One of the symbols of Russia, with which many people associate their homeland, is birch. This is one of the most common trees in our strip. Many poets dedicated their songs to her, the image of a birch can be seen in the paintings of famous artists.
In almost every courtyard you can find this tree, which in winter stands in a snow-white fur coat, lowering its tender branches under the weight of snow, and in the autumn pleases with its golden foliage.
Birch is a deciduous tree with light bark and heart-shaped leaves. The name comes from Old Slavonic "Breza" so she was called because of the light color of the bark (bherĝ designated “Whiten”, “glow”).
Interestingly, the bark of a small tree is dark, and only after a few years it brightens. And there are species in which the bark is brown, yellowish, black. In total there are about 120 species; it grows over a large territory. In our country there are no more than 70 species.
You will learn a lot about this tree if you read 10 interesting facts about birch in our article.
10. Can grow on almost any soil
Most species of birch trees (common birch, dalcari, white Chinese, etc.) can grow on any soil, they are undemanding to conditions.
Birch Maksimovich prefers alkaline soils, dwarf - peat and loam. So that it grows well, the soil can not be fertilized.
9. One tree per day can produce about a bucket of juice
Juice flows from cut birch trunks, which was especially loved in the USSR in the middle of the 20th century, because It was rich in vitamins B6 and B12.
Then there was the industrial production of birch sap, which was poured into 3-liter jars. It was considered one of the cheapest, a glass cost about 8 cents.
It was possible to collect the juice in early spring, as soon as the first thaws appeared, and before the buds opened. Young trees for this is better not to use, they can die. Usually, the bark of a tree is cut, a groove is inserted into the slot, through which the juice flows into the cooked dishes. In this manner You can get up to 2-3 liters of juice per day, and with large birch - 7 or more liters.
Typically, the collection of birch sap begins in April, and it ends in May. It has a sweetish taste with a pleasant aftertaste. Once, wine was made from it.
8. There are about a hundred species
There are more than 100 species of birches. The most common species that can be found almost everywhere is a birch saggy or warty.
It grows up to 20 m in height, branches are dangling, there are many resinous warts on annual branches, the trunk is smooth and white, dark at the base, leaves 4-7 cm long. It blooms in spring, as soon as its buds begin to bloom. Then on the trees appear long yellowish earrings with a huge amount of pollen, and small nondescript greenish earrings.
Dwarf birch is also common - a shrub with a large number of branches that grows no higher than 1 m. You can meet it in Western Siberia and Yakutia. There are other types of birches: ribbed, black, swamp, cherry, etc.
7. Earrings are male and female
Birch is a monoecious plant, i.e. on one plant both male and female flowers are found. Male flowers hatch in the summer, 2-3 pieces each. They are green, but then become brown, grow up to 2-4 cm.
Male earrings winter in a tree, and in spring, the stem of the earring lengthens, yellow stamens become visible, from which pollen appears. If before this the earrings were standing straight, now they are hanging.
At the same time, female earrings appear at the tree. They grow on the side of the branch, much shorter and narrower. Gradually, the female earring lengthens, and after the fruit ripens, it crumbles, only the core remains on the eyelids.
6. Grow to 30-45 m
Most species of birch trees are trees that can grow 30 m, sometimes up to 45 m. But there are exceptions. Dwarf birch is a shrub with a height of 50-100 cm, small-leaved usually does not exceed 15 m, and purple - 10 m.
The height of the tree depends on its type. But most still reach significant sizes.
5. Birch bark had many uses in Russia
The top layer of the bark is called birch bark. It is very strong and durable, because resinous substances are present in it. Once in Russia, birch bark was widely used in folk crafts. They made baskets, tueski, boxes, baskets from it, made various kitchen utensils, ladles.
At that time, only wealthy people could buy boots, and peasants often wore bast shoes, which were woven from bast, hemp and birch bark. They were characterized by low cost.
Men from childhood learned to weave bast shoes, and later on they made them “between things”. Once upon a time, birch bark was treated for malaria.
Residents of the North and the Far East used it in the construction of the plague (dwelling) and boats. Also, birch bark was once written, in the XI-XV centuries, the so-called birch bark letters appeared. Once they were found in Veliky Novgorod, where the soil favored their conservation, as well as in a number of other ancient Russian cities.
4. The tradition of decorating church and home with birch branches
In Russia, once there was a feast of the Holy Trinity, which the people called the Trinity or Semik. It was celebrated at the end of spring, called the "girl's holiday." The most important tree of this holiday was considered birch, because she was the first to put on her green outfit.
The Slavs believed that this tree has great vitality. To give strength to the dwellings, to protect them from evil spirits, they decorated houses and temples with birch branches, and green grass was scattered on the floor.
Girls that day wove wreaths from her branches, adding flowers to them, dances were played with them on their heads, participated in games. Late in the evening they wondered: they threw a wreath into the water, if it swims, then a happy future awaited them, if they drown, misfortune is coming.
3. Certain types of mushrooms grow only under birch trees.
There are mycorrhizal species of fungi, most of which can be found only in birch groves or in mixed forests near this tree. They are called - boletus. Allocate common boletus, marsh, pinkish. The most valuable edible mushroom growing under a birch is considered white birch.
Often, next to this tree, you can find a black lump or a pink thrush, russula green, yellow food. In addition, birch lenzites are found under it.
2. Long-lived birch trees live up to 400 years
Hungry birch lives about 100-150 years, continues to grow in height up to 50-60 years, and in thickness - up to 80 years. But among these trees there are also centenarians. These include Erman's birch or stone, which grows in Siberia, in the Far East.
This cold-resistant shade-tolerant tree, preferring rocky places, can live 300-400 years. But it is not very similar to an ordinary birch, because it has a dark gray bark, a trunk diameter of only 50-75 cm, sometimes 90 cm, and a height of 12 to 15 m.
1. The image of birch is widespread in Slavic culture
The Slavs revered this tree. It was considered “happy,” protecting the house from evil., but at the same time connected with female demons and the dead.
In the North, where the birch grew, they never built a new house, because it became unhappy. Many were afraid to plant a birch near the dwelling, otherwise the owners could be attacked by diseases, the whole family was dying. It was believed that mermaids descend from birch or swing on its branches. But there were other customs.
Some families planted this tree next to the hut, which guaranteed the well-being of the family, it was believed that it scares away evil, brings good luck. To get a rich harvest, branches stuck into the ground. Products made of birch bark were considered amulets from evil spirits, and birch brooms were tools of ritual cleansing.