The collections of UBC Botanical Garden are not limited to living plant material. The garden also has a small number of seeds and cones collected by some of the university's early botanists (and former garden directors) and their correspondents. One of these correspondents was Miss Neville, who either lived or travelled near Carcross, Yukon (considering the size of Carcross, I'd presume travelled) in 1927.
The “berries” are not true berries in the botanical sense, but rather seed cones that are described as “berry-like” (Juniperus in the Flora of North America). Along with popular use in ornamental landscapes (though some would say overused), junipers have another important economic aspect – the berry-like seed cones of Juniperus communis are used in the distillation of gin, and are responsible for the distinctive gin flavour.
Photography resource link: Jef Maion's (aka Nomads' Land Photography) images of the taiga, or northern temperate forest in Eurasia. Great pic of cotton grass (Eriophorum sp.) on the first page.
What is it that makes these cones? Instead of berries or some other kind of fruit? Don't cones have to have scales?
Good question, Anthony. Juniper cones do indeed look like berries, and are often called by that name. But the resemblance to a berry is only superficial. A close examination of a juniper "berry" reveals that it is actually composed of fused cone scales. Instead of being woody, like other cones of other cypress family members, the cone scales of a juniper are fleshy, further reinforcing the notion of a berry. Of course, the word "cone" is somewhat misleading in this case, as juniper cones aren't cone shaped!
Matt
Some more pics of Juniperus cones, some of which show the scales more obviously:
http://www.pinetum.org/cones/JUcones.htm
Thanks Michael, that is a great web page, with a variety of good illustrations of Matt's explanation.