Siberian fir (lat. Abies sibirica) Is a commercial coniferous tree distributed in the northern latitudes of Russia. In appearance it resembles a spruce.
Description
Abies sibirica - an evergreen plant from the Pine family.
It reaches 30-60 meters in height, in rare cases - 100 m. The crown is narrow, conical. This distinguishes fir from spruce. Diameter - 0.5–2 m. The bark is thin, light gray, in the lower part of the trunk is ribbed, closer to the crown becomes smooth.
In the thickening of the bark, resin is accumulated - fir balm. The branches are thin, the lower ones fall under the weight of their weight, snow to the ground. The needles are smooth, flat, reach 3 cm in length, with a blunt tip, soft to the touch. On the branches are arranged alternately (see photo). They produce a delicate coniferous aroma. The life span of the needles is up to 10 years. When dying, the needles leave scars on the shoots.
Cones sit upright, red-violet or green. They are located in the upper part of the tree on annual shoots. Ripen during the summer, showered in late autumn or winter. Seeds have a wing. Fruiting begins at the age of 70 if the tree lives in a forest plantation. In lonely standing plants, cones appear at about 35 years old.
The life expectancy of fir in natural conditions is more than 200 years.
Root system
Plants develop different root systems depending on the type of soil:
- On dry and sparse soils, a long rod is formed, its lateral layers are buried in the ground. Such trees are stable, live long.
- On moist nutrient soils there is no need to go deep - the surface root system develops. Due to the softness of the base, weak immersion, firs often turn out to be felled by strong winds.
Spread
The tree is common in the northern regions of Russia. It can grow in places with similar climatic conditions after artificial planting. The properties and quality of wood do not change. The plant lives in coniferous and mixed forests, less often in woodlands, deciduous plantings.
Landing and care
Fir is used to create hedges, park areas, additional settlement of existing forest belts. Ripe seeds are used as planting material.. In nature, a plant is able to reproduce vegetatively. The lower branches, pressed to the ground, take root. As a result, a new tree is formed. Artificial planting is carried out by young seedlings under the age of 10 years. For cultivation, ripe cones are collected, winged seeds are taken out, placed in the ground. At first, fir grows very slowly.
An adult tree transplant is undesirable: the probability of engraftment is low. It is important to observe the distance between plants:
- in dense stands - 2.5 m;
- in small groups - 3–3.5 m;
- for alleys - 4–5 m.
Landing is carried out during the period of active melting of snow (in April) or in the fall (in September), while the ground is still warm.
How is landing:
- A hole is excavated in a designated place 60–80 cm deep, 50 x 50 or 60 x 60 cm wide and long, depending on the size of the seedling's root system.
- If the soil is heavy and dense, drainage is poured into the bottom: gravel, broken brick, expanded clay, then sand - at least 20 cm thick.
- Any mineral fertilizer is placed in the recess. Fir loves alkaline soil, so 200-300 g of lime is added.
- The seedling is placed so that the root neck remains above the ground. They fill the soil, compact.
- Watered.
Young plantings carefully loosen to a depth of 30 cm, mulch trunks circles with peat, chips or sawdust. Weigh the adjacent area as necessary. Young plants cover with a spruce for the winter.
Fir is unpretentious, special care is not required. In the conditions of the city and scarce soils every 2-3 years in the spring you can apply fertilizer "Kemira Universal" (150 g / m2).
Properties and uses in medicine
The use of Siberian fir in medicine:
- Camphor from wood is an analeptic that helps with pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, bronchospasm, laryngitis. The substance has an exciting effect.
- The diuretic effect of decoction of needles and kidneys is used to treat diseases of the urinary system.
- Anesthetic effect is used for rheumatic cramps, colds.
- Irritating and antimicrobial effect. With the help of turpentine, they neutralize wounds and conduct therapeutic skin care. In small doses, they are added to inhalation solutions.
- Cones are used for diseases of the legs and joints.
- All parts of the tree contain a large number of useful trace elements. The broth is used as a remedy for scurvy, to replenish the vital forces of the body, normalize the condition.
Fir oil is found mainly in needles, in small quantities in young branches, cones, bark. It has a rich coniferous aroma. In addition to the pleasant smell, the substances that make up the composition have healing properties:
- general strengthening
- restoring
- disinfectants
- anti-inflammatory
- bactericidal.
Oil is used in the treatment of:
- skin diseases: psoriasis, dermatitis;
- glaucoma
- problems of the vascular system: VVD, low and high blood pressure;
- joint diseases.
Oil strengthens the immune system, nourishes the body with vitamins, minerals.
Wood and needles contain:
- B vitamins;
- Vitamin C
- provitamin A;
- cineol, safrole;
- maltol antioxidant;
- micro and macro elements and other substances.
Use in industry and construction
Siberian fir is used for the construction of houses. Wood does not have a high density, has a loose structure. The log house holds heat well in rooms. From the trunks make timber, logs. Coniferous aroma is preserved for a long time in fir houses. The emitted volatiles disinfect the air. The wood is beautiful. Furniture, kitchen utensils, crafts are made from it. All products exude fir essential oils for a long time. Oil from old large branches (lapnik) goes to the production of perfumes, perfumes, deodorants, lotions. It is added to the solution when cooking soap. Fir balm is sticky, and the active substance does not crystallize upon solidification. It has a uniform structure and refracts light equally at all points. This quality is used in the manufacture and assembly of optical equipment.