Larix kaempferi 'Blue Dwarf' Photo by Elena Solovyova. Is larch a deciduous or coniferous tree? Features and distribution of the plant Where does larch grow

Dendrologists divide all woody plant species into two large groups: deciduous and coniferous trees. And, as a rule, it is very simple to attribute a particular species to one of these groups. The only exception to this rule is larch. Is it deciduous or Let's try to figure this out.

Larch: coniferous or

Lárix - this is the name of this miracle tree in Latin. Why, then, many people have a question: "Is larch a deciduous or coniferous tree?" And how to answer it correctly?

The thing is that, although this tree has needles, it sheds its needles for the winter, just as the representatives of deciduous species do. It is this moment that drives many people into a dead end. And not everyone can confidently answer the question "larch is a deciduous or coniferous tree."

In fact, this beauty of botanists belongs to the pine family, and, thus, it is a coniferous species. And one of the most common on the planet.

Larch: a botanical description of the plant

So, we found out that larch is a coniferous tree. The features of this plant, as well as its distribution across the Earth, we will consider below.

The average height of this tree is no more than 50 meters (with a trunk diameter of no more than 1 meter). Larches live on average up to 300 years, although some specimens have been recorded that have lived up to 800 years.

The peculiarity of this plant is a conical (like many conifers), but very loose (translucent) crown. In places where the wind rose is unidirectional, the crown may have a flag-like shape.

The main feature of this coniferous species is its needles. It is annual and very soft, like a coniferous tree. It is pleasant enough to touch the larch needles. Every autumn the tree sheds its needles, and in the spring new, fresh, green needles grow on its branches.

Larches are sufficiently developed and powerful, which allows them to settle on steep mountain slopes, where strong winds blow throughout the year. In some cases, for greater stability, even its lower branches take root in the ground.

Larch is a very light-loving tree, therefore she chooses the appropriate areas for herself: open and unshaded. If the growing conditions are favorable, then the plant is able to reach for the sun at an amazing speed: up to one meter per year!

Larch is very resistant to low air temperatures. She is not afraid of sharp frosts. It is also undemanding to soils. So, larch can grow both on dry soil of a mountain slope and on waterlogged land of a swampy lowland. However, if the soil conditions are too unfavorable, then the tree will grow very stunted and short.

Geographic distribution of the plant

Larch is one of the most common tree species on the planet, with up to 15 different species. Very often these trees form vast and light forests. Huge areas are occupied by larch forests in Siberia, as well as in the Far East.

European larch is often called a long-lived tree. She easily survives to the age of several hundred years. On the territory of Russia, three types of larch are most often found: Russian, Siberian and Daurian. The latter can be easily distinguished by its shiny silvery buds. In Transbaikalia, whole forests grow from

Western and American larch became widespread in North America. In the USA, wood of these species is actively used in construction and industry.

Human use of larch

The wood of this tree has long been used by man. It is distinguished by its strength, elasticity, resinousness. Plus, it is very resistant to decay. In terms of hardness, larch fabric is second only to oak.

The wood of this plant is actively used in the construction business, in industry, in the construction of water or underwater structures. Turpentine is also produced from it.

The plant is also used in folk medicine. So, larch needles are a huge source of ascorbic acid. Therefore, fresh needles (or infusion of them) are an excellent preventive measure against scurvy. In addition, baths from the needles of this tree are recommended for people suffering from joint diseases. Turpentine is also made from larch resin - a very effective remedy for rheumatism and gout.

Finally...

Is larch a deciduous or coniferous tree? After reading our article, you will forever remember the answer to this question.

Larch is not only a beautiful tree, but also very useful. The wood of this unique plant is distinguished by its great strength and resistance to decay, therefore it is widely used in the construction industry. And several centuries earlier, the strongest and most reliable ships were made from it.

(lat. Lárix) is a genus of woody plants of the pine family, one of the most common species of conifers. Larch is the only genus of conifers whose needles fall off for the winter. However, larch seedlings retain their needles throughout the year. If we take into account that in “childhood” trees exhibit the features of the most ancient forms, it can be assumed that deciduousness of larch is a secondary quality. Probably, its ancestors were evergreen trees, and the ability to shed foliage in autumn arose as a result of adaptation to a harsh climate (with frosts up to 60 ° C). Due to its exceptional frost resistance and unpretentiousness, larch is very widespread.

About 20 species of larch grow in cold and temperate zones of Europe, Asia and North America. The most ancient species grow in the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, Eastern Tibet and Cordelier. In Russia there are 6-7 species and several hybrid forms that have arisen at the junctions of ranges. The participation of larch in the species composition of forests increases with movement to the north. There are 14 species of larch growing in Russia. Of these species, the Daurian and Siberian are of the greatest economic importance. Larch in Russia occupies the largest area among all species - about 40% of the forest area and 33% of our total timber stock is concentrated in them. In harsh climatic conditions, larch reaches performance indicators only by 150-200 years.

Larch is a monoecious tree, usually large, up to 35-50 m in height and up to 1 m in diameter.The crown is conical (in young trees), cylindrical or broadly conical (in old trees), formed by elongated growth shoots, on which the needles are located singly and in a spiral, and shortened shoots with bunches of needles (20-40 each).

Larch forests (larch, foliage) - light coniferous pure or mixed forests with the main species (dominant) larch. The most significant areas are in Northern Eurasia, North America (Canada), small areas - in Central and East Asia (China) and Western Europe. In Russia, the bulk is in Western and Eastern Siberia, in the Urals, in the mountains of Southern Siberia and Transbaikalia, in the Far East. In the northwestern regions of the European part of Russia, larch forests are found in small areas.

Larch forests are widespread in various climatic and soil conditions, from the arid central regions of Asia, where they border the steppes, to the forest-tundra and the upper border of the forest in the mountains. Up to 80% of deciduous forests grow in the zone of continuous permafrost. Larch forests are the most common type of vegetation cover in Russia. Their appearance changes significantly from region to region.

Characteristics of larch wood

Larch wood is characterized by increased strength compared to oak - 96 MPa by 94 MPa. The density of Siberian larch is 620-725 kg / m3 with a moisture content of up to 12%, which is little inferior to the density of oak 670-720 kg / m3. In addition to its special strength and resistance to external influences, it is characterized by good color and structure.

Larch is a sound species. It has a reddish-brown core and sharply limited narrow white or slightly yellowish sapwood, well visible annual layers with a clear boundary between early and late wood.

The texture of larch is determined on longitudinal sections by the width of the annual layers, the difference in the color of late and early wood, as well as the kernel and sapwood. The texture is especially rich and beautiful on tangential cuts. The wood is slightly knotty. Larch wood has a low density, i.e. it is characterized by a significant difference in density between late and early wood.

Freshly cut larch wood has a moisture absorption rate of 126%. Just like in other species, a growing larch tree exhibits seasonal and daily fluctuations in humidity, which, while maintaining the general pattern, are manifested to a much lesser extent.

The moisture absorption and water absorption of larch wood is significantly lower than that of pine due to its higher density. When using protective coatings, products made from it practically do not change their moisture content during operation, so larch can be used for parquet. The moisture conductivity of larch is also significantly lower than that of pine, spruce and birch, which requires a special approach to drying larch lumber.

Larch belongs to the species with strong drying out. Significantly more than in pine and spruce, and the internal stress arising in the process of drying larch sawn timber. Therefore, such lumber is more prone to cracking and warping during the drying process than other conifers.

The density of wood depends significantly on the type and place of growth. The most dense timber is distinguished by deciduous timber obtained in Altai, followed by the Urals and the Urals. European larch has the lowest density.

The air permeability of larch wood (core) is the lowest among all our species. The same can be said about water permeability. Due to this, larch wood is difficult to impregnate with various protective qualities.

In addition to its beautiful texture and color, larch has very high strength characteristics. It is slightly inferior in these indicators only to hardwood species. Its mechanical properties also significantly depend on the type and place of growth.

Possessing high physical and mechanical properties, larch wood, at the same time, requires a certain technological approach when processing it. Saw blades are heavily greased when sawing. It is difficult to process with ordinary tools, but it is well polished and painted (after the surface has been demineralized.)

Larches harvested in Altai, in the Baikal region, in the upper reaches of the Lena and Angara have the best qualities. Larch wood belongs to the group that is resistant to biological effects (fungal attack). Moreover, biostability increases with the age of the tree. More biostable wood in the lower (butt) part of the trunk.

Prolonged exposure to water leads to a noticeable increase in the hardness of larch. During the construction of Venice, about 400 thousand pieces of larch piles were driven in to strengthen the foundations of various structures. In 1827, i.e. after 1000 - 1400 years, some of the piles were examined. In the conclusion about their strength, it is said that the piles from the larch forest, on which the underwater part of the city is based, seemed to have turned to stone. The tree has become so hard that the ax and the saw can hardly take it.

Due to the peculiarity of the resin that impregnates larch, it is not attacked by wood-boring insects, and also allows it to be used without any chemical treatment in cases where other species are prone to rot.

Fire resistance of larch wood, according to research carried out by the Moscow State Forest University, is approximately twice as high as that of pine wood.

Daurian larch has valuable properties. It is a sound rock with resin passages. The sapwood is narrow, white with a slight brownish tint; the core is reddish-brown, sharply different from the sapwood. Annual layers are very well distinguished in all sections due to the sharp difference between early and late wood and their number in one centimeter is equal to 12-16 pieces. In terms of physical and mechanical properties, larch wood ranks first among Russian conifers, while Daurian larch gives wood with higher physical and mechanical properties (by 10%) than Siberian larch. The height of the trunk is up to 46 meters, the deflection is 1.2%.

Application of larch wood

Larch wood is used in small shipbuilding, construction, carpentry - elements of building structures, wall beams, parquet, molded products, window frames, sleepers and poles of power lines.

Piles and other elements of hydraulic structures are made of larch, which serve indefinitely. One example is Venice, which was already mentioned above. Another example - the piles of the Trojan Bridge over the Danube stood for 1800 years.

The parquet floor of the Ostankino Palace of the Sheremetyevs, the window frames of the Winter Palace prove that larch wood can serve for many years without the use of special antiseptics.

Currently, a technology has been developed for the production of laminated veneer lumber and furniture board from larch. Larch wood in glued structures can be combined with pine (under certain conditions).

The track of the Olympic cycle track in Krylatskoye is made of larch.

Larch wood, both in the form of round timber and in the form of sawn timber, is in steady demand in the Western European market. Moreover, the prices for larch wood are practically not subject to seasonal fluctuations and remain stably high.

Larch wood is used: for equipping swimming pools, beaches, boat berths, balconies, loggias, terraces, shower rooms, cladding of built-in equipment, wardrobes, wardrobes, panels, etc.

The cost of products or structures made of larch wood is higher than that of pine, but the products are much more durable. The strength of the root wood is much higher than that of the stem, and the curled texture gives it a special expressiveness. Festive and ritual dishes were cut from the root wood. A bucket with a capacity of one and a half buckets is stored in Zagorsk. The ladle was hollowed out in the 18th century. from a larch root by a certain Volga master.

Until the middle of the XIX century. in Russia, it was forbidden by law to sell larch wood to private individuals - too much of it was required for military and commercial shipbuilding (and even now there are restrictions on its use). An exception was made during the construction of the Winter Palace, St. Basil's Cathedral, the cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin, the Manege (now the Central Exhibition Hall in Moscow), where the frames and floors were made of larch wood.

The high acoustic data of larch was used in the 17th century. in the manufacture of an organ in the Polish city of Kazimierz.

On old trees, you can find tinder fungus, or larch sponge. Evenks used it for washing and washing clothes. Larch soap gives a generous lather, easily washing away dirt. A rich red fabric dye was also prepared from the sponge. Larch sponge has no equal in terms of the content of resinous substances. Before the revolution, large quantities of it were exported abroad, and now it continues to be an export item. Even in ancient Rome, "white agaricus" - as the Romans called the larch sponge - was used as a valuable medicinal raw material. The sponge exported from the northern countries was highly valued in Arab medicine. For the needs of modern medicine, agaricic acid is extracted from it.

Strong, like amber, larch resin-sap refreshes the oral cavity, cleans teeth well and strengthens the gums.

The bark of the tree is also a valuable raw material. The inhabitants of the taiga receive a reddish-brown dye from it. Strong textile dyes are produced from the bark of larch, essential oils and tannins are extracted.

In the epic legends of the Mansi peoples, larch was revered as a symbol of power, longevity and eternally renewing life. Larch is a soothing tree. It heals nervous disorders, especially those accompanied by bouts of melancholy and depression. The medicinal properties of larch are determined by biologically active substances - antioxidants, which help the body fight aging and various diseases, especially under conditions of stress, polluted environment, and radiation.

WHAT IS GOOD A LARCH - AMAZING FACTS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT

And the green boron quietly slumbers
And in the silver of forest lakes -
Even slimmer than his columns,
Still fresher pine crown
And delicate larch pattern!
I. Bunin.

WHY CALLED LARCH?
Because like all deciduous trees in temperate forests, it sheds needles. Thus, it saves energy, which in conifers is lost for evaporation of moisture through the needles. The loss of needles is protection from freezing in the harsh winters of Siberia.

BUT…
Young larch plants retain their needles in winter, which apparently indicates that their ancestors were evergreen.

LARCH SPECIES
In total, about 20 species of larch are known to grow in the cold zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Mostly these are rocks that do not tolerate stagnant waters, but there are species that grow in the swampy forest-tundra of Arctic Asia and Alaska, in the taiga and the forest belt. Larch dominates the forests of most of Russia.

LOVING LIGHT
Larch is one of the most light-loving tree species. Her love of light is the reason that pure stands are formed only under conditions unfavorable for the growth of other species. Therefore, larch forests are common both in swamps (in the north) and on barren soils of steep mountain slopes (in the south).

DO YOU KNOW THAT…
Larch forests are called light taiga. Her crown is sparse, openwork, raised high on the rapid shoots of the trunk.

WHAT DO THE TALES OF THE PEOPLE SAY?
Larch is called the northern oak for its unusually strong and durable wood. In the legends of many peoples it is said that the gods preferred to create the first people from wood.

Here is how the Mansi people talk about it. For people to be durable, healthy and strong, the gods chose larch wood. Seven figurines, carved from larch wood, could only be revived, but due to the wiles of evil spirits, clay figurines were revived instead. Well, clay, as you know, is a very fragile material, it crumbles easily and is afraid of dampness. How can it be compared with a stone-strong larch! That is why people are weak and their age is short.
Of course, this is a poetic fiction, but it makes it possible to judge how highly larch was valued among the northern peoples. Especially her wood.

SYMBOL OF POWER, LONGEVITY AND ETERNALLY RENEWAL LIFE
A mighty tree, sometimes reaching forty-five meters in height with a diameter of about one and a half meters, larch was revered by many peoples as a symbol of power, longevity and ever-renewing life.

They worshiped not only individual trees, but entire groves. The Yakuts had reserved sacred groves. During the spring awakening, when the first greenery appeared on the larch trees, people went to the grove, like to a temple, to hang offerings to the forest deities on the branches of sacred trees. Here, under the shade of mighty trees, songs dedicated to them were performed.

THANKS TO THE POWERFUL TREE
The epic legends of the Mansi peoples tell about a sacred grove of seven hundred-year-old larches, to which the heroes of the epic made great sacrifices in the name of love, happiness and peace on earth. But in the worship of the taiga inhabitants, not only the sacred awe before the mysterious power of nature, but also simply human gratitude to the mighty tree, which gave them much that was necessary for life, manifested itself.

THE MOST STRONG
Knowing about the durability of larch, during the construction of St. Petersburg, which was to be erected in a swamp, Peter I ordered larch logs to be driven into the ground. One of the most beautiful cities in the world was built on larch piles.

Larch wood also never shrinks. Therefore, during the construction of the Winter Palace, where the most valuable varieties of trees were used, window frames and doors were made of larch.
Almost all the details of the interior of the cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin and the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed are built from its wood. Many canals, dams, mills in the 17-18 centuries were built mainly from larch wood.

INITIATOR OF LARCH GROVES
In Russia, larch was considered the best tree for building ships, especially during the time of Peter I, when the Russian fleet was intensively built. Naturally, a huge number of trees were destroyed. However, it was Peter I who initiated the laying of larch groves, one of which is now located near Zelenogorsk, not far from St. Petersburg.

THE BUCKET IS THE PRIDE OF OWNERS
Special mention should be made of the wood of the larch root. Its strength is much higher than stem wood, and the curled textured pattern gives it a special expressiveness. If peasant craftsmen tried to use softer wood for the manufacture of everyday dishes, then they took durable and hard wood for festive and ritual dishes.

POLICE OFFICER OF OUR STATE
In the fall of 1960 in the USA in the small town of Seattle, not far from Washington, the V World Congress of Foresters gathered. After the end of the congress, scientists decided to plant trees - to create a People's Friendship Park. In this park, a representative of each delegation had to plant a "national tree" of their country.

And 96 young trees have been planted on American soil as a sign that these countries' foresters want peace. Our "national tree" was among these seedlings.

It was not easy to choose it, because about four thousand species of various trees grew in the former Soviet Union, and many of them could rightfully be considered national. What tree should become the representative of the USSR - the largest power in the world? Foresters did not hesitate for long ...

The anthem of the Soviet Union sounded, the red flag fluttered in the wind in the hands of an American youth, who stood to the right of the Soviet representative, And in the hands of the girl who stood on the left, a sapling of a tree appeared, which has since represented our state in the Park of Friendship of Peoples - a sapling of a larch.

TAIGA TREATMENT
In Eastern Siberia, there was once a children's joke: “Sunshine, sunshine, look out the window! Your children are crying, they are picking up sulfur, they are not giving us a spoon, for a black bear, we have not a crumb! " Sulfur is a water-soluble larch sap or gum that protrudes from the cracks in a tree.

Larch resin, transparent as amber, is a kind of taiga delicacy. Being in the taiga, seasoned tourists and geologists love to chew a pleasant-tasting, aromatic, and most importantly healthy resin. Replacing toothpaste and brush, resin refreshes the oral cavity and strengthens the gums.

LARCH BARK
Larch bark is also a valuable raw material. The inhabitants of the taiga received red-brown paint from it. Strong textile dyes are also produced from larch bark industrially, at the same time extracting essential oils and tannins from it. They also make floats for seines from the bark.

LARCH SPONGE
If you have to be in a larch forest, take a closer look at the trunks of old larch trees, and then maybe you will be able to find the answer to the old Russian riddle: "Not a twig, not a leaf, but grows on a tree." The speech in the riddle is about a tinder fungus. Larch tinder fungus is white with a yellow tint, most often it is called a larch sponge.

In the old days, the inhabitants of Northern Siberia, the Evenki used a sponge as a common laundry soap for washing and washing clothes. It was also used to prepare a rich dye for fabrics. More than once the sponge of hunters and travelers helped out. Having become interested in the cleaning properties of a sponge, after numerous experiments, scientists have obtained liquid and bar soap from the sponge. Larch soap perfectly lathers and gives a rich lather, easily washing away dirt. The technology for making larch soap is much simpler than that used in the production of ordinary soap.

Larch sponge has long been used as a medicinal raw material. Since the 17th century, it has been exported in large quantities to Western Europe. In folk medicine, a decoction of the mushroom is still used in the treatment of tuberculosis, various febrile diseases, neurasthenia and diabetes. The decoction is used as a hemostatic and mild hypnotic.

LARCH WOOD
Larch wood is especially famous. It is very heavy (freshly cut larch trunks sink in water), resilient, resinous, and extremely durable, especially in underwater structures.

It is used in construction, where strength and durability are put forward in the first place. It is used to prepare the lower rims of buildings, mine log cabins, a mine rack, poles for telephone and electric lines, piles and bridges. Planks are used on sidewalks, outdoor stairs, siding, joinery and cooperage products.

Larch blocks are the most durable material for end pavements.
They can still be found today, perfectly preserved under a layer of asphalt in some northern cities. Larch firewood is characterized by a high specific heat of combustion of wood. The disadvantages of larch wood include its great cracking and special hardness, especially after drying.

It is often impossible to hammer a nail into larch boards. So builders refuse from larch. But larch wood has a great advantage - it is resistant to damage by wood-destroying fungi.

LARCH AND ORGAN MUSIC
The history of tree breeding knows cases when larch wood was successfully used for the manufacture of large musical instruments, distinguished by high acoustic data and unusual durability. At the beginning of the 17th century in the Polish city of Kazimierz, the organ was completely made of larch. And only the keyboard was made of black and polysander wood.

APPLICATION OF CROWNS
Long straight trunks of larch with roots - turned-ups - were used for the manufacture of stubs, fastening the plank flooring on the roof slopes. Folk sculptors processed the root part of the ophlood in the form of animal heads. Solid wood did not allow the master to excessively detail the sculpture, especially intended for viewing at a great distance. Therefore, the traditional decorative skates, towering over the pediments of peasant huts and made of larch, were distinguished by a special laconic and monumental form.

AESTHETIC PROPERTIES OF LARCH
Larch possesses high aesthetic properties in landscape plantings, in landscaping large and small settlements. But it is especially good in alley plantings along the roads in the spring, during the greening period, and in the fall, when the needles acquire a fiery golden color and the trees seem to be in a golden garment. Larch, unlike other evergreen conifers, due to its deciduous nature, perfectly tolerates urban conditions: dustiness and gas pollution of the air. This is due to the fact that a large amount of dust, soot and other products settle on the long-lived needles of evergreens, which form a film impermeable to gases and water. But this film strongly disrupts the normal life processes of the tree, especially respiration and photosynthesis.

AREAS OF DISTRIBUTION
In its natural state, it grows only in Gorny Altai, in its central and southern parts as separate trees. Not forming large massifs, larch is found in the Obian pine massifs.

THE UNIQUENESS OF WOOD
Two thousand pairs of stockings or one and a half thousand meters of artificial silk, two hundred kilograms of cellulose or six thousand meters of cellophane, seven hundred liters of wine alcohol and so on are made from one cubic meter of it. Dozens and hundreds of valuable substances are obtained from the products of larch wood processing, such as turpentine and rosin, paints, acetic acid and sealing wax, tannins and essential oil, and much more.

LIVING CONDITIONS
Larch is not demanding on soil fertility and can grow on permafrost. The roots of the tree do not go deep into the soil, but are located in the surface layer. New roots grow higher than the previous ones.

LARCH - LONGER LONGER
Larch is a long-liver, it lives 5-6 times longer than pine. Of the Siberian tree species, larch is the most durable, survives up to 300 - 400 years, and some trees up to 800 - 900 years.

FROST RESISTANCE
Larch can withstand the most severe frosts, which metal cannot withstand.

TURNS OUT…
In Venice, the foundations of houses have been in the water for decades, and they are made of larch.

LARCH AND SPORT
Siberian larch wood is used to cover the bicycle track in Krylatskoye, which is considered the best in the world.

Trees are necessary for our planet, like air, because it is thanks to green spaces and forests that we breathe. The earth's atmosphere, filled with carbon dioxide fumes, would very quickly become unfit for breathing, based on this banal slogan "Take care of the trees!" takes on a new meaning. Fortunately, during the years of his life on Earth, man did not manage to destroy and cut down all natural resources, but the tendency for the disappearance of some species of trees has already been outlined. There are trees that are now only mentioned in historical documents. For example, pau-brazil, a plant with red wood, which the conquistadors mercilessly cut down and removed from the territory of Brazil. Now only the name of the South American country reminds of its once widespread distribution. To prevent this from happening to the rest of the trees, we must remember about their exceptional benefits for humanity.

Siberian beauty: appearance, features

Today we will talk about several representatives of the plant world, which differ from each other, but are necessary for people, bring great benefit and Siberian larch comes to the fore. She belongs to the pine family. It grows up to 40 meters high. Unlike other conifers, it is summer green. This means that by the fall, the tree successfully gets rid of the needles. But this is not the only one of its amazing features. Interestingly, Siberian larch does not grow for as long as it lives. 40 years is the maximum age up to which it can lengthen by a meter per year.

It is distinguished by the following features:

• long tapered barrel. Sometimes it is quite massive and reaches one and a half meters in girth;
• the bark is very thick and stiff;
• the crown of a larch can be ovoid or cone-shaped;
• the root system is extensive, which makes the tree resistant to stormy winds (with the exception of wet soils);
• larch - monoecious plants, with the formation of male and female flowers on the same tree;
• cones are oval, about 5 cm long;
• seed production begins at the age of 15, but if the trees grow closely, then even later.

Many are interested in how long Siberian larch lives. The tree lives on average up to 400-500 years. But sometimes there are centenarians over 900 years old!

Life Extending Tree

As long as Siberian larch lives, it successfully prolongs human life as well, namely, heals many ailments. Decoctions from larch branches, especially from young shoots, are excellent for lingering coughs, kidney stones, and constipation. With such a formidable ailment as scurvy, coniferous larch infusions have been used since ancient times. Turpentine made on the basis of this plant is rubbed to fight rheumatism, gout, myositis. Also, the substance released from is used as a hypnotic.

For all centuries, as long as Siberian larch has lived, it has helped people to successfully cope with diseases.

For the benefit of people

In addition to its medical value, the tree is of great economic value. As long as Siberian larch tree lives, so much is considered an excellent building material. Even the ancient Pomors made their ships from this type of wood. There are watchtowers that date back to the 17th century. The structures were built from durable larch logs and have remained incorrupt to this day. What is the secret of such unusual strength? The fact is that:

• the tree is not subject to decay, it can lie at the bottom of the reservoir for many years and from this only become stronger;
• larch is resistant to various fungi;
• it has a lot of weight, therefore it sinks in water (it is melted in conjunction with other logs);
• contains a lot of tannin.

Therefore, for centuries, how many years Siberian larch has lived, bridges, houses, pillars have been built from it, sleepers have been made and mines have been strengthened. Also, wood is used to make rivets for barrels, shingles and furniture are made from it. Non-commercial wood is used as fuel. Due to the presence of tannin, larch extract is used as a dye and for tanning skins.

How many years does a Siberian larch tree live? This largely depends on the human relationship to her and to nature in general. Cutting down a tree can be quick, but it will take decades to grow. Therefore, the irrational use of natural resources, which are by no means endless, is unacceptable.

Notable facts

How many years Siberian larch has lived, so much good fame goes about it. Human rumor is buzzing about its wonderful properties. The facts speak for themselves:

• in the legendary city on the water of Venice, piles were made from larch trunks for residential buildings. This happened in the Renaissance, but when in the 19th century they began to be tested for strength, they were amazed: after so many years in the water, the tree did not even take an ax;
• in the dense taiga since the 17th century, larch trees have fallen imperishable for various reasons;
• Ancient sarcophagi found in Altai made of this tree have been remarkably preserved since the Bronze Age.

Larch grows mainly in Siberia, which explains its name. This is a natural gift that people are obliged to cherish more than an eye.

Humble aspen

An inconspicuous representative of the Willow family, the common aspen prefers a temperate and cold climate. The voluminous root system keeps the tree firmly on the surface. Aspen grows quite quickly, but due to pain, it lives up to a maximum of 90 years (almost the human age). It can be found in the vastness of Kazakhstan, Belarus, in the Ukrainian forests, in Russia and Europe. The tree loves river banks, ravines, glades and edges. Prefers moist soils.

Sinister Legends

Many legends have long been formed around the aspen, and the peasants and ordinary people frankly disliked it. The tree was not planted next to houses, did not hide in its liquid shade. What is the reason for the popular enmity? It is unsuitable for farming: aspen burns poorly, does not give enough heat, is prone to rapid decay. But there were also mystical reasons: according to the legendary biblical parable, the traitor Judas hanged himself on an aspen, the cross for the crucifixion of Jesus was also made of aspen. Therefore, it was considered a cursed tree that trembles even without wind. It is true: they are almost always in motion, but biologists explain this fact by the special sensitivity of delicate leaves.

But this attitude is unfair. Indeed, at the same time, the imprisoned ancient people drove out evil spirits, with the help of an aspen rod they looked for thieves, used clean water from aspen wells-log cabins.

Aspen Assistant

The modern use of aspen is quite wide. In addition to the fact that it is planted in park areas, with the help of aspen, they paint products, process leather, make containers, matches and plywood. Aspen log cabins are also in demand. Aspen "liquid smoke" is used for marinades and smoking products. It also has numerous medicinal properties that are highly valued by traditional medicine.

This merciful tree with a thin bark in the winter cold saves many forest dwellers, being their only food.

Longevity of the Northern Hemisphere

And now we will talk about the berry yew, a long-lived tree, since its age reaches 4 millennia. Previously, it was distributed in Western Europe, Asia Minor, in the Caucasus. But people quickly destroyed this unique tree. Its wood is almost eternal and has antibacterial properties.

Homes with only yew ceiling beams could have saved from pandemics, since the miraculous tree prevents bacteria from growing even in the air.

Yew hunt

The yew tree was used not only for construction. They began to make furniture from yew, and even later, expensive wood was used to make sacred objects and boxes for storing relics. The unique material kept them well protected from damage. Only very noble persons could afford yew boxes. This uniqueness has served the berry yew unkindly: it is rarely found in nature, mainly cultivars are widespread.

It is now widely used in especially in the United Kingdom. In green building, curbs, labyrinths, and various figures are made from yew.

If we compare how long Siberian larch, aspen, and berry yew live (500 years, 90 years and 4 thousand years, respectively), it seems that this is a very long time. But these unique trees are threatened with extinction if people do not come to their senses and save them from destruction.

What is larch? Is it a deciduous or coniferous tree? The features of the breed are described in this article.

Description of the breed. Is larch a deciduous or coniferous tree?

Larix is ​​the Latin name for a very interesting tree - larch. In height, it grows up to fifty meters, while the trunk diameter does not exceed one meter. Each plant lives for three or five hundred years, although the old-timers of the Earth, who are already about eight hundred years old, are known.

The plant looks interesting: it has a conical crown, but it is very loose, translucent in many places. If the tree grows in an area where the winds blow mainly in one direction, then the crown of the larch will form in the form of a flag.

The root system of the tree is very strong and tenacious - it is easily held on steep slopes even in strong winds. For greater stability, the lower branches of the larch take root.

Amazing feature

This species has modified leaves - needles. It would seem that in this place the question of which larch tree is coniferous or deciduous is already irrelevant. But larix needles are special - very soft, not prickly, pleasant to the touch, grows in bundles of 40-50 pieces or singly. In addition, it is one-year-old, that is, it falls off every autumn, and in the spring it grows up again - young, bright green. It is this fact that most often raises doubts about whether larch belongs to coniferous or deciduous trees. Since neither spruce, nor pine, nor fir - traditional representatives of conifers - shed their needles for the winter. Everyone knows that a Christmas tree is "one color in winter and summer." However, those who are interested in whether larch is a deciduous or coniferous tree should know that it is still a coniferous species belonging to the Pine family.

Botanical properties

Larch is very fond of the sun. In the shade, it does not grow at all and does not bear fruit. The tree chooses places that are bathed in sunlight. Under favorable conditions, it grows extremely quickly - up to one meter per year!

The rest of the agro-climatic conditions do not play such an important role:

• larch is resistant to low temperatures, calmly tolerates severe frosts;
• not demanding on the composition of the soil. It grows equally well on soils poor in humus, on dry and waterlogged soils, mossy bogs. But he prefers sandy loam of river valleys.

Larch can create clean plantings or coexist with spruce, fir, birch and other species. It is noteworthy that this tree is not damaged by rodents, does not infect diseases.

Views

Now we know the answer to the question, is larch a deciduous or coniferous tree. Who knows that this is one of the most common breeds on the planet? More than twenty of its species are known: Daurian, Amur, Kamchatka, European, Primorsky, Siberian, Okhotsk, Kuril, Olginskaya, Chekanovsky, Gmelin, Middendorf, Komarov, Griffitz, Lyubarsky, Potanin, Layel larch, American larch, thin and some others. They differ in places of growth, the length and width of the shoots, the shape and size of the cones, the appearance of the needles. But they all belong to the Pine family, and no one doubts whether larch is a coniferous or deciduous tree. The features are the same for all species - soft needles that fall off for the winter.

Distribution area

Larch is very widespread on earth. It grows throughout the northern hemisphere of the planet. In Russia, 38% of the forest area is occupied by larch plantings, and this is a huge territory! The tree grows in the Far East and throughout Siberia, in Northern and Western Europe up to the Carpathians, in some places in Central Europe, throughout North America, Canada. Larch can be found even far beyond the Arctic Circle!

Use in the national economy

Larch is widely used in everyday life. Its wood is highly durable, resinous and resilient. In terms of hardness, it is far ahead of other tree species, second only to oak. A big plus of larch is that it is very resistant to decay. By the way, all of Venice stands on wooden stilts made of Siberian larch. Surprisingly, being in water for centuries, it not only did not rot, but became harder than iron. Now even an ax will not take such a pile.

All these characteristics determine the widespread use of the species in construction, as well as in furniture. Berths, ships, bridges, and underwater structures are built from larch. It is used in the design of interior and exterior interiors, as well as in industry - they produce turpentine. Containers for liquids are made from wood - barrels, vats. Piles, masts, sleepers, mill wings - all of this is also made from larch. Very often it is used for the manufacture of sports and children's play equipment, fences, sidewalks, front gardens.

An interesting fact: the frame of Soviet trucks ZIS-5 and UralZIS is made of larch.

Larch in folk medicine

Any items made from Siberian larch have a natural ability to purify the air, rid it of harmful volatile substances. The phytoncides found in wood help the body cope with colds. They also actively destroy viruses, calm the nervous system and relieve migraines. Hypertensive and hypotensive patients are advised to decorate the interior of the house with larch, or at least have several items from this tree.

The needles of this breed are very rich in ascorbic acid. Infusion of fresh needles is used as an excellent remedy for scurvy, as well as for the prevention of various diseases, strengthening the immune system. Siberian larch is able to give Siberian health.

Larch pine baths are also very useful. They help those who suffer from joint diseases. Turpentine is a medicine for gout and rheumatism made from larch resin.

Instead of a total

Now you know whether larch is a deciduous or coniferous tree, as well as all the features and characteristics of the breed, where it grows and the area of ​​application.