Content
Every person knows from school years that coniferous trees are distinguished by the fact that they retain the green color of their needles both in winter and in summer. But among conifers there are also trees that shed their needles every year in the fall in order to come to life and turn green again in the spring.
In Russia, the most famous tree with such seasonal behavior of needles is Siberian larch.But there are other coniferous trees in the world that regularly get rid of needles in a similar way - taxodium, kaempfera (false larch), metasequoia.
Description of Siberian larch
Larch of this species is a unique tree species in many respects. It is so unpretentious that it can grow in almost any conditions: from swampy lowlands to mountain slopes with rocky soil. Its thick bark can completely protect a tree from scorching fire, and the wood resists moisture so successfully that ships and building materials are made from it, which can be preserved in a humid environment for many hundreds of years. But even the most detailed description of Siberian larch will not be as clear as with the proposed photo. It is especially important to understand how tender and different from mature trees very young seedlings can be.
What does Siberian larch look like?
Siberian larch is a majestic tree, which at a young age has a pyramidal crown shape with a diameter reaching 10-15 m. Over the years, the crown becomes more rounded.
The bark of young trees is smooth and has an attractive light yellow tint. With age, grooves and cracks appear on it, it darkens and reaches a thickness of 25 cm. The bark reliably protects larch trees from the most severe frosts, and also successfully resists forest fires. The wood has a reddish-brown tint with a thin light beige sapwood. In terms of strength, it is second only to oak and is very resistant to moisture and any rotting processes.
Among other characteristics of Siberian larch, one can note the pleasant, slightly citrus aroma that comes from very young, just blossoming needles. The needles themselves are medium in length (up to 4-5 cm), quite soft to the touch. In the spring-summer period, the needles are characterized by a light green tint, with a slight bluish bloom, and in the fall they turn yellow, which gives larch trees a special charm.
Larch branches often grow to the sides at an angle of almost 90°, then making a smooth upward bend. Young annual shoots are yellow-green in color, rather long with a spiral arrangement of needles. Perennial shoots on larch trees are much shorter, have a grayish tint, and the needles on them grow in bunches of 30-50 pieces. Each shoot lives about 10-12 years.
The buds on the trees have a wide conical shape, a resinous structure and are covered with scales. The color is brown with a yellowish or reddish tint.
Where does Siberian larch grow?
In Russia, larch is the most common tree. Occupies up to 40% of the area of the entire forest zone in our country. The distribution area of Siberian larch practically coincides with the Russian borders, only in the south it slightly extends into the territories of Kazakhstan, China, and Mongolia.
It forms the most extensive pure and mixed forests throughout Siberia and the Far East, and also extends into the Altai and Tien Shan mountains to an altitude of 2500 m.
This species is also found in the European territory of Russia, mainly in its northeastern part.Larch loves to grow in company with pines, spruces, firs, and cedars.
Dimensions of Siberian larch
In height, many Siberian larch trees reach from 20 to 40 m. But what is especially impressive is the trunk, which can increase in width from the top to the ground and range from 100 to 180 cm at the very base of the tree.
Root system of Siberian larch
The root system of this larch is well developed. The main rod is usually a rod and goes deep into the ground. In addition, larch is capable of developing many adventitious roots. Together they make trees able to withstand any wind.
When does Siberian larch bloom?
Flowering in larch, depending on the area of growth, occurs from April to May and lasts about 1.5 weeks. Around the same time, new needles appear. Blooming Siberian larch is not so much a spectacular sight as an interesting one. Male flowers look like almost invisible yellowish spikelets. They are most often located on one-year-old young shoots. But the female cones grow vertically upward and have an attractive reddish-pinkish tint.
They are evenly distributed throughout the tree crown. During flowering, even small gusts of wind lift light clouds of pollen from male cones above the trees. They land on female cones, and self-pollination occurs.
The seeds on the trees ripen in one season, closer to autumn. But they are not formed annually, but at intervals of approximately once every 2-3 years.
The larch of this species blooms and produces seeds at the age of 15-20 years. And if it grows in cramped or unfavorable conditions, then even later, after 30-40 years.
How long does Siberian larch live?
Siberian larch lives on average about 500-700 years, although in favorable conditions its life expectancy can reach 1000 years. It is a fast growing tree. Already in the first few years of life it can grow up to 100 cm, and subsequently the annual growth can be up to 50 cm. But after 40 years, the growth rate of the tree slows down. As a rule, it reaches its present size and begins to grow in width.
Siberian larch in landscape design
Unlike other species, this larch is unlikely to be suitable for small areas. It grows very quickly and reaches impressive sizes in adulthood.
But from it you can create compositions in the form of a hedge in combination with other conifers in large gardens and parks.
The Siberian guest will also look good as a single solitaire tree, around which you can create a flower bed of relatively light-loving flowers and shrubs, since the tree’s crown is quite transparent.
Useful properties of Siberian larch
Larch can significantly improve both the air in which it grows, due to the release of phytoncides, and the soil, forming colonies of fungi that decompose organic matter. In addition, almost all parts of the tree have healing properties: from cones with seeds to bark.
Medicinal properties of Siberian larch resin
The resin (or resin) of Siberian larch has long been famous for its healing properties. It is collected during the active growing season of the tree, making notches on the trunk. Up to 16% essential oil and rosin are obtained from resin.
In addition to oleoresin as such, in folk medicine they use decoctions from young twigs and extracts from the wood of this type of larch. They are effective against any viruses, including good elimination of all flu symptoms. They have anti-edematous effects, restore capillary resistance, and have a beneficial effect on liver function.
In general, larch resin can work wonders in healing:
- gingivitis and tonsillitis;
- inflammation and open wounds;
- poisoning and gastrointestinal problems;
- rheumatism, gout and other neuralgic diseases;
- diseases associated with the respiratory system.
Recently, chewing sulfur made from Siberian larch resin can be found on sale. This natural product, having all the properties of ordinary chewing gum, also has an antiseptic and antitoxic effect on the oral cavity and the entire body. It is useful to chew it to prevent oral diseases, it can relieve toothache and even reduce the craving for smoking.
Despite the undoubted benefits of using chewing gum made from Siberian larch resin, it can only be harmful in rare cases of an allergic reaction to the aroma of coniferous trees.
Benefits of Siberian larch cones
The cones are often used to obtain medicinal honey. In this case, they are collected while still very green (young) around the end of April or May. Honey provides effective help for any exhaustion: physical or mental, in the treatment of asthma and gastrointestinal diseases.
In addition, the seeds that are formed after the flowering of the Siberian larch are used for a variety of medicinal purposes; they are extracted from mature cones in the fall. They contain up to 18% fatty drying oil.
Medicinal properties of Siberian larch needles
Larch needles have always been famous for their high content of ascorbic acid, so it was widely used as an antiscorbutic remedy. It also contains essential oils.
It can be collected from trees throughout the summer, but the most favorable period is considered to be the period from late June to early August. It is at this time that the needles accumulate the maximum amount of biologically active substances.
Decoctions and infusions of larch needles can provide real help for vitamin deficiency and hypertension. This is an excellent expectorant, anthelmintic and wound healing agent. In combination with young buds, a decoction of pine needles in milk helps with flatulence, kidney stones and chronic bronchitis. Fresh raw materials have the best effect, and when harvesting needles, drying is carried out at a temperature not exceeding + 25 ° C.
Benefits of Siberian larch bark
The larch bark of this species is also distinguished by its rich composition:
- from 8 to 10% tannins;
- gum;
- flavonols;
- catechins;
- organic acids;
- anthocyanins;
- glycoside coniferin.
It is harvested using felled trees and thoroughly steamed or boiled before drying to kill any small parasites that may live in it. After thorough drying, larch bark is stored in the refrigerator. Under such conditions, the bark has a fairly long shelf life - up to several years.
A decoction of larch bark is used for:
- kidney diseases;
- diseases of the heart and circulatory system;
- painful and excessively heavy menstruation;
- intestinal infections;
- radiculitis;
- headaches and toothaches.
Healing properties of larch sponge
It is the Siberian larch trees that the medicinal tinder fungus often chooses as its permanent habitat. The fruiting body of this mushroom has enjoyed deserved popularity since ancient times. It is collected throughout the growing season, from spring to autumn, and dried at not too high temperatures.
Used as a sedative, hemostatic and sweat-removing agent for tuberculosis and other lung diseases. Also used for neurasthenia, diabetes and Graves' disease.
Application of Siberian larch
In addition to being used in medicine, larch is widely used in other economic sectors.
- A permanent red-brown dye is obtained from the bark of the tree.
- Wood has increased strength and special resistance to atmospheric influences, especially humidity. Therefore, piles, pillars and sleepers, as well as wooden sea vessels, are made from it.
- Thanks to the release of healing phytoncides, larch wood is used to build baths and create a variety of bath utensils.
- Resin is used as rosin in paint and varnish production.
Planting and caring for Siberian larch (Larixsibirica)
Larch is an extremely unpretentious tree, so planting and caring for it are not particularly difficult.
There is an opinion that in garden conditions larches behave differently than in natural conditions and become capricious and unpredictable. But this applies, first of all, to varietal varieties bred with human help. And a species such as Siberian larch differs from other conifers in many advantages when planting and caring for it:
- even young seedlings are resistant to winter temperature changes, severe frosts and spring or autumn frosts;
- trees are able to survive even in areas with high groundwater levels, where most conifers die from root rot;
- seedlings are undemanding to the acidity of substrates;
- show resistance to strong winds and drafts;
- young trees are less affected by rodents and fungal diseases compared to other conifers;
- grows quickly (after 5 years it can grow up to 60-100 cm per year).
Preparing seedlings and planting area
However, larch of this species is very light-loving. Even small seedlings will feel good only with plenty of light. Therefore, you need to choose a spacious and unshaded area for planting it.
It grows and develops best on soddy-podzolic soils, but larch trees are not picky in this regard and can survive almost anywhere. Only clean sand may not be suitable, because even sandy soil contains some nutrients.
Like most conifers, larches are quite sensitive to transplantation. They do not tolerate exposed roots well, so trees over 2-3 years of age are replanted only after completely preserving the earthen lump on the roots. In this case, you can even transplant a tree up to 15-20 years old. The fungal mycorrhiza present on the roots also plays an important role. The older the seedling, the more developed it is, so it is very important not to damage it when planting.
The best period for planting larch is the autumn months, after all the needles have fallen. But it is also possible to plant seedlings in early spring, before the buds open. If several trees are being prepared for planting, then the distance between them during planting should be at least 3-4 m.
Landing rules
Larch is planted in the standard way. First, dig a hole of such a size that it matches the root system of the prepared seedling. You should not plant a 2-3 year old small tree in a pit measuring 50x50 cm.
Place the root ball of the seedling with soil in the hole and add soil from all sides. Lightly compact and be sure to water. The root collar of the seedling (the place where the trunk meets the roots) should be exactly at soil level.
Watering and fertilizing
The only thing that this larch tolerates with great difficulty is summer heat combined with drought. And if mature trees do not need additional watering, then newly planted young larch must be watered regularly, especially at high ambient temperatures.
The soil around the stem should always contain moisture, but not be oversaturated with it.
To delay the evaporation of moisture, provide the seedling with additional nutrients, and also delay the development of weeds, mulch the root zone of the tree. For these purposes, you can use pine litter, pine bark, nut shells, peat, straw, and just humus. The mulch layer should not be thinner than 5 cm, otherwise it will not be able to retard growth weed.
Fertilizers are not used for larch seedlings in the first year after planting.
You can also pour water under larch seedlings along with peelings, worm caps and mushroom stems.
In the second year after planting in the spring, seedlings can be fed with complex fertilizer for conifers. In subsequent years of life, from the moment of formation of pollen and seeds, larch trees can be fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, dissolving them in water for irrigation at the rate of 50 g per 10 liters of water.
Trimming
Young shoots of Siberian larch under the age of 5 years are very sensitive to various touches and, even more so, to pruning. The trees develop and grow quite quickly and on their own in an open, bright place form a regular and beautiful crown shape. Therefore, they need additional pruning.
Only accidentally damaged or dry branches should be removed.
Preparing for winter
Larch of this species is a very frost-resistant tree. Even burns from too bright spring sun, to which young branches of other conifers are prone, are not terrible for her.Because larch is freed from needle leaves for the entire winter period. And the fast-growing powerful root system provides additional protection from strong winds.
Therefore, even young trees do not require any special shelters for the winter.
Reproduction of Siberian larch
All types of larch are traditionally propagated in two ways: vegetative (cuttings and layering) and generative (seeds).
Cuttings take root with great difficulty even after treatment with root stimulants. The easiest way to propagate larch is by rooting branches that reach down to the ground. But this method is best suited for weeping or creeping species.
Therefore, most often larch of this species is propagated using seeds. Newly collected seeds have better germination, especially if they are left in the open ground under the snow in the fall for germination.
To germinate Siberian larch seeds at home in the spring, they need preliminary stratification in the cold for several months. If the seeds are stored for more than a year, then the germination rate can be no more than 10-15%.
Before sowing, they must be soaked for several days in cold water. Seeds germinate at room temperature within 1-2 months.
Diseases and pests
Like all conifers, although to a lesser extent, larch of this species is susceptible to fungal diseases at a young age. Monthly preventive treatment with biofungicides is required: phytosporin, EM preparations.
Among the pests, leaf miner moths, spider web moths, sawflies and mealybugs are especially dangerous.Affected shoots must be removed and the trees treated with one of the mineral oil-based insecticides.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that Siberian larch is almost the most widespread tree in Russia, its healing properties are still far from being used to their full potential. But if you have the opportunity to plant this fast-growing tree near your home, then you can use its valuable medicinal properties without even resorting to pharmaceutical drugs.
