Spruce, European spruce (Picea abies, excelsa). Decorative spruce trees: description of species and varieties Growing conditions of spruce

Norway spruce or European spruce X A well-known evergreen coniferous tree. spruce plant becomes a decoration in our home every new year.Bring common spruce for the first time in Germany, they began to decorate the house for the holiday. The custom is based on worship of the queen of the forests. In Russia, Christmas trees began to be decorated under Peter the Great more than two hundred years ago. The custom has survived to this day.

Norway spruce - one of the most ancient, evergreen treesfrom the pine family with a pyramidal crown. Heightcommon spruce in nature it sometimes reaches 60m, and the diameter of its crown is up to 8m.The tree lives up to 250 years. The crown of the spruce is dense with a sharp top.The bark is red-brown, smooth, on the trunks it is brownish-gray with uneven surface. Spruce branches are arranged in regular whorls. Each year is marked with a new whorl, making it easy to determine the age of the tree.

The needles are needle-shaped, up to 2 cm long, dark green, and remain on the branches for up to 12 years. The seed cones are hanging, cylindrical, up to 15 cm long, first red, then green, and when ripe they become brown. Pollination occurs in May-June. The seeds ripen at the end of October, but their germination rate is not great. The root system of the common spruce is superficial, therefore it is sensitive to dryness and stagnation of water.

Growing n about the entire forest zone of Europe, in the European part of Russia. Forms pure and mixed forests. Norway spruce prefers moderately moist, well-drained, moderately nutritious soils. Its winter hardiness is great.

Cones are collected in summer July b -August, before the seeds begin to ripen, unripe. Young shoots of buds and paws as they are sometimes called - ma th . Dry under a canopy.

Composition of spruce

Spruce needles

• essential oil;
• iron, manganese, chromium, aluminum, copper, stilbene;
• caffeic acid;
• x when I ate ordinary contains more vitamin C than lemon six times . Its greatest concentration is in winter and early spring.

Cones

• essential oils;
• resins;
• tannins;
• phytoncides;
• minerals;
• succinic acid;
• vitamins C, K, E and PP.

Application of spruce

Common spruce cones - good remedy against germs, any inflammation, acts as a pain reliever.

Immature female cones are used. The tree can grow male cones (smaller, yellow-green) and female cones (bright red, thimble-sized). The ripe female cone is brown and large. With their help they treat lung diseases, asthma, pneumonia in adults and children. The properties of fir cones are excellent for pharyngitis and sinusitis. A decoction of cones is added to baths to treat joint pain.

Young shoots of spruce - included in many expectorant preparations. Spruce shoots are useful in the treatment of tuberculosis, pneumonia, and are indispensable in the treatment of fungal diseases. A decoction is prepared from the shoots and used to ease breathing and for asthma. For tuberculosis, it is useful to take a tincture of shoots with vodka.

Spruce needles — R recommended for illnesses kidneys, bladder. An infusion of pine needles is used for scurvy. Since ancient times, people have used spruce needles to obtain a drink rich in vitamin C and use it for treatment. from vitamin deficiency. Infusion of pine needles is used to gargle for colds, acute, chronic diseases respiratory organs, instill 4 drops into each nostril for vasomotor rhinitis. Boiling and z pine needles helps with shortness of breath.

Spruce resin — e Resin resin has a wide range of applications; it is used in the treatment of diseases such as gout, neuralgia, radiculitis, neurasthenia, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, kidneys, digestive organs, and bedsores. Best to use transparent resin. But hardened resin also has the same medicinal properties. Before use, it must be heated in a water bath. Dry resin powder is sprinkled on wounds. Ointment made from resin with honey or lard is used to treat ulcers, wounds, and ulcers.During a flu epidemic, it is useful to burn pieces of spruce resin in the room where a flu patient is lying. The resin smell aromatizes the room and disinfects the air. WITH oleoresin resin is an excellent remedy for healing wounds and cuts.

P Before use it is necessary to check for allergic reaction. To do this, apply a little on the forearm area and leave for a day. If during this time the skin does not turn red, treatment can begin.

Ate butter obtained from green spruce branches. Spruce oil used as a diuretic and choleretic agent. It has a good calming, relaxing effect,wonderfully scents the room. Pine needle oil also helps with eczema, dermatitis, any bruises, pustule Oh . In cosmetology it is used to rejuvenate facial skin and maintain it protective functions. The oil prevents hair loss and dandruff.

Applications in other areas

• In the national economy, spruce wood is used to make paper and cardboard;
• Cellulose and artificial silk are obtained from its wood;
• Widely used in construction, carpentry production in the manufacture of furniture;
• Spruce wood is indispensable for making musical instruments;
• The tanning properties of spruce are necessary for tanning leather. They are obtained from spruce bark;
• Ethyl alcohol, which is necessary in many industries, is obtained from the waste of common spruce;
• Valuable construction material- plasticizer;
• Dry distillation of non-commercial spruce wood produces acetic acid and methyl alcohol;
• Rosin and turpentine are obtained from oleoresin resin and are used in many industries and medicine.

Ointment: mix spruce resin, wax and creamy or sunflower oil taken in equal quantities in a water bath until smooth. Keep refrigerator. Use to treat boils, skin diseases, ulcers, wounds, abrasions.

Pine juice: Wash and dry young shoots collected before May 15th. Lay in layers. First we put a layer of pine needles, it should be 2cm, then sugar. Fill the jar to the brim, the last layer should be a layer of sugar. Leave overnight. In the morning, mix with a wooden spatula, tie gauze around the throat, and place in the sun. Leave for 10 days. Store the resulting juice in the refrigerator, tightly closed. Take the healing agent 2 tbsp. in the morning on an empty stomach for adults and 1 tbsp. children.

Cone tincture: Fill a three-liter jar one third with chopped fir cones. Pour water up to the throat, add 200g of sugar, tie with gauze, and keep on the windowsill for a week. Drain the liquid, fill the remaining cones with water again, add sugar. Then let sit on the windowsill for a week and drain the liquid. After 5 days the tincture is ready. Used for hypertension, for the prevention of stroke, heart attack.

Alcohol tincture: Add 1 kg of crushed cones to 0.5 kg of sugar. Keep in a dark, cool place for 20 days. Drain the juice, add half a glass of alcohol. Leave for 2 months covered. Take a dessert spoon when you cough.

Infusion of spruce buds for the treatment of respiratory diseases: 250g of young spruce buds, 0.5l of vodka. Close the container tightly and leave in a dark place for 10 days. Storage space - refrigerator.

Decoction:Pour 40g (4 tablespoons) of pine needles into one glass of boiling water, cook for 20 minutes, filter after an hour. Take 3-4 doses per day.

Cone decoction: Brew 40g (4 tablespoons) of pine cones with one glass of boiling water, cook for 30 minutes, filter. Gargle 5-6 times a day. For vasomotor rhinitis, drop a few drops into both nostrils.

Syrup from honey, spruce buds: Collect buds measuring 5-6cm at the end of May. Wash, finely chop. To 1 kg of raw materials, add 4 liters of water, cook for 15 minutes, filter. For 1 kg of the product received, 1 kg of honey, 10 g of propolis extract. Mix everything well, heat to 45 degrees. Then cool and pour into glass containers. Keep in a cool place. Take a teaspoon 3 times a day before meals for flu, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis.

Inhalations for old cough, chronic bronchitis: mix spruce resin and yellow wax. Melt the mixture and cool. Place the pieces on hot coals and breathe in the smoke.

Joints: Pour boiling water over spruce branches and leave for 30 minutes. Immerse your feet or hands in the infusion for half an hour, then wrap yourself up and lie down. You need to take 6 baths.

Inflammatory processes of the respiratory system: Pour 1:5 water over green cones and simmer over low heat for half an hour. Gargle with the decoction and drip into the nose.

Osteochondrosis: spruce or pine cone pour 250 ml of boiling water and leave overnight. Filter, take in the morning half an hour before meals.

Varicose veins: Pour 500g of crushed pine needles into 300ml of water, leave for half an hour, strain. Use the resulting pulp to wrap the affected limb. At the same time, drink a decoction of pine needles. Grind pine needles in a mortar with a small amount cold water, add hot acidified water (1:10), boil for 20 minutes, filter after three hours. Take 1/3 cup 2 times a day.

Bronchitis:Place 6 washed cones in 0.5 liters of milk and boil for 20 minutes. Cool until room temperature, add honey. Drink several times a day.

Bath for skin diseases, gout, joint damage: Pour the tops of young branches with buds with water 1:5, boil for half an hour over low heat. Pour the resulting broth into the bath and take for 15 minutes.

Radiculitis, joint pain: pour 250g of young spruce buds into a dark container, pour in 0.5l of vodka, leave for 10 days in a dark place. Store the filtered product in the refrigerator for no more than a year. Rub with tincture problem areas until completely absorbed.

To relieve fatigue, nervous agitation, relieve pain symptoms during menopause, ulcers, joint pain and improve blood circulation: 2 handfuls of pine needles, 250 ml of boiling water, cook for a quarter of an hour, strain. Pour into the bath. Temperature 37 degrees, duration quarter of an hour. The course is half a month.

Baths for joint pain, arthritis: cones or freshly cut twigs are boiled with salt. Make a bucket of decoction for 100g of salt. The decoction is added to baths. Duration is a quarter of an hour at a temperature of 36 degrees.

Removal of radionuclides: 5 tbsp. Pour pine needles into 0.5 liters of water, boil for 5 minutes, leave warm overnight, strain. First, drink the resulting decoction instead of water all day, the next day clean water, then decoction. Alternate between decoction and water for a month.

Uterine polyps:1 tbsp. Pour a glass of boiling water over chopped spruce branches collected in September, leave for 20 minutes, strain. Drink as tea 100ml.

Spruce jam: about three glasses of spruce shoots, add one and a half glasses of sugar, add 2 glasses of water, stir, put on fire. Cook over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring constantly. Use with tea several times a day. An excellent remedy for colds, coughs, bronchitis. It is useful to take for the prevention of sore throat, flu, tuberculosis. Boiling tones and strengthens protective forces body.

From childhood on Christmas and New Year people are accustomed to smelling spruce branches. Mixing with the smell of tangerines, this fragrant pine aroma was a harbinger of a miracle, gifts, new experiences and the New Year.

For many centuries, Spruce has personified the symbol of a new cycle. In ancient times, remaining evergreen, Spruce was an allegory of eternal youth and immortality, longevity and fidelity.

For the same reasons, the Spruce “spruce branches” were and remain in many villages a sign of a bygone life. During the funeral procession, “spruce branches” are thrown at the feet, saying goodbye to the departed. Their age has ended, but has passed into eternity.

In Scandinavia, spruce was used for ritual bonfires. The resinous firewood gave the fire unique strength.

names of Spruce

The word “Spruce” comes from the ancient Slavic word “jedlъ”, which means “prickly”.

The first mention of this tree in Russian writings appeared in the 11th century. Cognate words are found in all languages ​​of the Slavic group.

The Latin name for Spruce is Picea, which means “resinous”.

Where does Spruce grow?

Spruce forests are found throughout Russia. These are mostly dense, dense thickets with some undergrowth.

Despite the fact that Spruce develops best in an open area, its shade-tolerant counterparts are found.

The most common type of tree is “Normal Spruce”. It is found in the European part of Russia, Finland and northern Europe. Spruce groves are found in both Siberia and the Urals.

Brothers of the Norway Spruce can be found in the Caucasus and the Far East, in Kuril Islands and on Sakhalin. Even in North America and China grow individual species this thorny fragrant tree.

What does El look like?

Spruce is a tall, stately tree with a straight, strong trunk and thick crown. The branches are arranged in a pyramid and have spiny needles. The bark of Spruce is dense and covered with scales.

The height of Spruce can reach 30 meters, while the trunk volume of many species exceeds 1.5 meters

The average lifespan of a tree is 250 – 300 years. There are centenarians up to 600 years old.

After 10 - 15 years of life, the tree changes root system, getting rid of the main root. That is why in the forest you can find these wind-fallen giants with their roots turned upside down.

When does Spruce bloom?

Female flowers form small cones, which, after pollination, turn into those same spruce decorations.

Male flowers form elongated catkins that scatter pollen in May.

In October, the seeds ripen in the cones and become prey for forest rodents. Fluffy squirrels strive to prepare seeds for the winter.

Medicinal properties of Spruce

Fir cones, pine needles and resin are used for medicinal purposes.

Daily consumption of 3 - 4 spruce needles for a month can restore immunity and increase resistance to a number of viral diseases.

Several branches of spruce branches placed in a vase in a room can kill harmful bacteria in the room, leaving a pleasant aroma in the air.

Fir cones are rich in tannins and essential oils. They also contain copper, manganese, aluminum, and iron.

Essential oils are used in the fight against acute respiratory infections and upper respiratory tract diseases.

Syrup from the buds of Spruce is prescribed for microinfarctions.

A decoction of pine needles is used by inhalation to treat sore throat and sinusitis.

Spruce resin or resin has antiseptic properties and can be used in ointments to heal wounds and ulcers.

Applications of Spruce

Spruce wood– the most common material for construction and fuel. The wood is also used to make paper.

Spruce wood very soft and straight-layered. Despite its widespread use in construction, untreated wood is short-lived and quickly rots. That is why spruce wood is treated with antiseptics and mordants.

At the same time, Spruce wood is part of many modern materials, such as fiberboard, chipboard, laminated veneer lumber and others.

The musical properties of spruce wood have been noticed for a long time, so soundboards, bodies and other parts of musical instruments are made from this fragrant wood.

Contraindications

Despite the huge number beneficial properties, preparations from Spruce have contraindications. Inhalations from spruce needles are contraindicated for patients with asthma.

If you have an individual intolerance to substances contained in spruce cones and needles, you must be careful when using Spruce for medicinal purposes.

Too frequent consumption of decoctions and drinks from Spruce can be dangerous for the kidneys.

In ancient times, during the New Year holidays, the Spruce was hung with its roots up, and not installed in the corner, as in modern times.

In Scandinavia, spruce branches are used to cover the paths along which the rulers' motorcades follow.

Blue Spruce has become widespread in cities not only because of the beauty of its needles, but also because of its resistance to polluted air.

Young shoots can grow from a dead spruce root, which later become real trees. Thus, the tree clones itself.

A similar tree grows in Sweden, its age is close to 10 thousand years.

Spruce cones are often depicted on flags different countries. This fruit symbolizes a high goal and peak.

Spruce age

Description of spruce

spruce shoots

Male ones, in the form of spikelets from anthers collected on one axis, are located in the axils of the needles in the lower part of the shoots and are usually found in the lower floors of the crown, female ones, in the form of cylindrical cones, are located at the ends of the shoots in the upper part of the crown. Spruce is found in two forms: green-fruited, in which the cones are green before ripening, and the wood is softer and lighter, and red-fruited, in which the cones are red before ripening, and the wood is harder. The old ones ate on occasion.
Mature spruce cones are brown in color, drooping, up to 15 cm long, with imbricated covering scales. In their axils there are two ovules, from which seeds with lionfish develop. Pollination occurs in May–June, the seeds ripen in the fall and are dispersed in late winter. Thanks to lionfish, they are carried by the wind over a long distance from mother plant ate.

Types of spruce

Used in construction. long length tracheids make spruce wood a valuable raw material for paper production.

Application of spruce

The spruce wood is light yellow in color. The sapwood and heartwood are almost indistinguishable. Tree rings are clearly visible. The wood grain is almost straight. Due to its structure, spruce wood has long been considered better for the production of musical instruments due to its acoustic properties.

The fact is that parallel wood fibers having different densities, as if they resonate. In this case, the sound of the instrument is deep and slowly decaying. This is especially true for spruce wood that dries slowly over decades, which can be found in old structures. wooden houses. This type of wood is especially valued by craftsmen. Guitars, violins, and cellos are made from spruce. Usually, the upper deck, which is responsible for the propagation of sound, is made from if, while the lower deck and sides are made from valuable exotic species, such as bubinga.

Ice Age Stradivarius violins

American dendrologist Henry Grissino-Mayer and climatologist Lloyd Burkle put forward a hypothesis regarding Stradivarius violins. This hypothesis explains the unique acoustic qualities of violins and other musical instruments made by the great Italian master. It is known that from the middle of the 15th century to the middle of the 19th century, Europe went through a steady cooling, which is often called the Little Ice Age. The peak of cooling occurred between 1645 and 1715. Grissino-Mayer and Burkle believe that the harsh climate influenced the structure of the alpine spruce wood that Antonio Stradivari used to make stringed instruments. In their opinion, this wood was denser than usual, which had a beneficial effect on the sound quality.

Later, using the same principle, using the skin of Boomslang, the famous Stradivarius drum was created.

Growing spruce

After planting, make a hole, water it and cover it with peat with a layer of 6-7 cm.

Planted trees do not tolerate dry soil and air well, so in hot weather they need weekly watering (10-12 liters of water per plant) and sprinkling of the crowns. After each watering, the soil in the tree trunk circle is loosened, weeds are weeded and mulched with peat.

Feeding and watering.

It is not necessary to feed the spruce, but in early spring (before the shoots begin to grow), it is useful to add 100-120 g of Kemira-wagon to the tree trunk. Some types of spruce do not tolerate excessive dry soil and require watering in hot weather.
Trimming.

If spruce trees are planted as a hedge, then they need special formation. The effect of an impenetrable green wall is achieved by pruning. In all other cases, in the spring or autumn, only dry, broken or diseased branches are removed from the trees, since the formation of the crown quite successfully occurs naturally. If two tops begin to grow at the same time, one of them must be removed by cutting out at the base.

Preparing for winter. Young Christmas trees, newly planted and some decorative forms need protection from sunburn, early spring and late autumn frosts. Under such plants, the soil is mulched with peat, and the needles are covered with non-woven material, spruce branches or kraft paper.
Reproduction. Species spruce trees are usually grown from seeds, and those created by breeders garden forms– from cuttings or by grafting, since when seed propagation many of them lose their decorative qualities.

Spruce seeds

Saplings ate

During the transplantation period, damaged and too long roots are cut off. At the same time, you should not shake them in order to preserve the mycorrhiza present on the roots, which is necessary for good growth and development of coniferous species. Before planting, it is advisable to dip the root system in a mash of garden soil and humus in a ratio of 2:1. In a new location, seedlings grow on average for another 4 years. Once a week they are watered, followed by loosening the soil, weeding, adding organic or mineral fertilizers. Feed in the second year after transplantation in the spring (before the buds swell). A mixture of 500 g of manure, 25 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium nitrate is added per 1 m2 of beds. Fertilizers are evenly scattered over the soil, buried with a hoe to a depth of 10 cm and watered. 6-7 year old fir trees grown from seeds permanent place planted in spring or early autumn. Due to the shallow location of the root system, they usually respond well to transplantation.

Spruce cuttings

Cuttings from young 4-8 year old plants take root best. Only annual shoots are cut. And completely, sometimes even with 2-year-old wood at the base. The needles are removed only from the lower part of the branch to the planting depth (2-6 cm). Typically, the length of spruce cuttings is 10-25 cm.

For cuttings, shoots from the upper half of the crown are used, since those cut in the middle or at the bottom can subsequently produce a one-sided or incorrectly branched crown with a crooked trunk, and they also take root poorly.

The cuttings are planted in a greenhouse. It’s better if it’s heated and has a fog-forming unit, but there aren’t many of them summer cottages not enough, so we’ll focus on a cold greenhouse that every gardener can build. Drainage from small stones or crushed stone is laid at the bottom in a layer of 4-5 cm, then turf soil is poured in a layer of 10-12 cm, and washed river sand layer of 5-6 cm. Cover the top with a film so that the distance to the sand is no more than 30 cm. For shading, place burlap on top of the film. In a greenhouse, the soil temperature should be 21-27°C, and the air temperature should be 5-7° lower. Due to this in early spring additional heating of the soil substrate is needed.

Before planting, cuttings half their length are immersed for a day in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or in any diluted root growth stimulator (for example, root). Planted in sand obliquely at an angle of 30 degrees to a depth of 2-6 cm, placing at intervals of 10 cm, and immediately watered abundantly.

Subsequently, in the spring, water by spraying from a watering can with small holes once a day, in the summer - up to four times. In August, when roots appear, watering is reduced to daily and shading is removed.

After rooting begins, spraying the cuttings with a mineral nutrient mixture gives good results. To prepare it, dilute 8 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of simple superphosphate, 1-2 g of magnesium sulfate, 16 g of potassium nitrate, 30 g of sucrose, 60 mg of indolylacetic acid (IAA) in 1 liter of water. For the winter, the cuttings are covered with sawdust or dry leaves. Transplanted into open ground in April next year and are grown in the same way as 2-3-year-old seed plants.

Spruce grafting

Spruce (and other conifers) are most often grafted by copulation, combining oblique cuts made with a copulation knife on the stem of the seedling (rootstock) and on the cutting (scion). It is also a good idea to master improved copulation, in which an additional cut is made in the upper third of the rootstock and in the lower third of the scion. When the sections are folded, the resulting thorns fit into each other and hold the scion more firmly on the rootstock.

They also use wood grafting onto the cambium. With this method, side branches and needles are removed from a cutting 8-10 cm long, leaving only the apical bud. The cut is made so that a one-sided wedge is obtained. On the rootstock, 3-4 cm below the apical bud, first remove the needles, and then thin layer remove the bark over an area equal to the cut of the cutting. Connect both parts.

When grafting cambium to cambium on a rootstock (below the apical bud or at the base of an annual shoot), the bark is cut off along the cambium zone. A cut of the bark on the cutting is made to the same length and both parts are combined.
The grafts must be tied with sterile polyethylene tape (first in sparse turns, and then in a continuous layer) and covered with garden varnish.

After splicing, the binding is loosened or removed completely and the grafted cuttings are shaded.

In the second year, the branches of the grafted Christmas tree are shortened by one third and at the same time the top above the cutting is removed. In the 3-4th year, the branches of the rootstock are shortened further, and in the 4th-5th year they are cut into a ring.

In the first year, the scion produces from 1 to 4 shoots 1-5 cm long, and after 6 years the grafted plant can be planted in a permanent place.

Diseases of spruce trees

If the young shoots look as if they are burnt, then a common spruce sawfly has probably settled on the tree. When its caterpillars appear, treat the branches with fufanon (20 ml per 10 liters of water).

The appearance of brown spots on the needles followed by yellowing or browning is a sign of a disease called “schutte vulgaris.” To stop the development of the disease, in the spring and in July-September, spray the Christmas tree with colloidal sulfur (200 g per 10 liters of water), or zineb (50-100 g per 10 liters of water), or Bordeaux mixture (100 g per 10 liters of water).

The same preparations are used to treat branches against rust (orange spots on the needles, swelling on the shoots). If the disease develops severely, the affected branches must be pruned or even uprooted to stop the infection of other inhabitants of the garden.

Spruce needles

Chemical composition of common spruce The buds and cones of common spruce (European) contain essential oil (up to 0.2%), which includes bornyl acetate, tannins (up to 6.7%) and resin. Essential oil (up to 0.15–0.25%), vitamin C (up to 860 mg%), carotene, and tannins (up to 10%) were found in the needles of the tree.

Diterpenoids were found in the resin of common spruce: cembrene, geranyl linalool, isocembrol, abienol, neoabienol, etc.

The composition of spruce turpentine includes pinenes (up to 32–40%), limonene (8.9%), dipentene, bornyl esters and resin acids.

The essential oil of coniferous twigs contains pinenes, carene, cadiene, phellandrene, dipentene, santhene, bornyl acetate (up to 10.6%) and aromatic alcohols (up to 13.6%).

Recently, tocopherols (vitamin E) and polyprenols, biologically active substances, have been discovered in the needles of Norway spruce.

All these active ingredients form the basis chemical composition and determine healing properties common spruce or, in other words, European spruce.

Collection of buds, needles, spruce cones and their preparation

Medicinal raw materials are buds (apical shoots), needles and cones of spruce, which are harvested in the spring.

spruce tapping

In Germany, spruce still remains the main resin-producing species. It gives a large yield of resin. It is easier to tap than pine trees. But the sensitivity of spruce to trunk wounds sharply reduces the duration of tapping and leads to mass destruction They ate rot, which forced us to switch to pine tapping. In Siberia, spruce has not been and is not being replanted on an industrial scale. By tapping spruce, spruce resin is obtained, containing up to 33% turpentine and rosin. Unlike pine resin, it quickly loses its turpentine and turns into the so-called spruce sulfur, which contains up to 85% rosin and 2–15% turpentine. Due to the difficulty of collecting spruce, spruce tapping widespread I didn't receive it.

Spruce bark

The use of fir cones, buds and needles in medicine. IN folk medicine spruce has long been used to treat various diseases. Baths made from spruce needles were used to treat rheumatic joint diseases, skin diseases and gout. To treat boils, ulcers and other skin lesions, an ointment was made, which was prepared from spruce resin (sulfur), wax, butter or pork fat, mixed in equal quantities. The needles in the form of an infusion were used as an antiscorbutic agent. Spruce bark contains up to 8–12% tannids.

Infusion of buds and cones of common spruce medical practice An infusion of spruce buds and cones is approved for use. This infusion is used for tonsillitis, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, vasomotor rhinitis (runny nose), as well as for chronic pneumonia and attacks of bronchial asthma. Spruce infusion is prescribed in the form of inhalations and rinses.

An infusion is prepared at home from crushed buds and cones of spruce at the rate of one part of the mixture to five parts of boiled water and boil for 30 minutes, stirring, then cool for 15 minutes and filter through three layers of gauze. For inhalation, the infusion is heated to 80 °C. Rinses are used by heating the solution to 35–40 °C for sore throat, tonsillitis and catarrh of the upper respiratory tract 2–4 times a day; for sinusitis, the maxillary cavities are washed with the infusion. For rhinitis, instill an infusion heated to body temperature into the nose, 5-10 drops into each nostril. An infusion of spruce buds and cones is a liquid Brown, astringent taste, with the smell of pine needles. The prepared spruce infusion is stored in a dark container in a cool place protected from light for no more than three days. The drug is low-toxic and has antimicrobial, antispasmodic and desensitizing effects. Active ingredients infusion - essential oil and tannins.

Natural pine extract

Natural pine extract is approved for use in medical practice in the form of a brown-black liquid with a characteristic aroma of pine essential oil. The extract is prepared from the coniferous foot of spruce and pine by extracting extractive substances with water and adding essential pine oil. Prescribed in the form of baths for functional disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system: for various neuroses, neurasthenia, radiculitis, plexitis, neuritis, for fatigue, weakened muscle tone, for polyarthritis, as well as for the treatment of hypertension stages I and II. To prepare a 200 liter bath, take 100 g of pine extract. The water temperature is not higher than 35–37 °C, the duration of the procedure is 10–15 minutes.

The drug "Pinabin"

The drug “Pinabin” is also made from spruce and pine needles. It is a solution of a 50% heavy fraction of essential oils from spruce and pine needles in peach oil. Pinabin has antispasmodic and some bacteriostatic effects. As an antispasmodic it affects the muscles of the urinary tract and therefore the drug is used in the treatment of urolithiasis and renal colic. Pinabine can only be used as prescribed by a doctor, since an overdose causes pain in the stomach and intestines and poor circulation. Materials used:

Tatyana Dyakova, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences

Description

Norway spruce (Picea abies)- a tree 30 - 35 m high, crown diameter 6 - 8 m. In favorable conditions it can grow up to 50 m. The needles are needle-shaped, tetrahedral, 1-2 cm long, dark green. Annual growth is 50 cm in height, 15 cm in width. Up to 10-15 years it grows slowly, then quickly. U common spruce the crown is cone-shaped, with distant or drooping branches, rising at the end, and remains sharp until the end of life. The bark is reddish-brown or gray, smooth or fissured, to varying degrees and the nature of the fracture, relatively thin. The shoots are light brown or rusty yellow, glabrous. Sensitive to pollution and dry air. Tolerates shade well. Durability 250 - 300 years.

Planting and caring for spruce ordinary

Do not allow soil compaction and moisture stagnation. The landing site should be away from groundwater. It is imperative to make a drainage layer, in the form of sand or broken brick, 15-20 cm thick. If spruce trees are planted in groups, then the distance for tall spruce trees should be from 2 to 3 m. The depth of the planting hole is 50-70 cm.

It is important that the root collar is at ground level. You can prepare a special soil mixture: leaf and turf soil, peat, and sand in a ratio of 2:2:1:1. Immediately after planting, the tree must be watered generously with 40 - 50 liters of water. It is advisable to apply fertilizer (100-150 g of nitroammophoska, 10 g of kornevin per 10 l, etc.).

Spruce trees do not like dry, hot weather, so during the hot season they need to be watered once a week, approximately 10-12 liters per tree. Carry out shallow loosening (5cm). For the winter, sprinkle peat around the trunk with a thickness of 5-6 cm; after winter, the peat is simply mixed with the ground, not removed. Spruce trees can also be planted in winter.

Approximately 2 times a season you can apply fertilizer for coniferous plants.

Spruce trees usually do not need pruning, but if they form hedge pruning is allowed. As a rule, diseased and dry branches are removed. It is best to carry out pruning in late May - early June, when the period of active sap flow ends.

To protect the decorative forms of spruce from autumn and winter frosts, they can be covered with spruce branches. (cm. , ).

It is the most common coniferous tree Europe. Its height can reach 50 meters, and the thickness of the trunk can reach 1 meter or more. Under favorable conditions, it can live up to 400 years.

This evergreen plant has horizontally arranged branches with flattened, tetrahedral, hard green needles. Spruce cones look like an oblong cylinder, 10-15 cm long and 3-4 cm thick. They ripen in October, but the seeds fall in January-April. The spruce blooms and begins to bear fruit at the age of 25-30 years.

Of all the types of spruce, the common spruce is the fastest growing. During the first ten years it grows slowly, but after a while the growth accelerates and the annual growth can reach 50 cm. It has a weak root system, superficially horizontal. In this regard, it has poor resistance to wind loads: spruce can very often be seen turned out of the ground, along with the root system, after strong winds.

Norway spruce has light and soft wood with a low concentration of resins and a high cellulose content. In this regard, spruce is the main raw material component pulp and paper mills. From one hectare of mature trees you can collect up to 400-500 cubic meters wood. Spruce is successfully used in construction; it is used to make musical instruments, railway sleepers, telegraph poles, various crafts, for the manufacture of furniture.

Resin is collected from mature trees, from which rosin and turpentine are extracted. The bark of young trees is used to produce tanning extracts.

Branches and needles are harvested as medicinal raw materials. The cones are collected in the summer and dried under sheds. They contain essential oils, resins and tannins. Infusions and decoctions of spruce cones are used for bronchial asthma and other respiratory diseases. The needles are used in the preparation of vitamin teas and anti-scurvy concentrates. For rheumatism, it is recommended to use baths made from the needles of this tree. The needles contain a large amount of ascorbic acid - up to 300-400 mg. In addition, infusions of buds or young pine needles have antimicrobial and antispasmodic effects.

It has already become a tradition in many countries around the world to decorate spruce for New Year and Christmas, although many people prefer pine or fir.

Spruce is propagated by seeds, which can be planted without preparation, but pre-planting stratification can improve germination. Along with seeds, it can also be propagated by cuttings, which take root very quickly. You can get layering by sprinkling the lower branches with soil. At the same time, the lower branches very quickly begin to form a young root system, which is rare for conifers.

Caring for a planted plant comes down to watering and weeding trunk circle while simultaneously removing weeds. It does not require artificial crown formation, but dried or broken branches must be removed regularly. Young Christmas trees require protection from severe frosts and from direct sunlight. In hot weather, you need to regularly spray the crown with water and water it every day at the rate of 10-12 liters of water per plant.