Determination of morphological characters in various genera of conifers. Morphological characteristics of coniferous trees and shrubs Characteristics of coniferous trees
Detailed solution Paragraph § 22 in biology for 5th grade students, authors V.V. Beekeeper 2016
Question 1. What is a spore?
Spores, microscopic rudiments of lower and higher plants having different origins and serving for their reproduction and (or) preservation in the absence of favorable conditions.
Question 2. What role do spores play in plant life?
Spores serve for plant propagation and (or) preservation under unfavorable conditions.
Question 3. Which plants are classified as lower? How do they differ from the higher ones? Which plants produce seeds?
Lower plants include a variety of algae. A distinctive feature of algae from higher plants is the lack of differentiation into tissues and organs (leaves, stem and root). The body of algae consists of a single cell or multicellular. Seeds are formed in higher plants (gymnosperms, angiosperms).
Laboratory work No. 13. The structure of conifer needles and cones.
1. Consider the shape of the needles and their location on the stem. Measure the length and pay attention to the color (see table below).
2. Using the description of the characteristics of coniferous trees presented below, determine which tree the branch you are considering belongs to.
The needles are long (up to 5-7 cm), sharp, convex on one side and rounded on the other, sitting two together... Scots pine.
The needles are short, hard, sharp, tetrahedral, sit singly, cover the entire branch... Spruce.
The needles are flat, soft, blunt, have two white stripes on one side... Fir.
The needles are light green, soft, sit in bunches like tassels, fall off in the winter... Larch.
1. Consider the shape, size, and color of the cones. Fill the table.
Table 2. Some parameters of needles and cones of gymnosperms.
2. Separate one scale. Familiarize yourself with the location and external structure of the seeds. Why is the studied plant called gymnosperm?
Spruce cones consist of an axis on which numerous covering scales are located, and in their axils there are seed scales, on the upper surface of which two ovules usually develop, equipped with a so-called false wing.
The seed scales of the pine tree are thickened at the end into a shield. The seeds are winged and are placed in twos in the seed scale.
The seed scales of larch are ovoid or rounded and do not fit tightly. Covering scales in a mature cone are invisible. Seed with a wing.
The upright cones have covering and seed scales on the stem, the latter bearing two seeds with a wing.
Conclusion: All gymnosperms are trees or shrubs. The leaves of gymnosperms are modified into needles, which helps reduce moisture evaporation. They have a well developed stem and root system formed by the main and lateral roots. Fertilization occurs without the participation of water. They reproduce by seeds, which are formed from ovules. In gymnosperms, for the first time in the process of evolution, a seed appeared equipped with spare nutrients and covered with peel. Their seeds are located openly (nakedly) on the seed scales.
Gymnosperms have a stem, root and leaves, and there are real tissues (including conductive and mechanical). They form seeds with which they reproduce and spread. The presence of seeds gives these plants a huge advantage over spore ferns. The seeds are located on the scales bare, not covered. The leaves are modified into needles. Gymnosperms are mainly trees and shrubs; their reproduction is isolated from water; pollen is carried by the wind.
Pine, spruce, fir, larch, juniper, cedar, cypress, thuja, etc.
Question 4. Compare the external structure of pine and spruce. In what conditions do pine and spruce trees grow?
The branches on the pine trees remain only near the tops, the lower branches die off, and the spruce branches are covered with needles? Pines are tall, spruces do not reach such sizes. The crown of spruce is pyramidal in shape, while that of pine is pyramidal in youth and umbrella-shaped in old age.
Pines are unpretentious. They can be found on sands, in swamps, in chalk mountains and even on bare rocks, in the cracks of which they take root. In pine trees growing on dense soils, the main root is well developed and goes deep. In the pine trees growing on sandy soils In addition to the main root, lateral roots develop near the soil surface. They spread far to the sides of the tree trunk. On marshy soils In pines, the main root develops poorly.
Twilight reigns in the spruce forests; the dense crowns of the trees close together here. There is no undergrowth under the trees and very few grasses. Only green mosses or a solid litter of fallen pine needles cover the soil.
Spruce grows well only in nutrient-rich, well-moistened soil. The main root of spruce is poorly developed. Lateral roots are located in the surface layers of the soil, so the wind sometimes knocks down spruce trees, uprooting them.
Question 5. Why do the lower branches of a pine tree die off in the forest, while those of a spruce tree are covered with needles?
Branches die due to lack of sunlight. Pine is light-loving; light does not reach the lower branches, so they die. Spruce is shade-tolerant (even in the shade, with a lack of light, the process of photosynthesis occurs), so the lower branches with needles are preserved.
Coniferous plants have special volatiles- phytoncides (from the Greek words “phyton” - plant and “cido” - I kill), which suppress the development of many harmful bacteria not only in the forest, but also in its surroundings. In the taiga of our country, the largest area is occupied by larch forests, then pine and spruce. Larch wood is particularly strong and durable, it is resistant to rotting.
Pine and spruce wood is used as a valuable construction and ornamental material. Using chemical treatment, artificial fibers similar to silk threads are obtained from pine wood. Paper is made from spruce wood. Gymnosperm wood is a valuable raw material for many industries.
Siberian pine is called cedar in Siberia, although real cedars grow only in the mountains North Africa, in the eastern Mediterranean and the Himalayas. Good edible cedar oil is obtained from the seeds of Siberian pine.
Think
Why are many sanatoriums and holiday homes located in pine forests, and coniferous plants are planted on the territory of medical institutions?
Coniferous plants emit special volatile substances - phytoncides (from the Greek words “phyton” - plant and “cido” - I kill), which suppress the development of many harmful bacteria not only in the forest, but also in its surroundings.
Quests for the curious
1. Establish in what months of the year the ripening and dispersal of pine and spruce seeds occurs in your area.
The seeds ripen in September of the year following pollination and remain in cones throughout the winter. Mass flight (dispersal) of seeds from cones occurs in March - April, when the daytime air temperature rises to +100C. In the relatively dry climate of the Cis-Baikal region, almost all the seeds fall out of the cones by the time the pine begins to flower. Siberian spruce seeds ripen in September, and at the end of September they open and in October the cones hanging on the trees become empty.
2. In May-June, observe the development of young shoots of pine or spruce from the buds. Pay attention to the location of the cones on the shoots. Collect pine and spruce seeds. Sow them in the school plot. Take care of the seedlings. Use the grown plants for landscaping.
Spruce cones are located at the ends of the branches. Pine cones are located in the upper part of the tree, not reaching the end of the branch.
Tasks
Siberian pine seeds, popularly called “pine nuts,” contain nutritious and tasty oil. It is used for food, just like the “pine nuts” themselves.
Ephedra is a large branched shrub. There are about 10 species found in our country. It grows in dry steppes, on rocky mountain slopes at an altitude of up to 1500 meters. Widely used in pharmacology to produce the alkaloid ephedrine. They are also called conifers in another way, and they are all found in the south of our country. It must be said that this plant has been used in medicine for quite a long time and an alkaloid called ephedrine and the alkaloid pseudoephedrine are obtained from it. Both of these alkaloids are capable of relaxing the smooth muscles of the bronchi. This is very important for bronchial asthma, in a situation where a spasm of this muscle occurs. Ephedra preparations have the ability to constrict blood vessels, and this leads to increased blood pressure, which is also sometimes very important. And, most importantly, ephedrine has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system. Accordingly, this helps combat drowsiness and restore the overall tone of the body.
The remarkable Russian phenologist D. Zuev called juniper the cypress of the North. Like all gymnosperms, juniper fruits are cones, but in appearance they are very reminiscent of berries, which is why they are called “cone berries”, or juniper berries. They ripen in the 2-3rd year, and in the spring they are green, and by autumn they become dark burgundy or blue-black, with a bluish waxy coating. The fruits are readily eaten by birds and animals, which spread the plant’s seeds.
Fruit preparations improve urination and disinfect the urinary tract, increase the secretion of gastric juice and bile, stimulate intestinal motility, and act as an expectorant. Sometimes they are used to combat various inflammations and as a pain reliever. The use of juniper preparations is especially useful for edema caused by renal failure and circulatory disorders, cystitis, urolithiasis, and gallstone diseases. Infusions of fruits help with respiratory diseases - laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis. A decoction of dried fruits is used to treat rheumatism, various arthritis and gout. Usually, baths with a decoction are taken for this purpose. The effect can be enhanced if, after the bath, you also rub the sore spots with an alcohol tincture of the fruit. Cone berries are included in many diuretic medicinal teas. Juniper preparations should not be used for acute inflammatory kidney diseases and pregnancy.
Common spruce has a lot of useful properties, so even official medicine recognizes it.
Currently, there are several pharmaceutical drugs that are used to treat various diseases. A typical example is the medicine "Pana-Bin", which is a mixture of essential oils of spruce needles and peach oil, mixed in a 1:1 ratio. This drug is used to treat urolithiasis, because the substances contained in the needles affect the smooth muscles of the ureters.
The medicinal qualities of common spruce are widely used in various traditional medicine recipes. To treat different diseases, homeopathy specialists use different raw materials from spruce.
Phytoncides included in the composition different parts ate, determine its therapeutic effect on respiratory system person. Many problems associated with the area of specialization of an ENT doctor can be solved through the use of infusions and decoctions of common spruce.
With the help of inhalation with a decoction of fir cones, respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma are treated. The decoction can also be used to gargle for sore throat, laryngitis, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis. In case of diseases of the nasal passages - sinusitis, rhinitis, sinusitis - it is useful to wash them with a salted infusion of fir cones.
In addition to spruce cones, spruce resin is used to treat the internal respiratory tract - bronchi. Spruce needles are used to treat various diseases of the human musculoskeletal system. The composition of this plant element includes vitamins, tannins and essential oils. Together, they have an analgesic, diaphoretic and antimicrobial effect on humans. These mechanisms underlie the use of spruce as a medicinal raw material in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and radiculitis. Also, for the treatment of pain in joints, especially at the stage of the process when transformation of the shape of the joint occurs, resin, otherwise known as spruce resin, helps.
To treat chronic fatigue, stress, anxiety and even neuroses, it is useful to use lying, sitting and foot baths. For insomnia, use spruce needles placed in a woven bag, which is placed close to the pillow. For baths, water extracts and decoctions of spruce needles are used.
For the treatment of various wounds, suppurations, boils, abrasions or ulcers, treatment with spruce resin - resin - is widespread among people. Numerous biologically active substances, contained in this product, cause bacteriostatic, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects on external lesions of the skin and mucous membranes. In addition, the use of oleoresin as an ointment relieves pain accompanying various external injuries, including pain from a burn.
Common spruce is widely known among people as a source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Treated for scurvy. In addition, spruce needles, buds, shoots and other parts of the tree are used to treat other vitamin deficiencies. The fact is that the composition of this plant also includes vitamin A (carotene), E (tocopherol), as well as some representatives of the B vitamin family.
General signs
The family of gymnosperms includes about 700 species. Gymnosperms reproduce by seeds. Therefore, these are seed and not spore plants. However, their ovules and seeds are located more or less openly. They do not have pistils, like flowering plants, and they lack ovaries and fruits.
General characteristics of conifers
All conifers are trees, rarely shrubs. Their leaves are needle-shaped or scale-like, evergreen (except larch), slightly evaporating water. They have well-developed wood, but lack real vessels. As a result, water moves more slowly than in flowering plants, due to which moisture evaporation is reduced. All conifers produce resin that heals wounds in places of damage. Conifers have male and female cones.
In Russia, the most common genera of conifers in nature are: spruce, pine, fir, larch, juniper.
The structure of pine and spruce
Pine is a tall slender tree. In old pines grown in the forest, the lowest branches are located at least 10 m from the surface of the ground; Lonely pines have a lower and thicker trunk. The largest branches of the pine tree are in whorls, from which one can approximately determine the age of the tree (but not very old). The needles are arranged in twos, on very shortened shoots. They are covered with thick skin; stomata are located in recesses. There are only two vascular bundles, and they do not branch. This structure allows pine, like most other conifers, to save moisture (after all, they do not have real vessels).
Spruce - no less tall tree. Spruce leaves are also needles, shorter and prickly, descending onto the stem.
The ecological and biological characteristics of spruce and pine are also different. Pine is light-loving and cannot grow under a spruce canopy; needles exist for 2 - 3 years; can grow on poor soils, sands, rocks, swamps; the thick plug of the trunks allows you to withstand not very strong fires; The root system is usually taprooted (surface only in swamps). Spruce is shade-tolerant and grows well under a pine canopy; needles exist for 6-8 years (in the mountains - up to 15 years); grows well only in rich soils; the cork is thin and does not protect well from fires; The root system is superficial.
Thus, pine is more competitive than spruce in some respects, and less so in others. In general, this determines their complex relationship.
Pine propagation
Male cones are small, yellow, collected in large groups ("soshishiya"). Each cone consists of an axis on which the scales are located. On each scale, on its underside, there are two pollen sacs where pollen ripens. Thus, the scales correspond to the stamens of flowering plants. A speck of dust has two large air sacs and is easily transported tens and even hundreds of meters.
The female cone is the axis on which the scales are located. On the upper side of each scale there are two ovules, with pollen passages facing the base of the scale. When dust particles land on female cones, the latter are only about 5 mm long. Fertilization occurs only the following summer. By this time, eggs are formed inside the ovules, and nutritious tissue - endosperm - appears. Male gametes - sperm - are formed in dust particles. They lack flagella, like flowering plants.
After fertilization, the ovule turns into a seed. It consists of a seed coat, endosperm and an embryo that develops from a fertilized egg - a zygote. Thus, the seed of pine, and other conifers, is generally similar to the seed of flowering plants. But the endosperm here is of a different origin. It was formed from the body of the prothallus.
The periodization in pine propagation is as follows.
First summer. Female cones are reddish, about 5 mm long. There are no eggs or endosperm in the ovules yet. Dust particles fall on female cones.
Second summer. The female cones are green, about 3-4 cm long. Endosperm and eggs were formed in the ovules. Fertilization occurs.
Coming winter. Female cones are brown, about 5-6 cm long. The ovules turned into seeds. At the end of winter, the seeds, equipped with membranous wings, are dispersed by the wind.
It should be borne in mind that on the same pine tree you can see female cones of different ages at the same time.
Variety of conifers. About a third of all conifer species are pine trees. All pines have shortened shoots, but not necessarily with two needles - there are 3, 4 and 5 of them. (For example, cedar pines have 5 needles, which produce “pine nuts.” In Siberia and on Far East where they grow, the population calls them cedars, which is inaccurate) Real cedars do not grow wild in Russia. Pines also differ from each other in the length of their needles (up to 30 cm long), the shape and size of their cones (some pines weigh up to 2 kg).
Fir. It grows wildly in Siberia, the Urals, the Caucasus, and the Carpathians. It looks a little like spruce, but the needles are flat (spruce have triangular ones), and the cones stand like candles (spruce have dangles).
Larch. It grows wild mainly in Siberia. The needles are in bunches, soft. Deciduous tree, often grown in cities.
Common juniper. A protected, slow-growing and, in many areas, endangered tree species. Cones with very juicy scales, similar to berries.
Cypress. On the territory of our country it is found only in culture in the Caucasus. The needles are not needle-shaped, but in the form of scales.
Thuja. It is also found in mid-latitudes, but also in cultivation. Similar to cypress, but the shoots appear flattened.
Let us note some record indicators characteristic of conifers.
Sequoia evergreen (USA, areas near the Pacific Ocean) is the tallest tree in the world (up to 120 m).
Nordmann fir (Caucasus) is the tallest tree in Russia (up to 60-70 m).
Bristlecone pine (USA, California) is the longest-living tree in the world, up to almost 5000 years.
The meaning of conifers. Conifers are of enormous importance as forest-forming species. In the moderately cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere, most of the forest area is occupied by coniferous forests. Their valuable wood is used for construction. Coniferous forests are often rapaciously cut down. The most important task of forestry is the restoration of coniferous forests.
Among the plants that decorate our gardens, conifers occupy a special place. They give the garden a noble look and decorate it all year round. They are loved because they are very decorative and set the tone in many compositions. But, coniferous plants are especially popular in winter - on the eve of the New Year. They look spectacular in New Year's decorations in our apartments, under caps of snow in large parks and squares, and in very small areas.
As for the landed coniferous plants, then we can say that the sympathies of gardeners are almost evenly distributed among various types firs, pines, thujas, junipers and larches. All of them can be called long-livers; many of them live for hundreds of years.
Almost all conifers are evergreen. Only some of them, for example, larch, shed their needles for the winter. Still, the rest renew their needles gradually. Every few years the old needles fall off and new young green needles appear in their place.
The variety of coniferous plants allows gardeners to choose the most suitable tree or shrub for their garden.
The following advantages of conifers make them very popular in landscape gardening:
- Tolerates lack of light and moisture well
- Many varieties naturally have correct form and therefore do not need a haircut
- Thanks to its medicinal pine aroma, it is widely used in folk and official medicine.
- Due to the variety of types and shapes, they are actively used in landscape compositions on plots of any size
If you decide to plant a coniferous plant on your site, you need to approach the choice very carefully.
Key questions to ask yourself:
- What do you want to plant - a tree or a shrub?
- Is the composition ready for the conifer?
- Have you taken into account your climatic conditions and soil composition on the site
Coniferous plants go well, in particular with cereals, roses, etc. If the answers are ready, you can start selecting the variety, type and shape of the coniferous plant.
Types of conifers
Spruce
An evergreen monoecious and wind-pollinated plant. Its Latin name (lat. Picea) spruce is due to the high resin content in the wood. Wide Application in industry due to the softness of the wood and the absence of a core.
Spruce- perhaps the most beloved and widespread conifer tree on the territory of our country. These beautiful slender trees with a pyramidal crown occupy one of the first places in the coniferous kingdom and number almost 50 species of plants in their genus.
The largest number of spruce species grows in Western and Central China and in the northern hemisphere. In Russia, 8 species of spruce are well known.
Spruce is considered a fairly shade-tolerant plant, however, it still prefers good lighting. Its root system is superficial, i.e. close to the ground. Therefore, they do not dig up the soil at the roots. Spruce is demanding on soil fertility and loves light loamy and sandy loam soils.
Types of fir trees successfully used in landscaping:
Sometimes it reaches 40 meters. Fast growing tree. Thanks to the special color of the needles - the top is shiny dark green, and the bottom has noticeable white stripes - it gives the impression that the tree is bluish-green. Brown-purple cones give the plant a special charm and elegance.
Serbian spruce looks great both in single and group plantings. An excellent example is the magnificent alleys in parks.
Eat dwarf varieties no more than 2 meters high.
(Picea obovata). On the territory of our country it grows in Western and Eastern Siberia, the Far East and the Urals.
Coniferous tree up to 30 m high. The crown is dense, wide-conical, with a pointed apex. The bark is fissured, gray. The cones are ovoid-cylindrical, brown. It has several subtypes, differing in the color of the needles - from pure green to silver and even golden.
Norway spruce or common spruce (Picea abies). The maximum height of a coniferous tree is 50 m. It can live up to 300 years. This is a slender tree with a dense pyramidal crown. Norway spruce is considered the most common tree in Europe. The width of the trunk of an old tree can reach 1 m. Mature cones of the common spruce are oblong-cylindrical in shape. They ripen in the fall in October, and their seeds begin to fall from January to April. European spruce is considered the fastest growing. So, in a year she can grow 50 cm.
Thanks to breeding work To date, several very decorative varieties of this type. Among them there are weeping, compact, and pin-shaped spruces. All of them are very popular in landscape gardening and are widely used in park compositions and as hedges.
Spruce, like any other coniferous plant, becomes especially beautiful with the arrival of winter. Any shade of pine effectively emphasizes the snow cover, and the garden looks elegant and noble.
In addition to the types of spruce described above, prickly spruce, oriental spruce, black spruce, Canadian spruce, and ayan spruce are also popular among gardeners.
The pine genus consists of more than 100 names. These conifers are distributed throughout almost the entire Northern Hemisphere. Also, pine grows well in forests in Asia and North America. Artificially planted pine plantations do well in the Southern Hemisphere of our planet. It is much more difficult for this coniferous tree to take root in urban conditions.
Tolerates frost and drought well. But pine doesn’t really like the lack of light. This coniferous plant gives good annual growth. The dense crown of pine is very decorative, and therefore pine is successfully used in landscaping parks and gardens, both in single and group plantings. This conifer prefers sandy, calcareous and rocky soils. Although there are several types of pine that prefer fertile soils- This is Weymouth, Wallich, cedar and resinous pine.
Some properties of pine are simply amazing. For example, the peculiarity of its bark is fascinating: the bark below is much thicker than the one above. This makes us think once again about the wisdom of nature. After all, it is this property that protects the tree from summer overheating and possible ground fire.
Another feature is how the tree prepares for the winter in advance. After all, the evaporation of moisture in frost can destroy the plant. Therefore, as soon as cold weather approaches, pine needles are covered with a thin layer of wax, and the stomata close. Those. The pine tree stops breathing!
Scots pine. It is rightfully considered a symbol of the Russian forest. The tree reaches a height of 35-40 meters, and therefore is deservedly called a tree of the first magnitude. The trunk circumference sometimes reaches 1 meter. Pine needles are dense, bluish-green. They come in different shapes - protruding, curved, and even collected in bunches of 2 needles.
The lifespan of needles is 3 years. With the onset of autumn, the needles turn yellow and fall off.
Pine cones, as a rule, are located 1-3 pieces on the legs. Ripe cones are brown or brown in color and reach a length of 6 cm.
Under unfavorable conditions, Scots pine may stop growing and remain a “dwarf”. Surprisingly, different specimens can have different root systems. For example, in dry soils, a pine tree can develop a taproot that draws water deep underground. And in conditions of high groundwater levels, lateral roots develop.
The lifespan of Scots pine can reach 200 years. History knows of cases when pine lived for 400 years.
Scots pine is considered a fast-growing tree. Over the course of a year, its growth can be 50-70 cm. This coniferous tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 15. In forest and dense planting conditions - only after 40 years.
Latin name Pinus mugo. This is a multi-stemmed coniferous tree reaching a height of 10-20 meters. Dwarf varieties - 40-50 cm. Trunks - semi-lodging and ascending. In adulthood it can reach a diameter of 3 m. A very decorative coniferous plant.
The needles are dark, long, often curved. The bark is brownish-gray, scaly. The cones ripen in the 3rd year.
To date, more than 100 varieties of mountain pine have been registered. And every year this number increases. In landscape gardening, dwarf varieties are especially used, which form beautiful compositions along the banks of reservoirs and in rocky gardens.
Magnificent species with a narrow pyramidal crown. Homeland - North America. In our country it grows well in the southern and middle lane. Grows up to 10 meters. It does not tolerate urban conditions very well. Especially at a young age, it often freezes. Prefers places protected from winds. Therefore, it is better to plant yellow pine in groups.
The needles are dark and long. The bark is thick, reddish-brown, cracking into large plates. The cones are ovoid, almost sessile. There are about 10 varieties of yellow pine.
A very impressive variety of pine. Homeland - North America. The needles have a blue-green tint. The cones are large and somewhat curved. Mature tree can reach a height of more than 30 meters. It is considered a long-liver, as it can live up to 400 years. As it grows, it changes its crown from narrow-pyramidal to wide-pyramidal. It acquired its name thanks to the English Lord Weymouth, who brought it to his homeland from North America in the 18th century.
Does not tolerate salty soils well. It is relatively resistant to frost, but does not like winds. Weymouth pine is characterized by red pubescence on young shoots.
A relatively low coniferous plant - up to 20 m high. It is a slow-growing tree. The bark is light gray, lamellar. The needles are bright green, hard, curved. The cones are yellowish, shiny, long. The crown diameter can reach 5-6 meters.
Some experts consider it Geldreich's pine. Indeed, the similarities are great. However, since there are varieties under both names, we will still focus on whitebark pine. To date, about 10 varieties of this species are known. Geldreich's pine has about the same amount. Often varieties can be mixed.
In the conditions of our country, this type of pine takes root best in the southern regions, as it does not tolerate frost well. Whitebark pine is light-loving and undemanding to the nutritional composition of the soil, but grows better on moderately moist, drained and moderately alkaline soils.
Looks good in Japanese, rocky and heather gardens. Excellent for both solitary planting and mixed groups.
Fir
Tall (up to 60 m) coniferous tree with a conical crown. A bit like spruce. The diameter can reach 2 meters. This is a real long-lived plant. Some specimens live 400-700 years. The fir trunk is straight and columnar. The crown is dense. At a young age, the fir crown has a cone-shaped or pyramidal shape. As it matures, the shape of the crown becomes cylindrical.
The needles, depending on the variety, have different lengths and live 8-10 years. Fir begins to bear fruit at the age of approximately 30 years. The cones are erect and long (up to 25 cm).
This coniferous plant does not tolerate frost, drought and extreme heat. The advantage is that this is the most shade-tolerant tree. Sometimes seedlings may appear under the mother tree in complete shade. With good lighting, firs naturally grow better.
This coniferous plant is a real find in landscape gardening. Fir is used both in single plantings and for decorating alleys. Dwarf forms look great in a rocky garden and on an alpine hill.
The botanical name is Abies balsamea "Nana". This coniferous plant is a dwarf cushion-shaped tree. It grows naturally in North America.
It is unpretentious in care. Loves good lighting, but also tolerates shadow well. For balsam fir, it is not so much frost that is scary as strong gusty winds, which can simply damage small tree. Prefers light, moist, fertile, slightly acidic soil. It reaches a height of 1 m, which makes it a favorite decorative object in landscape gardening. It is equally good for decorating the garden, landscaping terraces, slopes and roofs.
Propagated by seeds and annual cuttings with an apical bud.
The needles are dark green with a special sheen. Exudes a characteristic resinous aroma. The cones are red-brown, elongated, reaching a length of 5-10 cm.
This is a very slow growing coniferous plant. In 10 years it grows no more than 30 cm. It lives up to 300 years.
Nordmann fir (or Caucasian). An evergreen coniferous tree that came to us from the mountains of the Caucasus and Asia Minor. Sometimes it grows up to 60-80 meters in height. The crown shape is neat cone-shaped. It is for this neat appearance and gardeners love Nordmann fir.
It is she who is decorated instead of a Christmas tree for the New Year holidays in many European countries. This is largely due to the structure of the branches - the branches are often located and raised upward. This distinctive feature Nordmann fir.
The needles are dark green with some shine. Young shoots have a light green, even yellowish tint. The needles are from 15 to 40 mm and look very fluffy. If you lightly rub the needles between your fingers, you can feel a specific citrus aroma.
The trunk of an adult plant can reach two meters in diameter. When young, the bark of Caucasian fir is grayish-brown and smooth. As it matures, it cracks into segments and becomes dull.
Nordmann fir grows quite quickly. Under favorable conditions, this coniferous tree can live up to 600-700 years. Moreover, the increase in height and width continues until the very last day of life!
Depending on the type of soil, the root system can be either superficial or deep with a central core. The cones of this fir are large, up to 20 cm, located vertically on a short stem.
It has a unique property - the needles on the branches remain even after they dry out, even to the point of mechanical damage.
Coniferous evergreen, belonging to the Cypress family. It could be either a tree or a shrub. Common juniper (Juniperus communis) grows mainly in the Northern Hemisphere of our planet. However, in Africa you can also find your own juniper - the East African one. In the Mediterranean and Central Asia, this plant forms juniper forests. Quite common are low-growing species that spread along the ground and rocky slopes.
Today, more than fifty species of juniper are known.
As a rule, this is a light-loving and drought-resistant crop. Completely undemanding to soils and temperatures. However, like any plant, it has its own preferences - for example, it develops better in light and nutritious soil.
Like all coniferous plants, it is a long-lived plant. Average duration his life is about 500 years.
The needles of juniper are bluish-green, triangular, pointed at the ends. The cones are spherical, gray or of blue color. Tap root.
This coniferous plant was also attributed magical properties. For example, a juniper wreath was believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. Perhaps this is why in Europe there is a fashion for hanging wreaths on the eve of the New Year.
Both juniper trees and shrubs are widely used in landscape design. Group plantings are good for creating hedges. Single plants also do an excellent job of playing the main role in the composition. Low-growing creeping varieties are often used as ground cover plants. They strengthen slopes well and prevent soil erosion. In addition, juniper lends itself well to pruning.
Scaly juniper (Juniperus squamata)– bush creeping shape. Dense branches with equally dense needles look very decorative.
Evergreen coniferous plant. Looks like trees or shrubs. Depending on the genus and species, it differs in color, quality of needles, crown shape, height and life expectancy. Representatives of some species live up to 150 years. At the same time, there are specimens - true centenarians that reach almost 1000 years!
In landscape gardening, thuja is considered one of the basic plants, and like any conifer, it is good both in group planting and as a solo plant. It is used to decorate alleys, hedges and borders.
The most common types of thuja are western, oriental, giant, Korean, Japanese, etc.
Thuja needles are soft, needle-like. U young plant the needles are light green. With age, the needles acquire a darker shade. The fruits are oval or oblong cones. The seeds ripen in the first year.
Thuja is famous for its unpretentiousness. It tolerates frost well and is easy to care for. Unlike other coniferous plants, it tolerates gas pollution well in large cities. Therefore, it is indispensable in urban landscaping.
larches
Coniferous plants with needles that fall off in the winter. This partly explains its name. These are large, light-loving and winter-hardy plants that grow quickly, are undemanding to soil and tolerate air pollution well.
Larches are especially beautiful in early spring and late autumn. In the spring, larch needles acquire a soft green hue, and in the fall - bright yellow. Since the needles grow every year, their needles are very soft.
Larch bears fruit from the age of 15. The cones have an ovoid-conical shape, somewhat reminiscent of a rose flower. They reach a length of 6 cm. Young cones are purple in color. As they ripen, they acquire a brown tint.
Larch- a long-lived tree. Some of them live up to 800 years. The plant develops most intensively in the first 100 years. These are tall and slender trees, reaching 25-80 meters in height, depending on the type and conditions.
In addition, larch is very useful tree. It has very hard and durable wood. In industry, its red kernel is in greatest demand. Also, larch is valued in folk medicine. Folk healers harvest its young shoots, buds and larch resin, from which they obtain “Venetian” turpentine (turpentine), which is used for many diseases. The bark is harvested throughout the summer and used as a vitamin supplement.
Photos of coniferous plants
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Conifers are the most important representatives of the gymnosperm subdivision. They are characterized by monopodial branching and open arrangement of ovules on macrosporophylls, or seed scales; sometimes the ovules sit at the ends of the shoots. The coniferous class includes 7 families. The most important families for our country are: Pine (Pinaceae), Yew (Tachaseae) and Cypress (Cupressaceae). The pine family includes four genera growing wild in the USSR tree species: pine (Pinus), larch (Larix), spruce (Picea) and fir (Abies), and among the introduced ones - the genus Pseudotzuga.
In most species of conifers, the leaves (needles) are needle-shaped, linear or scale-like; they persist on plants for several years. In the genus larch, the needles fall off annually and develop again in the spring.
Conifers have “flowers” in the form of spikelets and cones. Male (anther) spikelets and female cones are formed at the ends of shoots or in the axils of leaves (needles). Stamens with two, less often with big amount anthers. Pollen has two air sacs, allowing it to spread in the air over considerable distances. Sometimes there are no air sacs (in larch), and pollen travels a short distance from the crown. Female cones - with numerous megasporophylls (seed scales), incorrectly called carpels, sometimes several, less often without them. The ovary is absent. Therefore, there is no real fruit. In species that do not form cones (yew), the ovule sits at the end of the shoot, and the seeds are surrounded by a fleshy periosperm.
Most coniferous seeds have wings, which facilitates the dispersal of seeds over considerable distances. However, species with wingless seeds are known (cedar pines), the distributors of which are birds and some animals. Coniferous seeds ripen in the fall in the year of flowering or in the second, less often, third year after flowering. In some species, seeds spill out of the cones soon after they ripen, but in most species they remain in the cones until the spring of next year, and then gradually spill out of the cones.
The germination rate of seeds in many species is usually high and, if properly stored, lasts for several years. The embryo usually has from 2 to 15 cotyledons.
Coniferous wood, excluding primary wood, is without vessels and consists of tracheids. The growth layers (rings) are clearly visible.
The value of coniferous species growing in our forests is exceptionally great. Coniferous forests occupy about 77% of the total forested area Soviet Union. They provide the most valuable for many industries National economy timber and many other forest products.
| No. | Type of woody | Place of growth (place of collection) | Morphological, vegetative and generative characteristics. Physical and mechanical properties. |
| Scots pine Pinus selvestris | It grows almost everywhere: from north to south from the forest zone to the Black Earth Region. From west to east to the Amur. | Trees are 25-40m high. The trunk diameter is 0.5-1.2 m. Needles 2 in a bunch (double-cone pine trees), semi-lunar in shape. The bark below is crusty, gray-brown lamellar, above it is corky, smooth, yellowish-brown. The cones are ovoid, gray-brown, with an apophysis. The heartwood is slightly pink, becomes brownish-red over time, the sapwood is wide from yellow to pink, characteristically visible growth rings, many resin ducts. Wood medium density 505kg/m3. Well processed. Easily soaked. Pine wood is not uniform. It occupies 1/6 of the area of all forests in Russia. | |
| Weymouth pine P. strobus | North America | Tree 30-67m tall, 1-1.8m diameter. The trunk is straight. Needles 5 in a bunch (five-needle pines), triangular shape, long, soft. The bark below is grey-brown and scaly. The cones are long, scales without apophyses. | |
| Siberian pine (cedar) P. sibirica | Western and Eastern Siberia | Up to 35m height, 1.8m diameter. Needles 5 in a bunch (five-needle pines), triangular in shape, with bluish stomatal stripes below, curved, long. The shoots are thick, with brown pubescence. The bark is dark gray, scaly underneath. The cones are ovoid, the scales are slightly curved. When ripe, the cones crumble. | |
| European spruce. Siberian spruce Picea alba, P. sibirical | Occupies 1/8 of the forested area. North and Center of the European part of Russia. | 30-40m height. The needles are single, quadrangular. Smooth-barked, scaly crust at the bottom of the trunk, gray in color. Coreless, mature wood species, white wood with a yellow tint. Annual layers and resin passages are clearly visible. Cones with soft seed scales, jagged along the edge in Norway spruce, and with a smooth oval edge in Siberian spruce. Density 445kg/m3. High density of knots. It warps a little. | |
| Siberian cedar | Northeast Russia to Transbaikalia | 5-44m height and 1.8m diameter. The bark is dark gray, scaly underneath. There are 5 needles in a bunch, with bluish stomatal stripes below. The cones are broadly ovoid, large, light brown with tightly pressed scales. The annual layers are noticeable. The transition from early to late wood is weakly expressed. There are few resin passages, but they are larger. The wood is well processed in all directions. Density 435kg/m3. Resistant to rotting and worm-eaten. It has beautiful texture and a pleasant smell. Used in the production of pencils. | |
| Siberian fir Abies sibirical | Western Siberia | Up to 30m. The needles are single, two-row, flat, blunt, with a notch at the top. Coreless, mature wood species. Reminiscent of spruce wood. Soft. Density 400kg/m3. | |
| European larch. Siberian larch. Larix dicidual, L. sibirical | North of the European part and Eastern Siberia | 30-50m height and 0.8-1m diameter. The needles are in bunches of up to several dozen, short, flat, soft. The bark below is fissured, scaly, gray-brown. The heartwood is reddish, the sapwood is narrow yellowish-white. Clearly visible annual layers. Few and small resin passages. The cones are very small - L. sibirskaya. In L. european - small ones, attached to the shoots. High-strength, dense (665 kg/m 3). Resistant to rot, beautiful texture, difficult to machine. Prone to internal cracks when drying. | |
| Pseudotsuga menziezii | North America | The needles are single, alternate, flat, soft with a pointed apex. The bark is smooth-barked, gray, with resinous nodules. The cones are elongated-ovate, with protruding scales in the shape of a trident. | |
| Yew berry Taxus beccata | Caucasus | 25m height. The needles are flat, dark green, pointed at the top, arranged in two rows. Tough. The bark is red-brown, finely fissured, narrow-lamellar. Red-brown heartwood and narrow yellowish-white sapwood. The annual layers are sinuous. The medullary rays are not visible. It has a beautiful texture and is valued as a finishing material. Density 815kg/m3. Paints well. | |
| Cypress Cupressus sempervirens | Caucasus | 25m height. The leaves are small, scale-like. The bark is thick, brown, finely fissured, with longitudinal plates. The cones are spherical, woody, with a spike on the scales. | |
| Common juniper Juniperus communis | Forest zone | Up to 10m height. The leaves are needle-shaped, 3 in a whorl. The bark is red-brown, peeling. Green cones-berries. |
Cossack juniper (J. sabina L.) Cone berries with a diameter of 5-7 mm, mature brown-black, with a bluish bloom, ripen in the fall in the second year after flowering. Undemanding to soil. Grows on sands and rocky mountain slopes. Frost-resistant. Very light-loving and drought-resistant. It has great soil protection and agroforestry significance. Has long been used to secure quick sand in Central Asia. Wood can be used for fuel. Propagated by seeds, layering and cuttings. Since needles, branches and cone berries contain essential poisonous oil, growing Cossack juniper in public parks and gardens is not recommended.
Genus Thuja (Thuja Tourn.)
A genus of trees and shrubs of the thuja subfamily with scale-like, cross-opposite needles and flat, flattened shoots. Male spikelets are apical, small, round, located in the axils of the needles. Female spikelets are terminal, each scale, except the upper pair, with 1-2 ovules. The cones are small, up to 10 mm long, elongated oval, with 3-6 pairs of scales arranged crosswise, ripen in the fall in the year of flowering and fall off after the seeds open and fly out. The seeds are small, oval, dipterous. Shoots with two cotyledons. The primary needles are needle-shaped. Propagated by seeds, in garden culture and cuttings. Tolerates haircuts well.
