The wealth of the flora of Russia is truly grandiose. Due to its wide geography, various types of plants grow on the vast expanses of the country. Among them, some are familiar to us; we do not even suspect the existence of others.
So different trees
It is best to study the flora of the native land with examples. Finding answers to a number of questions can be very exciting. For example, which tree is higher, a birch or an apple tree? Which wood is stronger, walnut or beech? How to determine the age of the tree? The answers to these and many other questions reveal the secrets of these silent and caring companions of mankind - trees.
If you learn to ask correctly, you may be surprised at many facts, hitherto unknown, about those familiar and close plants that we see every day. Rowan and ash, chestnut and poplar ... Can a person without hesitation answer what tree is higher? A birch or an apple tree can also be an example for comparison - do you know which plant has a wider areola? It is from the last two representatives of the plant world that we propose to begin to get acquainted more closely with the nature of the native land.
Symbol of Russia
The white trunk, curly branches and lush foliage make the birch look like a bride, in folklore she often played a central role. This tree is considered a symbol of Russia. In the natural plantings of our country, there are up to 70 of its species, and in the world, up to 140 are isolated. The largest number of species is found in the eastern regions of Asia, as well as in North America. Birch reaches the most extreme southern and northern borders of the growth of tree representatives of plants.
Hanging birch with fluffy birch are widespread in the European part of our country. Both species are straight-stemmed, have white or grayish-white bark and trunk diameter up to 80 cm. They are one of the main forest-forming species, grow in clean birch forests, or with other coniferous and deciduous trees in mixed. In the latter, it is easy to see which tree is taller. Birch or apple tree, and with them oaks and other species of similar height, form the middle tier, cedars and perennial spruce - the upper, on the lower shade-loving shrubs. Despite the proximity of more “mighty” species, birch trees are the first of all trees to inhabit deforestation and conflagration.
Unpretentious beauty
Often in the forests of Russia you can find a forest apple tree. The northernmost edges of its habitat are the Karelian Isthmus, Volgograd and Perm regions, large territories with natural game stands in the Voronezh and Kursk regions. Apple tree and birch are found not only in wild landscapes, both trees coexist beautifully and harmoniously with humans.
Domesticated species of apple trees can be found on every yard or garden. The genus of apple trees has about 50 species. Most of them are wild. One forest tree in the middle lane can produce fruits with a total weight of over 50 kg. This is a fairly unpretentious plant - it survives on various soils, tolerates frosts well.
Difference in age and height
If you compare which tree is higher, a birch or an apple tree, it is better to consider how these plants grow in the wild. It all depends on the area and type. Under favorable conditions, birch can reach up to 30 meters in height, on average - 10-15. Forest apple tree is slightly lower, rare specimens exceed 20 meters (it can be, for example, Sievers apple trees, found in Kazakhstan and Central Asia). On average, the height of the apple tree is 7-12 meters.
As for age, for sure everyone is interested to know who lives longer, a birch or an apple tree. Compared with the well-known centenarians (and we know that oak can reach the age of 800 years, and sequoia and baobab - 3000 years), our studied species belong to the “middle peasants”.
The average age of birch is 100-150 years, some representatives of stone birch live up to 500 years. Garden apple trees live about 80-100 years, the maximum age of the game is 300.
Value for people
Both birch and apple tree have proved their undoubted benefit to mankind, of course there is a difference between them, but can it be measured? Birch wood is used to produce veneer, parquet, household items, and wooden parts in guns are made from it. Karelian birch goes for the production of expensive furniture. The apple tree has dense wood with a beautiful pattern, suitable for carpentry and turning, it is often used to make small crafts. Calculating the future span of the crown, and also considering that it is higher, an apple tree or a birch, these trees are often planted as ornamental plants in parks and squares. And about the fruits of the apple tree and birch sap, you need to write a separate article. Their use in healing the body and saturating it with vitamins, tarry and tannins, essential oils, sugar, fiber and other elements is undeniable.
These are our plant friends neighbors. Clear, simple and so useful.