Spruce forest - description, features, nature and interesting facts. Coniferous trees names

Coniferous forests are a natural area that consists of evergreen plants - coniferous trees. Coniferous forests grow in the taiga Northern Europe, Russia and North America. In the highlands of Australia and South America there are coniferous forests in some places. The climate of coniferous forests is very cold and humid.

According to the international classification, there are the following types of coniferous forest:

• evergreen;
• with falling needles;
• present in swampy forests;
• tropical and subtropical.

Based on canopy density, light coniferous and dark coniferous forests are distinguished.

There is such a thing as artificial coniferous forests. Coniferous trees have been planted in mixed or broadleaf forests in North America and Europe to reforest areas where they have been heavily logged.

Coniferous forests of the taiga

In the Northern Hemisphere of the planet, coniferous forests lie in the taiga zone. Here the main forest-forming species are as follows:

In Europe there are pure pine and spruce-pine forests.

Pine forests

IN Western Siberia a wide variety of coniferous forests: cedar-pine, spruce-larch, larch-cedar-pine, spruce-fir. In the territory Eastern Siberia larch forests grow. IN coniferous forests the undergrowth can be birch, aspen or rhododendron.

In Canada, black spruce, white spruce, balsam fir and American larches are found in the forests.

White spruce

Also found here are Canadian hemlock and lodgepole pine.

Aspen and birch are found in admixtures.

Tropical coniferous forests

In some parts of the tropics there are coniferous forests. Caribbean, western and tropical pine grow on the islands of the Caribbean.

Sumatran and island pine are found in South Asia and on the islands.

In South American forests there are such conifers, like Fitzroya cypress and Araucaria brasiliensis.

IN tropical zone Australian coniferous forests are formed by podocarpus.

The importance of coniferous forests

There are quite a lot of coniferous forests on the planet. As trees were cut down, people began to create artificial coniferous forests in place where broadleaf trees grew. A special flora and fauna have formed in these forests. Themselves coniferous trees are of particular value. People cut them down for construction, furniture making and other purposes. However, in order to have something to cut, you first need to plant and grow, and then use coniferous wood.

Forests make up a little more than 45% of Russia's area, and almost a quarter of total area forests of the world. There are much fewer of them in the European part of the country than in the Asian part. The most common forest-forming tree species are spruce, larch, pine, cedar, oak, maple and hornbeam. The forests contain many berry bushes, mushrooms, valuable herbs, and are also home to countless species. leads to a reduction in forest areas and the threat of extinction of many animals. In the 21st century, it is very important to be able to reproduce, which play a major role in regulating the climate on the planet.

Map of forest cover of Russian territory in %

Russia is the largest strange world, and for this reason, on its territory there are many, in which various types of trees grow. The forests of Russia, depending on the predominance of certain tree species, are divided into four main types: 1) coniferous forests; 2) broad-leaved forests; 3) mixed forests; 4) small-leaved forests. Below we will look at each of these forest types in more detail.

Characteristics of coniferous forests in Russia

Coniferous forests are located in the territory and occupy about 70% of the country's total forest area. This area is known for low temperatures and humid air. Coniferous forests stretch from the western borders of Russia to the Verkhoyansk Range. The main forest-forming species are spruce, pine, fir and larch.

In conditions harsh winter Most often you can find mixed forests: dark coniferous and light coniferous. Evergreen tree species develop well. they begin in the spring with the onset of favorable weather conditions. There is practically no undergrowth in the taiga. There is podzolic soil and many swamps. Conifers shed needles, which, when decomposed, release compounds that are toxic to many plants into the ground. The ground is usually covered with mosses and lichens. Shrubs and flowers mainly grow along river banks; there are very few of them in dark places in the forest. There are lingonberries, junipers, rowan, blueberries and curly lilies.

It is the weather conditions that determine. In the coniferous forest zone, a temperate continental climate prevails. Winters are dry and cold, and last on average six months. The short summers are warm and humid, with numerous cyclones. As a rule, only one month is allocated for autumn and spring. Conifers are not picky about temperature changes.

Representatives of the animal world feed on moss, lichens, bark and cones. The high forest crown protects animals from the winds, and the branches provide an opportunity to build nests. Typical representatives of the fauna of coniferous forests are the vole, the mountain hare, the weasel, and the chipmunk. Among the large ones one can note the Siberian tiger, brown bear, lynx and elk, and from the forest-tundra zone it comes to coniferous forests reindeer. Eagles and vultures soar in the sky.

Coniferous wood is considered one of the most valuable. Its approximate reserve is 5.8 billion cubic meters. In addition to logging, oil, gold and gas are extracted in the taiga. Coniferous forests of Russia are a huge forest area. It also suffers from uncontrolled deforestation. Rare animals are dying due to negative human activities. There are many nature reserves, but for full restoration of forests it is necessary to properly organize protection and rational use.

Characteristics of broad-leaved forests of Russia

Broadleaf forest/Wikipedia

The territory of broad-leaved forests extends from the western border of Russia to Ural mountains. The main tree species are beech, oak, elm, linden, maple and hornbeam. Forests are multi-tiered: the upper tier is replaced by the canopy and undergrowth, which, in turn, are replaced by herbaceous plants and forest litter. The soil is covered with mosses. There are areas where lush crowns completely exclude undergrowth. When leaves fall, they decompose and form humus. The soil in the undergrowth is rich in organomineral compounds.

The forests are located in the temperate continental zone. The weather here is much warmer than in the neighboring taiga. Summer lasts four months average temperature during the season is +10°C. This promotes the growth of broad-leaved tree species. The climate is humid and there is a lot of rainfall. The average monthly temperature in January drops to -16ºС. Maximum precipitation occurs in summer; there is no deep snow cover.

The leaves can't survive cold period years, and fall in mid-autumn. A dense cover of foliage, branches and bark protects the ground from excessive evaporation. The soil is rich in microelements and provides trees with everything they need. Fallen leaves for the winter cover the root system, protect it from the cold and stimulate the roots for further growth.

The composition of the animal world in the European part is somewhat different from the Far Eastern forests. Asian lands are covered with thickets of fern, ilmen and linden. Elk live in dense thickets, himalayan bear and the Ussuri tiger. Cottonmouth, viper and Amur snake are common reptiles. European broadleaf forests are home to wild boar, elk, deer, wolves, weasels, beavers, muskrats and nutria. Mice, lizards, snakes, moles and hedgehogs also live there. Birds are represented by black grouse, eagle owls, owls, starlings, swallows and larks.

The zone of broad-leaved forests has long been developed by humans, especially in the west of Russia. People had to significantly reduce the green area for grazing, crop production and city construction. Trees are the main raw material for the logging industry. Processing of recyclable materials has been established. The mineral resources are rich, and large rivers have the potential for hydroelectric power development.

The forest area is being significantly reduced, while forests are being cut down on the same scale. Due to anthropogenic influence, plants and animals listed in the Red List are becoming extinct. Unscrupulous entrepreneurs are cutting down huge areas of forests. To preserve natural complexes, several reserves were created and national parks, but this is not enough. Broadleaf species trees grow relatively quickly. It is necessary to organize the planting of seedlings in the areas of cleared forests, as well as to carefully use the remaining forest areas.

Characteristics of mixed forests in Russia

Mixed forests are located in the Russian Plain region, West Siberian Plain, Amur and Primorye. A variety of tree species are found in this area. These forests are characterized by a pronounced layering. Poplars, pines and spruce trees stretch towards the light. Below them rise maples, elms, lindens and oaks. The layer of shrubs is represented by hawthorn, rose hips, raspberries and blackberries. The soil is covered with lichens, mosses and low grasses.

Trees mixed forests They tolerate the severity of the climate more easily than in neighboring broad-leaved trees. The vegetation can withstand frosts down to -30ºС. The amount of precipitation depends on the region. There is more snow in European forests than in the Far East. The maximum amount of precipitation occurs in the warm season. Summers are mild and humid. The climate changes from maritime to continental, from west to east.

Continuous renewal of green mass helps to nourish trees and cleanse the earth of unnecessary substances. Forest inhabitants use resources of all tiers as a food supply. Conifer seeds attract birds, rodents eat nuts, and larvae under the bark provide food for insectivorous birds.

Numerous once-numerous animals were exterminated as a result of uncontrolled hunting. You can also see roe deer and wild boar. The bison and red deer are preserved only in nature reserves. Known predator mixed forest is common fox. The badger lives in the European part. Squirrel, mink, dormouse, marten, forest cat, Brown bear are considered common representatives of the fauna of mixed forests. The world of birds is also diverse, especially many woodpeckers, wood grouse, wild pigeons, finches and robins.

Valuable timber reserves are located in the Asian part. Manchurian walnut, Korean cedar, and whole-leaf fir are famous for their strength and resistance to rotting. Eleutherococcus and Schisandra are used for medicinal purposes. Logging activities are carried out in Europe.

Mixed forests have suffered more than others at the hands of man. This led to a number of environmental problems. The need for agricultural land has led to the clearing of large parts of the area. Due to the draining of the swamps, it has changed. Height settlements, especially in the west, has led to a 30% reduction in forest cover.

Tree foliage recycles perfectly carbon dioxide. Deforestation has reached gigantic proportions, destroying millions of hectares. Because of this, they accumulate in the atmosphere, creating. Hundreds of species of flora and fauna are disappearing from the face of the earth. Happens due to people's fault Forest fires, radically changing the ecosystem. Rare species of animals are illegally hunted. Resources are almost depleted; only interaction between the state and citizens can stop the process of destruction of the country's mixed forests.

Characteristics of small-leaved forests in Russia

The small-leaved forest zone extends from the East European Plain to Far East. The forests stretch in a narrow strip, at times replacing broad-leaved trees. Finely deciduous trees play the role of a second forest, replacing broad-leaved and coniferous species.

The main forest-forming species are birch, alder and aspen. Their foliage is distinguished by a narrow leaf blade. Trees are undemanding to climate and soil quality. Birch trees are most widespread.

Trees often grow in places where there are fires or deforestation. Alder reproduces by shoots, and aspen by root suckers. Where there were no forests, trees grow by seed. Amazing feature the ability to accumulate moisture is considered. Thickets of alder and birch block the path of fire and prevent it from spreading to noble species.

The fauna is formed under the influence of indigenous trees. A lot of birds. Mammals include hares, lynxes, moose and squirrels. Strips of small-leaved forest alternating with farmland are favorite places for raccoon dogs.

Secondary forests contribute to the restoration of green areas, although complete rehabilitation takes about 180 years. They act as a fire buffer. It remains to be hoped that small-leaved forests will contribute to the reorganization forest resources countries.

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The main habitat of coniferous forests is the vast taiga zone with a cold climate, located in the north of Eurasia and North America. In the north, the taiga borders on the tundra, sometimes going beyond the Arctic Circle (in Taimyr north of 72° north latitude, in Scandinavia, in Alaska), in the south it extends to mixed forests, forest-steppes and steppes. The southern border reaches the 42nd parallel on the Japanese island of Honshu. In more warm places Coniferous forests do not create a continuous zone, forming forest areas and ecoregions. There are many temperate coniferous forests in western and southeastern North America and Eurasia. In the tropics, for example in South America and Australia, they are less common, mainly in the mountains. [

Most of the coniferous forests belong to the taiga - natural area northern coniferous forests. In addition to them, coniferous forests temperate zone and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests form woodlands and ecoregions.

Based on the density of the canopy, dark coniferous and light coniferous forests are distinguished. Dark coniferous forests consist of trees of shade-tolerant species: different types spruce, fir and Siberian pine, and light coniferous forests consist of light-loving trees: different types of larch and Scots pine. Dark coniferous forests have a high canopy density and canopy density, so they have low lighting and poor soil warming. Therefore, the podzol formation process is slower, coarse humus accumulates and, as a result, the soils are less fertile. The openwork of the crowns of light coniferous forests allows you to get under the canopy more precipitation and light, soil warming improves. Therefore, the ground cover and undergrowth develop more intensively. There are also mixed coniferous forests formed by both dark coniferous and light coniferous species.

In the taiga, the main forest-forming species, usually of single-tiered stands, belong mainly to the genera Spruce (Picea), Pine (Pinus), Fir (Ábies) and Larch (Larix).
In northern Europe, the most common species is Norway spruce (Pícea ábies). To the south, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is widely present in spruce-pine and pine forests.
Western Siberia is the habitat of spruce-larch, larch-cedar-pine, cedar-pine. The Yenisei taiga is represented in the south by spruce-fir-birch forests, in the middle part by spruce-cedar-birch forests, in the north by spruce-cedar-larch-birch forests. In the Tunguska taiga, Siberian larch (Lárix sibírica) is common with an admixture of spruce and pine, or with an admixture of spruce and fir in wetter places; pine forests predominate in the Angara basin.
In Eastern Siberia, larch forests predominate, mostly sparse, with developed grass cover. The undergrowth is represented by dwarf cedar (Pinus pumila), Daurian rhododendron (Rhododendron dauricum), and bush birch (Betula fruticosa). The main forest-forming species are Siberian larch and Daurian larch (Lárix gmélinii); in the mountains of Transbaikalia, Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica) and spruce are common. In Yakutia, Dahurian larch predominates with an admixture of pine, birch and aspen.

The coniferous forests of the Northern Continent represent the most extensive areas of continuous forest cover on Earth. Conifers do well in high latitudes because they are evergreen, and photosynthesis can begin immediately as soon as conditions become favorable for growth, without the need to grow leaves first, as is the case with deciduous forests. In this way, conifers compensate for the short growing season, which lasts from 50 to 80 days, depending on latitude. Seed maturation and reproduction are also related to climate. Coniferous trees, unlike deciduous trees, do not form fruiting organs, which are pollinated and ripen within one year. Fertilization in the female cone may take a year or more to complete and may take up to three years
until the bud develops and the seeds are ripe for propagation. The result of the lack of leaf litter and the prevalence of cold climatic conditions that retard the natural decomposition of the carpet of fallen pine needles, a material that is difficult to decompose in any case, is only a very thin layer of soil and little or no undergrowth. The mammals that inhabit these areas are mostly herbivores and live on a diet of moss, pine needles, bark and cones. Insectivorous birds
are rare compared to those that feed on the seeds and buds of conifers. In these places, forest fires are infrequent, and usually occur in the spring, when there is little sap in the trees. At this time, vast areas can be devastated.
Repopulation begins with deciduous trees - birch, alder and rowan, which only after some time are replaced by climax vegetation - spruce, larch, cedar * or pine.
The characteristic tall, pointed shape of conifers is ideal for supporting the weight of winter snow and allowing the snow to slide off quickly when it begins to melt in the spring. The shallow root system is perfectly adapted to the thin layer of soil that characterizes this habitat. In northern regions where underlying soil layers remain frozen, and therefore impervious to water, many rivers, streams and swamps arise with their local flora of mosses and sedges. The forest becomes more and more sparse and mixes with the neighboring tundra. Large areas of tundra mosses and lichens grow at higher elevations. Near the rivers in the transition region, the forest remains dense and encroaches far to the north, into the tundra, along the river valleys. On the southern edge of the taiga belt, coniferous forests are gradually replaced by deciduous forests.
Throughout the world, small areas of coniferous forests occur outside their main latitudinal distribution, especially on mountain slopes, where altitudinal zonation creates climatic conditions, similar to the conditions formed near the poles.
During the Human Age, coniferous forests suffered significant damage due to clearing for Agriculture and industrial forestry. As a result, large areas of land were subject to wind and rain erosion, which destroyed the soil structure and, naturally, reduced its ability to retain moisture. Coniferous forests took some time to recover from the damage because the normal process of succession cannot take place immediately.

* It should be remembered that in the northern coniferous forests there is no true cedar (genus Cedrus). Under English word“cedar” can refer to juniper, Siberian cedar pine (most often called that), thuja and cypress. – V.P.

VEGETARIAN BEASTS

Evolution of the helmethorns

6 months

9 months

1 year

2 years

3 years

The horny formation on the head of the helmet grows gradually throughout youth and at the beginning of adulthood, and in the case of the helmet, it takes on a complete form around the third year of life.

Animals that feed on woody vegetation are the largest inhabitants in areas covered with coniferous forest. In the summer they feed mostly on young shoots and needles, and subsist on a diet of bark, mosses and lichens for the rest of the year. Throughout the northern continent, the most numerous species are those descended from the gigantelopes of the African subcontinent.
The difference in size between the two different northern forms stems from two different periods of dispersal. The first of these took place about forty million years ago, before the giant mountain ranges were erected between Africa and Europe, and around the time that the rabbits drove the antelopes from their original home on the African plains. Gigantelopes, then still in the early stages of their evolution, were forced to move north into coniferous forests, where they later began to flourish and evolved into helmeted horns. Cornudens spp.
The second wave of migration took place closer to the present, about ten million years ago, when African giantelopes reached their current elephantine proportions. Erosion of the mountain range that once separated the Indian subcontinent from the rest of Asia opened up new routes to the north, and led to the gradual settlement of the tundra and the evolution of the woolly gigantelope. Megalodorcas sp.
Soon after the appearance of these animals in coniferous forests, the jaws and horns of the ancestral forms of helmeted horns began to evolve in accordance with their new habitat. Like the now almost extinct ruminants, many of these animals did not have upper incisors. They plucked grass using the lower incisors and the bone plate in the upper jaw. But such a system is not very effective in tearing branches from forest trees
. The first change that occurred was the growth of the horny plate on the head forward, forming a kind of beak. The lower lip became muscular and extended forward to align with it, thereby extending the oral cavity forward some distance from the front teeth. Such a primitive structure is still found in some species, for example, in the helmeted helmet Cornudens horridus
. In more advanced forms, however, the lower jaw also extended forward so that the front teeth aligned with the horny beak. These adaptations are the result of evolutionary pressure to allow only those species that could successfully feed on the branches and bark of conifers and lichens to survive. The bizarre horny formations above the eyes are also used for protection. The structure of the horns has evolved one step further in the water helmet, which inhabits lakes and river banks. This creature has a horny plate extended forward in the form of a wide structure, similar to a rake, with the help of which this animal collects soft aquatic plants, which it searches for at the bottom of ponds and streams. On each leg it has two wide hooves, widely spread to the sides and connected by a membrane of skin, which protects the animal from getting stuck in soft mud and sand. In its way of life, the water helmet most likely resembles hadrosaurs - duck-billed dinosaurs of the last half of the Age of Reptiles.

As in any other habitat, the animals of the coniferous forest are included in the familiar web of food chains of predators and their prey, with carnivores forming the last link. Here, as in the temperate deciduous forests, the most ferocious and common hunters are the predatory rats. They hunt under trees in small flocks, tracking down rabbits or helmeted sheep, separating weak and aging individuals from the herd, and driving them to exhaustion. Predatory rats do this before attacking, then tearing apart the prey with their strong front teeth. Helmethorns have powerful horns, so if they are chased, it can be just as dangerous for the predator as for the one being chased.
A predator unique to coniferous forests is the pamtret Vulpemustela acer, a large animal similar to a weasel, one of the few representatives of true predators still living. Its size - up to two meters in length - makes it the largest predator found in these areas, and it may owe its survival to its short, muscular body and ability to easily run through sparse undergrowth, suddenly appearing in front of its prey. Patterns live small family groups and usually hunt in pairs.
Not all predators are mammals; Birds also take their share of small animal populations. Bigbeak Pseudofraga sp., one of the largest birds of prey, has a wingspan of about a meter and lives in western forests Northern Continent. It evolved from the starling, which evolved to fill the gap left when many ancient birds of prey became extinct during the Age of Man. It has a rounded tail and wide, blunted wings, thanks to which it flies quickly and maneuverably between frequently growing trees. It has a straight, strong beak and strong claws, which it uses to grab prey.
The closest living relative of the greatbeak,- a completely different creature. It is only ten centimeters long and feeds mainly on insects, which it pulls out of the bark of trees with its thin beak.
With so many predators in the coniferous forest, it is not surprising that small mammals must have many protective devices to ensure your survival. Spine-tailed squirrel Humisciurus spinacaudatus
is a great example of their ingenuity. It has a long, wide and flat tail with spines developing on its underside, which lies on the ground at rest. However, when the animal is alarmed, it throws its tail over its back, and with a sharp increase in skin tension, it raises the spines. This becomes an almost insurmountable barrier, and can be used to repel attacks from any side. The beaver was a large rodent that adapted a semi-aquatic lifestyle during the Age of Mammals, in part to protect itself from predators. After man, beaver Castor spp.

became even better adapted to life in water. Its tail and hind legs are fused together into one large paddling surface, which, driven by the spine, produces powerful up and down paddling motions.

Its ears, eyes and nose are set high up on its head and remain on the surface when the rest of the animal's body is submerged in water. Surprisingly, the paddle surface does not interfere with the animal’s movement on the ground, and is used as a grasping limb, allowing it to climb trees, expanding the range of possible sources of food and building material.

LIFE IN THE TREES
Birds and animals that feed on trees and on trees of coniferous forests Throughout the Age of Mammals, rodents were one of the most successful groups of animals in coniferous forests. Their powerful teeth helped them cope with the tough plant material they found there, and their warm, fluffy coats helped them retain body heat during hibernation.*, a rodent relative of the moth squirrel from temperate deciduous forests, is highly adapted to life in coniferous forests.
Its huge incisors and worm-like body allow it to drill deep tunnels in living trees, where in winter it is reliably protected from the cold. Although in some respects this animal is at an advanced stage of development, its parasitic lifestyle is rather more primitive. The basis of its diet is the bark of trees, which it peels off completely, leaving the tree bare. This, combined with the serious damage it causes by tunneling, destroys the tree within a few years.
Since chiseltooths inhabit only living trees, they must constantly move, and every spring, after hibernation, a new generation of young individuals migrate in search of new lands. They are very vulnerable during migration and many are predated by predators before they complete their journey. The balance between woodworm and predator is extremely fragile, and only a slight decrease in the number of predators is enough for an increase in the number of woodgnaws to occur, which could lead to the complete destruction of coniferous forest over large areas.
Not a single small rodent of any other species among the inhabitants of coniferous forests is so destructive. Many feed on shoots, bark and seeds found in cones. Many species live on the ground and feed from cones when they fall. Other species are lightly built and agile enough to climb branches where cones grow. One large, vole-like rodent travels Scandemys longicaudata , is unusual in that it has a prehensile tail. It is too heavy to reach the cones growing on the thinnest branches, and instead it feeds on them by hanging by its tail on a stronger branch growing nearby and reaching for them with its front paws. Like other rodents of approximately the same size, it collects more food than is necessary to satisfy its one-time needs, and stores the leftovers for the hungry winter months.
Its hibernation nest is a long hanging structure woven from grass, strips of bark and pine needles. Hanging from the end of a branch, it is large enough to accommodate the animal along with enough successful wintering. The two sexes of this bird differ greatly both in appearance and in lifestyle. The male has a more powerful build and is armed with a massive beak, which he uses to break pine cones and extract seeds from them. The female, smaller and duller in color, completely lacks the heavy beak of the male and is a scavenger, including carrion, insects, larvae and bird eggs in her diet. It is most likely that the ancestor of the common pine click beetle was a bird similar in appearance to the modern female, and the distinctive features of the male evolved primarily to mating games, and his food preferences are a secondary adaptation.

Despite the high prevalence of pine crops in coniferous forests, natural spruce forests (Piceeta abietis) grow in altitude zone 1200-1650 meters above sea level, where the forest floor mainly consists of layers of immature humus. Such plantings are especially well formed in the conditions of the Marmaro crystalline massif and the Montenegrin ridge. Here spruce forms pure stands over large areas.

Fir-spruce forests (Abieto-Piceetum) formed on very acidic, poor, but with a high proportion of fine earth, mainly on waterlogged soils in the mountain fir-beech belt. Under such habitat conditions, beech is not competitive.

In some places, pine pine (Pinus cembra) and larch (Larix decidua) grow on the border of the forest. In the Kedrin reserve and on the slopes of Mount Popadya, relict cedar-fir and larch-cedar-fir plantations are protected.

Mountain pine (Pinus mugo), green alder (Alnus viridis) and Siberian juniper (Juniperus sibirica) throughout the entire area form almost completely pure thickets with undergrowth, varying depending on the properties of the substrate, exposure and other habitat factors.

Douglasia green

(Another name: green pseudohemlock) (Genus "Douglasia")

A tree up to 125 m high and 5 m in diameter. Lives 500-800 (1500) years. Brought to Russia in 1827. The trunk is straight, columnar, full of wood, cleared of branches by 55-75%, and therefore gives a large yield of clean lumber. The crown is dense, broadly conical or broadly pyramidal, pointed. The branches are irregularly ring-shaped. The needles are perennial (up to 8 years), placed spirally on elongated annual shoots. The age of maturity of Douglas finch reaches 10-20 years. Fruits every year. This breed is moderately sensitive to heat. It does not tolerate severe frosts, heat, late spring frosts, long droughts and dry winds.

Siberian larch

(Genus "larch")

The tree is 30-37 meters high and 80-160 cm in diameter. Lives 400-500 years. The trunk is straight, full-wooded, cylindrical, highly cleared of branches. The bark of young trees is thin, in old ones it is thick, deeply fissured, and red at the end. Crown in at a young age narrow, in older ones - wide. The needles are 2.5-5.0 cm long and up to 1 mm wide, arranged singly and spirally. On shortened shoots, the needles are collected in bunches of 25-60 pieces. It blooms in space from 12-15 years. The cones are 1.5-3.0 cm long and 18-35 mm thick. The root system is strong (strongly developed main tap root and deep lateral ones). This breed is significantly demanding of light, frost-resistant, winter-hardy and heat-resistant. Not picky about soil fertility.

European larch

(Genus "larch")

Photo of European larch

The tree is 25-45 m high and 80-100 (160) cm in diameter. Lives 450-500 years. The trunk is straight (sometimes saber-shaped at the bottom), full of wood. In young trees the crown is narrowly conical and pointed, while in old trees it is irregular shape. Longitudinal shoots are bare, thin and yellowish-brown. The needles are 1-4 cm long and 1.5 mm wide, light green, with a sharp yellowish tip. The needles appear in March-April, turn yellow and fall off in the fall. Propagated by seeds. It bears fruit from 15-20 years and repeats every 3-5 years. A very light-loving breed. Relatively frost-resistant and winter-hardy. Wind-resistant, tolerates air pollution well, and has little demands on moisture and soil.

Spruce

(Other names: common spruce, Norway spruce) (Genus "spruce, fir")

The tree is 30-45 m high and up to 1.5 m in diameter. Lives 250-300 (500) years. The trunk is almost cylindrical and slender up to 1/3 of its height. Dead branches do not fall off for a long time. The bark is thin. The crown is dense and compact. The needles are shiny, hard, prickly, 2-3 cm long and up to 1.5 mm wide. The cones are drooping, cylindrical, 10-15 cm long and 3-4 cm in diameter. In the wild, it bears fruit from 15-20 years. Harvest years are repeated every 4-7 years. The seeds ripen in the year of flowering. The root system is superficial, but on loose soils the lateral roots are deep. Shade-tolerant, moderately demanding of soil fertility.

Spruce or Norway spruce (Picea abies) is the dominant tree species of the highland and subalpine zones in the Alps and northern taiga. In the forests of Montenegro there are optimal growing conditions for it. It can reach an age of 500-600 years, a height of 60 meters and a diameter of 2 meters. Its crown can be cone-shaped or pyramidal, and external shape very different and determined by the type of branching. Depending on the location of the branches - hanging, brush-like. The slender, column-like crowns of pine trees in the higher zones of Montenegro are striking. Thanks to such crowns, they do not experience heavy snow load.

Young needles appear here, depending on the altitude, from mid-May to early June and grow for 5-7 years. Strict conditions in the upper belts determine some features in the biology of pine. So, in the lower zones bountiful harvests recur after 3-6 years, and high in the mountains - only after 6-9 years. Also, with height, both the size of the cones and the weight of the seeds decrease. A thousand pine seeds weigh only 5-8 grams.

Siberian spruce

(Another name: spruce) (Genus "spruce, fir")

A tree 25-30 m high and 0.7-0.9 m in diameter, lives 250-300 years. The view is close to the previous one. The crown is narrow and dense. The trunks are straight. Poorly cleared of knots. The shoots are relatively thin. The needles are 10-15 (20) mm long and 1 mm wide. Blooms in June from 20-25 years. Cones hanging down. According to environmental indicators, it is close to common spruce. But more frost-resistant, cold-resistant and drought-resistant.

Scots pine

(Genus "pine")

Tree 25-40 m high and more than 1 m in diameter. Lives up to 350 (600) years. The needles are steamy, emerging from leathery brown sheaths, 4-9 cm long (it all depends on the age of the tree) and up to 2 mm wide, linearly spirally placed on the shoot, hard, prickly. Above: dark green, below: bluish-green with a waxy coating. The needles live 2-3 (8) years. The seeds ripen in the fall of the following year after flowering. The cones are single or in groups of 2-3, oblong-ovate, short pointed, 3-7 cm long, 2-4 cm in diameter. The cones open in March-April. For example, one hectare of old pine forest produces 4-15 kg of seeds. It bears fruit annually, but fruitful years are only after 3-4 years. Scots pine is a very light-loving species, as evidenced by its openwork crown. The trunk is cleared of knots. About competition: easily replaced by more shade-tolerant and fast-growing species. It is not demanding on soil fertility and moisture. The breed is frost-resistant and cold-resistant.

Banks Pines

(Genus "pine")

The tree is 18-25 m high and 50-70 cm in diameter. Lives up to 120 years. The crown is medium dense, compact, and in old trees it is widely spreading and liquefied. The trunks are often variegated, often forked and gnarled. Coniferous steam room, 2-4 cm long and up to 1.5 mm wide, twisted, bent. Banks pine bears fruit annually from 5-7 years and abundantly. The cones are lateral, sessile, 2-3 (7) pieces each, oblong-oval, strongly curved. The root system is strong. The species is frost-resistant and drought-resistant, more shade-tolerant than Scots pine. A fast-growing breed, but growth stops at 40-50 years of age.

Weymouth Pine

(Genus "pine")

The tree is 30-35 (50) meters high and 120-150 cm in diameter. Lives 220-270 years. This breed was brought from North America in 1705 by Weymouth. The crown is broad-pyramidal and dense. The shoots are thin, greenish. The trunks are straight. Highly cleared of knots. The bark on trees up to 30 years old is thin, in middle age it is lamellar, and in old age it becomes thicker. The needles are linear, 6-11 cm long and up to 0.5 mm wide, in bunches of 5 pieces. The needles live for 2-3 years. Weymouth pine blooms in May. The cones ripen in the fall of next year. It bears fruit from 15-25 years (depending on the growing conditions of the tree). Harvest years are repeated every 2-5 years. The cones are hanging, slightly bent. The breed has little demand for soil fertility and moisture. Well tolerated wet soils and even flowing swamps, where the root system is superficial, windiness can be observed. Requires humid air. Moderately sensitive to light.

Mountain pine

(Genus "pine")

A creeping tree species, mountain pine (Pinus mugo), common in the subalpine zone. Some specimens of mountain pine reach an age of 350 years. The trunks grow up to 12 meters in height with a diameter of up to 25 cm. ethnoscience uses mountain pine in the treatment of various colds. Before the First World War, there was even a small factory in Montenegro for extracting essential oils from it.

Mountain pine often forms dense thickets up to 3 meters high over large areas, almost impassable by humans. This, according to legend, was used by a young shepherd who had to herd the sheep of a rich peasant. There was a condition: none of the sheep should be torn apart by wolves. The shepherd drove the sheep to Goverla, where there were pastures surrounded by dense pine thickets. Natural protection worked - not a single sheep was lost. In the fall, he drove all the sheep into the valley and asked for the rich man’s daughter to be his wife. The old one agreed. So the mountain pine helped the young shepherd not only keep his entire herd unharmed, but also find himself a wife.

European cedar pine

(Another name: European cedar) (Genus "pine")

The tree is 20-27 m high and 100-130 cm in diameter. Lives 500-600 (1000) years. The trunk is straight, poorly cleared of knots. The bark is smooth when young, then becomes thick and fissured. The crown in youth is dense, cone-shaped, and then pyramidal and broadly cylindrical. There are 5 needles each, the cones are located at the ends of the shoots, erect. The root system is wide, powerful, and even on rocky soils they penetrate deep into the ground. The breed is wind-resistant and grows slowly. Demanding on soil moisture, quite shade-tolerant.

Korean cedar pine

(Another name: Korean cedar) (Genus "pine")

The tree is 30-35 (60) m high and up to 2 m in diameter. Lives 400-700 years. The crown is of medium density, broadly cone-shaped, low-set. The trunks are straight, moderately tapered, poorly cleared of knots. The shoots are not thick, green. The needles grow in groups of 5 in sparse bunches. Length 7-15 (20) cm, and width up to 1 mm. The seeds are grey-brown. Contains 65% fat. Harvest every three years. The breed is slow growing. For example, at 20 years old the height reaches only 3 meters. Frost-resistant, shade-tolerant.

Siberian cedar pine

(Another name: Siberian cedar) (Genus "pine")

A tree up to 35 m high and up to 180 cm in diameter lives up to 500 years. The trunk in plantings is cylindrical, straight, slightly tapered, and in open spaces it is tapered, very thick in the lower part. The crown is dense, ovoid or oval spreading, wide. First order branches extend from the trunk at right angles. Blooms in June. The cones are erect. Fruiting occurs at 25-30 years. Most of all in 80-180 years. Reproduces with the help of rodents and birds. This breed is not demanding on soil fertility and moisture. Frost-resistant and cold-resistant, relatively shade-tolerant. Does not tolerate pollution well.

Crimean pine

(Genus "pine")

The tree is 25-30 m high and 70-90 (110) cm in diameter. Lives 250 (350) years. The crown at a young age is dense, pyramidal; in old age - flat umbrella-shaped. Steam needles, 10-18 cm long and up to 2.5 mm wide. The needles live for 3-5 years. Crimean pine blooms in May. The seeds ripen in the third year. The cones are sessile. Natural regeneration is not always successful. The breed is drought-resistant, heat-resistant, light-loving and smoke-resistant.

Yew

(Genus "yew")

There are few plants that are so often mentioned in legends as the yew (Taxus boccata). There must be something special about this tree, which can live for over 5,000 years, whose wood does not rot for centuries and sinks in water like a stone. At the age of 100 to 150 years, yew trees reach a height of about 10 meters and a diameter of 20 to 25 cm.

Previously, the yew was very common, as evidenced by the name of the Tisza River. For its valuable wood, the yew was heavily cut down in the years 1400-1700. Because of its decorative, hard and rot-resistant wood, furniture, dishes, jewelry, and even cannonballs were made for the castle in Khust. Yew wood was expensive and the local population apparently paid them tribute.

In Greek mythology, according to Pliny and Dioscorides, the yew was considered the tree of death. This is true because almost all parts of the yew, with the exception of the edible red pulp of the fruit, are highly poisonous. The components of the toxin are used today in medicine in the treatment of certain diseases. nervous system and tumors.

Fir

(Another name: European fir) (Genus "fir")

The tree is 42-50 (60) g tall, diameter - 1.5-2.0 m. Lives 350-450 (700) years. The trunk is straight, columnar, full of wood, highly cleared of branches. The bark up to 50-60 years is smooth, thin, light gray. The crown is dense, acute pyramidal or cone-shaped in youth. In the older one it is cylindrical. The needles are 12-30 mm long and 2-3 mm wide, flat, hard, straight or slightly bent. It's dumb at the top. The needles live 8-10 years. White fir bears fruit from 30-40 years. The cones are 10-18 (25) cm long, 3-5 cm in diameter, erect. The root system of a tree on light soils is a taproot, but on heavy soils there is no taproot. Doesn't tolerate well low temperatures, dry air and soil, great heat. The breed is also sensitive to late spring frosts.

On the territory of Russia, white fir (Abies alba) forms mainly mixed stands with the participation of fir and beech, and less often elm and ash. Fir can reach 500-600 years of age, 65 meters in height, and 2 meters in diameter. The crown of young trees is predominantly cone-shaped, later acquiring a cylindrical shape. In old trees, the growth of the trunk slows down significantly compared to the growth of the upper beech branches, and therefore the top of their crown takes on a flattened or nest-like shape. Unlike spruce, whose cones hang down, cylindrical fir cones, up to 20 cm long, stand straight on the branches, like candles. After the seeds ripen in late September - early October, the cones quickly disintegrate after the first frost and only the rods remain, which are visible on the tree branches for several years.