Common juniper (Juniperus communis).is a species of small tree or shrub in the cypress family Cupressacea and has the largest geographical range of any woody plant. Its astringent blue-black seed cones, commonly known as "juniper berries", are too bitter to eat raw and are usually sold dried and used to flavour meats, sauces, and stuffings. They are used to flavour certain beers and gin (the word "gin" derives from an Old French word meaning "juniper") Sibillini, Umbria, Italy May 2019