One of the most amazing plants on our planet is a plane tree, or oriental plane tree. This type of tree is one of the oldest on our planet. The culture of plane trees has several millennia. The distribution culture of this tree began after the development of new territories by the Romans, Persians and Greeks. These peoples considered plane trees one of the most beautiful plants of the East. The plantations of these trees, wild, formed huge groves and became an integral part of the landscape. Because of this, it is almost impossible to determine the initial area of platanus picking. In our country, wild plane trees are not found.
East plane tree: description
The tree is a favorite shadow plant on the Balkan Peninsula, as well as in the countries of the Far and Middle East. A plane tree is planted near residential buildings, temples, wells and springs.
You can wrap your arms around this plant only if their scope reaches 18 meters. The eastern plane tree has a greenish-gray bark, and the shape of its trunk is cylindrical. Alternately on fairly long cuttings palmate-lobed leaves are located. The fruits of the eastern plane tree - multi-roots - winter, and in the spring they break up into individual nuts, which the wind carries over considerable distances. These trees are centenarians: they can live up to two thousand years.
Wood appearance
A photo of an oriental plane tree cannot convey all the splendor of this plant. Everything is decorative in it, starting from wedge-shaped leaves and ending with a golden bark. The tree is an oriental plane tree - handsome, what else you need to look for. The plant is a favorite of many gardeners.
These ornamental long-lived plants grow in the Caucasus. Their height can reach 55-60 meters. Two thousand years is the approximate life expectancy of a plane tree. These trees are the owners of a thick and wide crown and bark of light green color, which tends to exfoliate in large plates. Their foliage is truly decorative - about 10-20 cm wide.
Like birch, the eastern plane-tree belongs to fast-growing trees. Young trees can rise two meters annually. They love deep moist soil and light. Platans are not afraid of frosts to -15 degrees. The seeds of these plants must be stored in a dry and cool place. In this case, the germination of plane trees will last up to one year.
On solid soils, they prefer to plant a tree in spring, but in the autumn they are best planted on light soils. Before sowing nuts, they are soaked for a day. Half a meter is the ideal planting depth in light soils. 32-57% - in this range the germination of plane trees varies in laboratory conditions, while on the ground it is about 9%.
East plane tree VS maple
Since the leaves of the eastern plane tree are very similar to maple, in ancient times, botanists called the plane tree "eastern maple." And in Ukraine and in the Crimea, he, like maple, was called sycamore. However, if you put a sheet of plane tree and maple next to it, you will see that their width is not the same: for a plane tree - 2-5 centimeters, and for a maple - 5-6.
The cinar can be safely called a contemporary of dinosaurs: it is much older than maple.
Best of all, the differences between these two plants are noticeable during their flowering period: there is a significant difference between their flowers.
In addition, the eastern plane tree stands out for its longevity and huge size. Its crown in diameter reaches 40 meters. Chinar is one of the largest trees on Earth.
The plant is very much appreciated in hot countries, as it gives a saving coolness.
Plane tree in culture
The oldest plane tree grows in Turkey. Its age is more than 2300 years, height - 50 meters, trunk circumference 42 meters, and its diameter - 13.4 meters.
In Persian and Turkish, the tree of the eastern plane tree was called the cinara. These mighty plants were given names; legends were made about them. Oriental poets sang slender and elegant trees.
In southern Europe, a large number of love signs and beliefs were associated with eastern plane trees.
He was considered a sacred tree in the Caucasus. In the countries of Islam, the plane tree can be found in many mosaics in mosques, as well as in Iranian miniatures.
The plane tree was revered in Azerbaijan. Today in this country there are more than 1000 long-lived plants.
Greek mythology also considers the plane tree sacred. Elena - an ancient deity of vegetation and fertility - possessed this tree.
In Christianity, the plane tree also left its mark.
Watering
Readers are probably wondering how to care for a giant. Well, even a child can take care of a tree such as the eastern plane tree.
The first thing to take care of is humidity. Oriental plane tree a priori needs watering. Rational watering of the plane tree will help to stand out against the background of other inhabitants of your garden.
Humidity and light are the main requirements in agricultural technology. The longevity tree Oriental plane tree is no exception.
Top dressing
Oriental plane tree does not need so much nutrition as indoor plants. It is needed only at the beginning of the life of a tree. However, if the soil is fertile initially, then fertilizers are not required at all.
Wet substrates rich in mineral and organic elements are needed.
If you decide to feed the eastern plane tree, which is slowly growing or getting sick, then you should initially determine what it lacks. A healthy plant is suitable for any complex universal fertilizer. The most important thing is not to overdo it. Follow the instructions.
Landing
The seeds of the eastern plane tree have the ability to germinate even after a long time: 6-12 months. The most important thing is to save them correctly. Seeds need a dry and cool place. Landing is carried out in accordance with the instructions. In the spring it is planted in heavy soils, but in the fall it can be planted in light soils. Before planting, be sure to soak the seeds in water.
Further transplantation does not have any features.
Vegetative propagation
The tree of the genus plane trees - the eastern plane tree - reproduces fairly standardly. At a shallow depth of 50 centimeters, seeds are laid in the substrate. Since the eastern plane tree grows very quickly, very soon you will be able to enjoy its beauty.
You cannot confuse this plant with other wildlife specimens. It has a striking feature: exfoliating bark. However, this is only one of the many hallmarks of a plane tree.
As you know, majestic trees are less attacked by various parasites. It is necessary to ensure that the integrity of the bark of the eastern plane tree is not violated, as parasites and diseases will penetrate through these wounds.
In addition to seeds, layering and cuttings can be used. The method of sowing depends on the preference of the gardener, as well as on the time of sowing. It is better to use the method that you can do.