which likely allows it to thrive at such extreme heights. However, this could also signal a shift in the treeline, potentially as a result of climate change and global warming in the region, raising concerns about the broader ecological impacts on local biodiversity and high-altitude habitats.

References

1. Dorjey, K., & Maurya, A. K. (2021). Ethnobotany of Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch (Cupressaceae) in the Himalayan cold desert of Union Territory of Ladakh, India. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 20(1), 83-90.

2. Misra, K. G., et al. (2020). Treeline migration and settlement recorded by Himalayan pencil cedar tree-rings in the highest alpine zone of western Himalaya, India. Current Science, 118(2), 192-195.

3. Adams, R. P. (2018). Evolution of dioecious/monecious taxa in Juniperus, contrasted with Cupressus, Hesperocyparis, Callitropsis, and Xanthocyparis (Cupressaceae). Phytologia, 100(4), 248-255.

4. Adams, R. P., et al. (2018). Geographic variation in the volatile leaf oils of Juniperus.

Link to instagram video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGHtXhRTAAp/?igsh=MmRzdzJlZm9leDU2