The amazing science of trees. Interesting facts about trees The science of trees

The science that studies woody plants is called dendrology. A great variety of woody plants, both in size and shape, includes giant trees, shrubs, shrubs, semi-shrubs, creepers, dwarfs and cushion plants. Such plants are distinguished by a lignified trunk and branches that have a denser and more durable structure than other plants. Woody plants are divided by species into coniferous and deciduous.
The value of woody plants is that they are widely used in many industries such as forestry, steppe and forest protection afforestation, forestry, chemical, food, landscaping and horticulture. Since primitive times, wood has been used by man for the construction and heating of housing, household facilities, the manufacture of utensils and furniture. Due to the many breeds, types of woody plants, a wide variety of wood is formed, different in structure, strength, color, smell, properties, weight, which has a variety of applications in many areas and purposes. Wood is environmentally friendly, biologically close, harmless, moreover, useful, health-improving and healing not only for humans, but also for all living beings on earth. In woody plants, a person uses not only wood, but also branches, leaves, fruits, flowers, and even juice, resin for the purpose of decoration, in perfumery, for food, for treatment and healing. Great importance have woody plants and in aesthetic perception, the beauty and originality of the landscapes of forest plantations has a beneficial and peaceful effect on the nervous and psychological condition of people. That's why it's so useful leisure in nature in the form of fishing, picnics, sporting events and eco-tourism. But in modern world more and more the use of wood is being replaced by plastic and metal. Of course, a big plus woody plants is that they belong to the so-called renewable resource sources. At the same time, for the most part, they are quickly disposed of, and during decay and decay, they do not form the accumulation of harmful and toxic substances in the soil and water, like plastics. At the same time, in places of regeneration of woody plants in nature, such phenomena as a decrease in wind strength, weakening of temperature fluctuations and purification of air and water, their saturation with oxygen, absorption of carbon dioxide, improvement of fertility, restoration of soil, climate and environment on earth occur.
The totality of woody plants, forming a forest, is a habitat, shelter, food for a large and varied number of animals and flora. Forests restore and stabilize the ecological balance. Therefore, woody plants are an integral part and important condition continued existence of all life on earth.
It would seem that the use of artificial and inorganic materials for the needs of industry is conducive to the conservation of woody plants, but in practice, in reality, our planet is witnessing a picture of the inexorable depletion of wood resources. In this regard, humanity urgently needs to take measures for a careful, reasonable, rational, scientifically based attitude to such an undoubtedly invaluable renewable resource as woody plants.

Among living creatures, trees are the largest. And benefits nature they bring as much as they take up space. About the ability of trees to purify air and water, reduce soil erosion and noise in the city, and simply create a saving shade in hot weather a lot was said. Much more curious to get acquainted with unknown interesting facts about trees.

man and tree

Civilized society has long agreed on the opinion that trees should be protected, protected and constantly recreated and maintained forests. The lofty attitude of a person to a tree is brought up in China. In 1980, the state passed a law according to which every citizen who has reached the age of 11 undertakes to plant three trees annually.

A rare example of tree-haters among public figures is the actor Mr. T. In 1987, the artist destroyed 100 trees on his site in the green town. This outrageous episode was dubbed by the press as the "Lake Forest chainsaw massacre."

A bright opposite of Mr. T is considered a musician and actor. At the request of the star, scientists have calculated how much carbon dioxide is released at the concerts of a popular singer. Since then, and to this day, Justin has been planting trees in every corner of the world where he performs.

In advanced European countries, for example, in Sweden, the tradition of arranging cozy mini-hotels on trees is practiced. Small numbers are modernly equipped and supplied with a full set of the blessings of a civilization.

The oldest tree

In conditions big city with high population trees live 6-8 years. AT natural environment their lifespan increases hundreds and thousands of times.

The oldest trees in the world are considered to be a few specimens growing in the USA. This is a 4500 year old pine tree, as well as a tree called the Eternal God, which is 7000 years old.

In Sweden there is a tree whose root system lives for 9000 years.

In Lithuania, they also named their venerable long-lived tree. He was given a name - Old Man, age - 2000 years.

By the way! Annual rings on cut trees - wide well-known remedy to determine the age of the plant. They are formed as a result of the change of seasons, accompanied by an acceleration and deceleration of the development of tree tissues. In the tropics, the climate does not have such jumps, so trees in this climate do not have annual rings. Their age is more difficult to determine: you need to do a chemical analysis of substances from wood.

The biggest tree

Not far from the Eternal God in California grows the most a big tree in the world that exists today. This is a sequoia that has grown to 115 meters in height and a diameter of 8 meters.

The most massive tree known to man in history is the giant Lindsey Creek Tree. The irony of fate is that the colossus, which weighed 3,600 tons and contained 3,000 cubic meters of wood, was destroyed by a powerful storm that occurred in 1905. So the legendary tree died.

AT South Africa are growing unusual trees- wild fig trees. In appearance, they are not surprising, but the root system stretches 120 meters deep - it's like going down 30 floors underground.

The smallest tree

The smallest tree in the world is so tiny that at first sight a person does not immediately recognize a tree in it, and scientists still cannot answer the question: “Is this a tree?”. This is a dwarf willow, which in different countries name is Willow Herbaceous, Salix Herbacea or Dwarf Willow.

The height of the tree is 1-6 cm. Such a miracle of nature grows in the north of the Atlantic, for example, in Greenland and Canada. In the wild, dwarf willow is found in high-altitude areas (1500 m above sea level). However, northern growers have learned to grow Dwarf Willow at lower altitudes.

By the way! The world's slowest growing tree has been recorded in Canada. White cedar lives on the territory of the Great Lakes, which has grown by 10 cm in 155 years.

albino trees

Trees with white leaves are very rare, but they are found in nature. For example, an albino sequoia. The absence of chlorophyll makes life impossible for any plant.

The name of this exotic plant evokes strange associations in a Russian person: a tree appears, from the branches of which loaves of fresh bread hang.

Large juicy fruits are competitors to the one that is “everything’s head”: bread is inferior to the fruits of this tree in benefits and nutritional value. Rounded, knobby, melon-like shoots are a rich source of calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, as well as proteins and carbohydrates.

Olives are a frequent ingredient in world cuisine. A suitable growing environment is the Mediterranean (Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain). it big trees: grow 8-15 m in height.

What else is interesting:

• olive - evergreen, grows 300-600 years, but there are also large centenarians (an olive tree on the island of Crete, which is 4000 years old);
• olives are a fruit, not a vegetable, as is mistakenly believed;
• the olive branch is a symbol of peace.

bottle tree

The official name is rock brachychiton. Nickname earned for appearance a barrel that follows the shape of the bottle. The root part of the plant reaches 2 meters in thickness, and the girth of the top does not exceed 10 cm.

The tree is also capable of performing the function of a bottle: there is a large section in the trunk in which rainwater accumulates. Common bottle tree in Australia. By the way, Australia is full of interesting facts, which you can find in the article.

Cocoa

For children, this is a favorite tree, because it gives fruits from which a delicious drink and chocolate are made.

It is interesting to know that:

• for the full growth of cocoa when planting surround tall trees- only under this protection will a good harvest of cocoa fruits be obtained;
• 70% of the world's cocoa powder comes from West Africa;
• Great Britain holds another record: the first place in the world in terms of the amount of chocolate consumed per year (and this despite the fact that the country is so small).

Columbia University has synthesized an artificial tree that is 1000 times faster than a living one, absorbs harmful carbon dioxide.

These immortal trees will help purify the atmosphere and improve ecological situation in the world.

Half of the planet's coniferous plants grow in Russia.

Attention deserves the "Dancing Forest", located on the Curonian Spit ( Kaliningrad region). In 1980, a square kilometer of pine trees were planted there. For a reason still undetermined, the trees in this planting are strongly curved, some even twisting into a loop at the bottom. Scientists assumed that this is a consequence of the attack of the virus or pests, as well as unknown natural factors of the area.

Air in coniferous forests healing: enriched with phytoncides - natural substances that destroy pathogens. That is why children are placed in coniferous thickets. health camps. resorts and sanatoriums.

"Wooden" delicacies

In Japan, deep-fried maple leaves are a popular treat. Processed and aged in this form for a year, the leaves are rolled in sweet dough and fried in oil.

The popular spice cinnamon is not the leaves or seeds, as many people think, it is the bark of an Indian tree that grows in Sri Lanka.

rainbow tree

In Southeast Asia, eucalyptus grows, the bark of which is painted in dozens of colors.

When the tree is young, the trunk is bright green, with iridescent coloring as it matures.

The legend says that in the 19th century in Germany there lived a couple in love, but the girl’s father forbade them to meet. The young people were not at a loss, they chose a tree and exchanged letters through it, leaving messages in the hollow. After some time, the father revealed the secret of the lovers and allowed them to get married.

Years later, the local authorities gave the iconic oak its own address: Bräutigamseiche, Dodauer Forst, 23701 Eutin. Now lovers from Germany and other countries of the world exchange messages in such a romantic way. This even resulted in a dating service, over the years of the address's existence, at least 100 marriages have been concluded.

Amazing baobabs

Houses and hotels in arrays of trees - this is not the limit. In South Africa, they created Big Baobab Pub - a bar that fits in a natural void inside a giant baobab. The tree is 6000 years old, these "walls" accommodate 15 visitors inside at the same time.

In other regions of Africa, as well as in Australia, such "empty" baobabs are used differently: as temples, mausoleums, bus stops, public toilets and even prisons.

The fact that the leaves of trees produce oxygen, to which we owe life, you know from the first lesson of natural history. But if you think that majestic and calm trees are within years are at rest and only produce oxygen, then you are very mistaken. In fact, trees live their own mysterious and intense lives. Find out 7 interesting facts about trees that you didn't know about at Fullpicche.

7 PHOTOS

Fact 1. Fortunately, deforestation does not occur everywhere on our planet. (Photo: Shutterstock).

Trees have long served man as excellent building material, especially such species as pine, oak and larch, from which ecological houses, terraces, baths and even moorings are made. However, deforestation on some continents such as South America, Africa and Asia, calls into question the future of the oldest and largest forest areas on our planet. Every minute on Earth, as a result of cutting down or burning, forests equal in area to 36 football fields decrease. So many trees are cut down in the Amazon every year that their area corresponds to the area of ​​Belgium. But forests produce about 26.6 billion liters of oxygen - more than half of the annual supply on Earth. Fortunately, Europe is the only continent where forest resources not depleted, but constantly growing.

Did you know that the pine tree, popular in our forests, produces enough oxygen to satisfy daily requirement 3 people?

During the heat in the forest there is an amazing aroma. It turns out that aromatic molecules, rising up, intercept the water vapor in the air, and this is enough to over tropical forest rain clouds formed. Trees make it rain in order to survive. The roots absorb water from the soil, transferring it through the capillaries to the leaves, where the juices are formed, which the tree feeds on. When water stops flowing to the top, the tree stops growing.

Trees communicate with each other secretly, but not with the help of sounds, but by emitting smells. Since we combine words into phrases, so trees, in order to communicate something to each other, combine different smells, says the respected French botanist Francis Galle, who has been studying trees for more than half a century. Francis Galle believes that trees not only communicate with each other, but also send messages to herbivores and insects. When someone attacks them, they send out an alarm: they produce aromatic enzymes that cause an immediate reaction from trees growing nearby. Their leaves become toxic and tasteless, thereby scaring away herbivores. Interesting fact: sometimes African forest elephants forced to look for food elsewhere, because the tree turned on a defense mechanism and dramatically changed the taste of the leaves.

One hectare deciduous forests accumulates and then returns to environment about 50 m3 of water. To accumulate water, trees, or rather their roots, "cooperate" with hyphae (filamentous formations) of fungi. Fungi help the roots collect water by launching small, branched hyphae into the ground. For this, the tree shares with the mushrooms its energy and nutrients, which are produced in the leaves. This unique union of fungi with trees is called mycorrhiza.

It turns out that trees are real travelers. Of course, they do not move like animals, but only use the natural mobility of the natural world. They send their seeds not only on the wind, but also on the water, on the wings of birds, in the stomachs of animals and on insects. Trees feed insects and forest animals for a very pragmatic reason: to spread their seeds around the world. The trees produce sweet, juicy and fragrant fruits to lure the countless species of monkeys and birds that travel tens of kilometers a day in search of food. Trees produce so many fruits and seeds in order to ensure the best chance of survival for their offspring, and are able to adapt their strategy to environmental conditions.

And this is not a joke at all. Trees compete with each other for Better conditions life: for light and access to water. Some of them even try to "hand-to-hand fight": they push neighboring trees into the shade, exposing their leaves above the crowns of surrounding trees. With such a strategy of survival, only the speed of growth is important.

leaves produce nutrients and energy, but if they are damaged by insects, they cannot effectively receive and process sunlight. Some trees have learned to call for help from animals to protect themselves from leaf-eating insects. An example is growing in tropical forests, cecropia. When she releases a new leaf, outgrowths appear at its base, imitating ant eggs. As a result, ants gather near this plant and climb higher and higher along the trunk and thin stems, spreading all over the tree. And then the cecropia can grow quietly, because the ants provide it with security, scaring away and killing caterpillars gnawing leaves.

General information about trees and shrubs.

Dendrology(from dendro... and ...logia), chapter botany who studies woody plants (trees, shrubs and shrubs), which are the main integral part forest biogeocenoses. Dendrology took shape as an independent discipline, separating itself from other branches of botany (morphology, anatomy, physiology, taxonomy, plant ecology, and others). Decorative dendrology emerged as an independent discipline from dendrology.

Decorative dendrology is the science of ornamental trees and shrubs, studying their morphology, systematics and decorative qualities for the purpose of using them in green building.

The first works on dendrology appeared in the middle of the 18th century. and were limited to the characteristics of morphological and systematic features of plants, indicating the geographical distribution of species. By the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. big role botanists-systematists and foresters played in the development of dendrology; these are Russian researchers I. I. Lepekhin, S. P. Krasheninnikov, A. F. Middendorf, P. S. Pallas, K. I. Maksimovich, E. L. Regel, as well as German, English, and American botanists.

With the accumulation of information on dendrology, it became necessary to describe the range of trees and shrubs, wild, cultivated or promising for cultivation, as well as their biology and ecology, habitats, cultivation methods, technical properties of wood, resistance to diseases and pests, and to indicate suitability for greenery. construction. In the USSR, a summary "Trees and shrubs of the USSR", vols. 1-7, 1949-65 (Botanical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR) was compiled, which describes 2883 species growing in the USSR and 2177 species of imported tree and shrub species, as well as reports regional scale: dendroflora of Ukraine, Belarus, Caucasus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Central Asia, Far East, Sakhalin and others. Similar works appeared abroad: in Czechoslovakia, Poland, Finland, Bulgaria and other countries. In the future, monographs on genera and species began to appear.

Forms that are valuable in breeding terms both for direct use in afforestation and for their intra- and interspecific hybridization were identified; established regularities in the structure of natural forest populations, geographic variability and evolution. The study of karyotypes tree species within a species, it has become a necessary link in breeding work, and especially in the study of spontaneous hybridization common in nature (spruces, pines, larches, birches, etc.). Works on dendrology are published in Russian periodicals. Dendrological journals and yearbooks are published in Sweden, Finland, France, Great Britain, the USA, Japan, and others.

Botanical gardens and arboretums have collections of living trees and shrubs representing both local and foreign dendroflora.

Dendrology has long been taught as a special course in forestry and forestry engineering universities in Russia, forest technical schools and green building technical schools.

AT recent times such a section of dendrology as decorative dendrology is of increasing interest. A number of universities and institutes have introduced and continue to introduce such disciplines as decorative dendrology, ornamental gardening, landscape architecture, etc.

More and more textbooks and monographs on decorative dendrology are being published. Some of them are presented below.

Agafonov N.V. etc. Ornamental gardening. - M.: Colossus, 2003.- 320 p., p.: ill.

Aksenov E.S., Aksenova N.A. "Decorative garden plants"Vol. 1 (Trees and shrubs), ABF, 2000

Antipov V.G. "Decorative Dendrology" Design Pro, 2000 - 280 p.: ill.

Bondorina I. A., Sapelin A. Yu. "Decorative deciduous trees and shrubs for climatic conditions Russia", Kladez-Buks, 2004 - 144 p.

The fact that the leaves of trees produce oxygen, to which we owe life, you know from the first lesson of natural history. But if you think that majestic and calm trees are dormant for many years and only produce oxygen, then you are greatly mistaken. In fact, trees live their own mysterious and intense lives.

Fortunately, not everywhere on our planet is the depletion of forests.

Trees have long served as an excellent building material for man, especially such species as pine, oak and larch, from which ecological houses, terraces, baths and even moorings are made. However, deforestation in some continents, such as South America, Africa and Asia, calls into question the future of the oldest and largest forest areas on our planet. Every minute on Earth, as a result of cutting down or burning, forests equal in area to 36 football fields decrease. So many trees are cut down in the Amazon every year that their area corresponds to the area of ​​Belgium. But forests produce about 26.6 billion liters of oxygen - more than half of the annual supply on Earth. Fortunately, Europe is the only continent where forest resources are not depleted, but are constantly growing.

Did you know that pine, popular in our forests, produces enough oxygen to meet the daily needs of 3 people?

Trees can make it rain.

During the heat in the forest there is an amazing aroma. It turns out that aromatic molecules, rising up, intercept the water vapor in the air and this is enough to form rain clouds over the rainforest. Trees make it rain in order to survive. The roots absorb water from the soil, transferring it through the capillaries to the leaves, where the juices are formed, which the tree feeds on. When water stops flowing to the top, the tree stops growing.

Trees can communicate with each other.

Trees communicate with each other secretly, but not with the help of sounds, but by emitting smells. Since we combine words into phrases, so trees, in order to communicate something to each other, combine different smells - says the respected French botanist Francis Galle, who has been researching trees for more than half a century. Francis Galle believes that trees not only communicate with each other, but also send messages to herbivores and insects. When someone attacks them, they send out an alarm: they produce aromatic enzymes that cause an immediate reaction from trees growing nearby. Their leaves become toxic and tasteless, thereby scaring away herbivores. An interesting fact: sometimes African forest elephants are forced to look for food elsewhere, because the tree turned on a defense mechanism and dramatically changed the taste of the leaves.

Forests have an amazing ability to store water.

One hectare of deciduous forests accumulates and then returns to the environment about 50 m3 of water. To accumulate water, trees, or rather their roots, "cooperate" with hyphae (filamentous formations) of fungi. Fungi help the roots collect water by launching small, branched hyphae into the ground. For this, the tree shares with the mushrooms its energy and nutrients, which are produced in the leaves. This unique union of fungi with trees is called mycorrhiza

Tree seeds move tens of kilometers a day.

It turns out that trees are real travelers. Of course, they do not move like animals, but only use the natural mobility of the natural world. They send their seeds not only on the wind, but also on the water, on the wings of birds, in the stomachs of animals and on insects. Trees feed insects and forest animals for a very pragmatic reason: to spread their seeds around the world. The trees produce sweet, juicy and fragrant fruits to lure the countless species of monkeys and birds that travel tens of kilometers a day in search of food. Trees produce so many fruits and seeds in order to ensure the best chance of survival for their offspring, and are able to adapt their strategy to environmental conditions.

Trees can fight each other for life and death.

And this is not a joke at all. Trees compete with each other for the best living conditions: for light and access to water. Some of them even try to "hand-to-hand fight": they push neighboring trees into the shade, exposing their leaves above the crowns of surrounding trees. With such a strategy of survival, only the speed of growth is important.

Trees can turn to animals for help.

Leaves produce nutrients and energy, but if damaged by insects, they cannot receive and process sunlight efficiently. Some trees have learned to call for help from animals to protect themselves from leaf-eating insects. An example is cecropia growing in tropical forests. When she releases a new leaf, outgrowths appear at its base, imitating ant eggs. As a result, ants gather near this plant and climb higher and higher along the trunk and thin stems, spreading all over the tree. And then the cecropia can grow quietly, because the ants provide it with security, scaring away and killing caterpillars gnawing leaves.