How many years live a needle of pine. Forest secrets

We are all used to seeing some trees in the forests and parks, squares and forest plantations constantly dressed: in hot summer, and even in snowy winter. Only instead of leaves they have needles on branches. Coniferous trees belong to the evergreen. The main representatives: pine and spruce, fir and juniper, larch and sequoia, cedar and yew. By the way, the name "coniferous" does not exactly reflect the main characteristics of this department of the plant kingdom: not all representatives have needle-shaped foliage. In general , there are more than 600 species of coniferous plants !

Pine needles

Pine is an ordinary familiar from the very childhood. For many, this is a magical Christmas and New Year tree, which is decorated for winter holidays. In contrast to the larch, the needles (foliage) which turn yellow in autumn, and then fall, pine needles are on the branches all year round, throughout the life of the tree. But is it the same needle-like foliage? Of course, individual needles do not live for decades (like the tree itself), but much less. And pine needles of different species of this tree also has a different life span. How will it be for some representatives of coniferous?

How old is the pine needle

While the tree grows and reaches old age, many generations of needles succeed. However, this shift is not visible, so to speak, with the naked eye, and at first glance it goes unnoticed. Some pine needles fall, others grow, and the whole tree remains evergreen, and this process does not affect its appearance to the very old age. How old is the pine needle? It directly depends on the species. Thus, pine needles are renewed every 2-3 years. Needles develop in pairs, but in pairs they fall off trees, connected with each other. At any time of year, fallen pine needles are seen on the ground beneath the pine. The life span of the needles is quite simple: you need to look at the pine branch from a close distance (it is better to choose a young and low tree for this purpose). So, the first one will be the growth of this year - a branch shoot with the brightest green needles. Next comes the growth of the previous year with the darker needles. The third increment, from the year before last, will be almost completely devoid of needles (or they will be on the branch in a small amount and have a yellowish color). Then the naked branch (the fourth year) will follow, as the needles on the gain are kept for a maximum of 3 years.

Long-livers in the world of needles

But not all pine species have such a short eyelid for their needles. Guess how many years the needle of a pine is awned (or durable)? This tree is a kind of record holder: needles live up to 45 years, according to scientists studying the flora. By the way, in the same species of pine in different climatic conditions the different time of life of the needles. In the middle band, for example, 2-3 years. And how many years does a needle of pine pine live in the Far North? Almost twice, or even three times more - 5-7 years. Needles of pine and spruce, fir and cedar, and many other conifers possess this feature.

Needles ate and fir

It is different from the pine. Needles are located one by one and live about 5-7 years. Years of life can be defined for them in the same way as in pine trees - by annual increment. Needles fir are softer than spruce and pine, not prickly. They live up to 12 years, and the fir itself has a rather dense crown, which shadows terrestrial space well.

When the Needle Flies

Dead pine needles in the pine, for example, fly in the early autumn period, in a fairly short time. Before this, in some areas (older branches) they acquire a yellow-orange color, becoming noticeable among the younger green needles from afar. Then fall off one after another and quickly. By the timing and time of the year, Scots pine is very similar to some trees that have foliage. Only this process can be called a fall, and the tree does not get rid of all the needles, but only from the oldest ones. This is especially noticeable when the earth around the trees is covered with moss: it is completely covered with yellow fallen needles.

In fir, spruce needles fall off branches more or less constantly, practically throughout the whole year: in winter, and in autumn, and even in spring. Before falling out, they are not as brightly colored as pine needles, but have a brownish rather than orange shade.

About the benefits of needles

Pine and its needles are traditionally considered powerful energy and biostimulants. Needle leaves contain many vitamins (five times more vitamin C than citrus), trace elements, essential oils. The smell of needles is beneficial and healing for the sick breathing organs. And essential oils are used to prevent tuberculosis (affect its causative agent, stopping reproduction), cardiovascular diseases. So, having visited a pine forest in autumn, where the earth is strewn with newly fallen pine needles, breathing in plenty, each person can feel an additional charge of energy and a surge of vivacity.