Siberian spruce (lat. Picea obovata) looks like an ordinary spruce, its closest relative, often forms hybrids with it. A careful examination reveals differences in the shape, length of needles, cones, color of shoots.
Botanical Description
Siberian spruce is the most frost-resistant species in the Pine family. Most specimens easily tolerate long cold periods below -45 ° C, and grows successfully in regions with extremely low temperatures. These are straight-shaped large slender trees 20-30 m tall. The root system is branched, superficial, with underdeveloped central rods. The diameter of the trunks is 70–100 cm. The bark at a young age is light brown and thin. Over the years, it acquires a dark brown color, in the lower part of the trunks it becomes deep furrowed. The upper layers exfoliate with thin plates. A distinctive feature of the species is short reddish hairs covering annual, non-lignified shoots.
Crown of trees pyramidal, with clearly defined peaks. Due to damage by severe frosts of skeletal branches, several specimens are observed to be multi-vertex. Lateral shoots densely branched, starting low from the ground.
The needles are stiff, tetrahedral, 1.5–2 cm long, dark green, without stripes and veins. Many hybrid and transitional forms have needles of a bluish, bluish-green or golden hue.
Cones ate Siberian smaller than ordinary cones: 5-6 cm long, wide, dark brown, with rounded scales. Ripen in September. Seeds are dark gray, about 4 mm, with thin light wings.
Siberian spruce is more demanding on the composition of the soil than other northern trees. It is moisture- and photophilous, sensitive to high gas contamination of ambient air. Life expectancy is 350-380 years. Fruit bearing of trees begins from 15–20 years. Forest specimens reach maturity later, by 25–30 years.
Places of distribution
In the wild, this species of spruce is common in the northern part of Europe, the Urals, Western and Eastern Siberia, in the Amur Region, Mongolia and Northern China. In the valleys forms pure forest stands, adjacent to larch, fir, ash, poplar, birch. On the mountain slopes, the species grows singly, rarely rises above 450 m above sea level. Prefers well-moistened fertile soils.
In the north of the Far East, areals are insular, continuous forest stands are rare. In Kamchatka, Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, Siberian spruce is introduced; it is not found in the natural environment.
Application
Siberian spruce belongs to slow-growing species, is listed in the Red Book. Felling is rare.
Sapwood, long-fiber, almost white, with distinct annual rings, contains little resin, is relatively soft. It is used in the manufacture of furniture, turning products, decoration materials, paper, cellulose, charcoal, alcohol, acetic acid.
Siberian spruce needles contain a valuable essential oil used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic industry, and traditional medicine. Biologically active substances have a powerful anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect, help with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, respiratory, digestive, skin, and mucous membranes.
Siberian spruce - a valuable ornamental plant. It is decorated with parks, gardens, city streets. Thick needles secrete volatile, cleansing the air of harmful microorganisms. The resinous aroma of fir improves mood. Being close to trees is useful for people suffering from infectious pathologies, nervous disorders, loss of strength.
Breeding methods
Reproduction of Siberian spruce from seeds often ends in failure. Under favorable conditions, the material grows within a few months, reaches a height of 8-10 cm in the first year of life. Further growth is usually slower. It is necessary to carefully monitor the sprouts at home: fungi or parasites can destroy them. The trees reach 1.5–2 m no earlier than in 10 years.
For planting on a personal plot, it is better to purchase seedlings in a nursery or try to root a lignified shoot of an adult tree. Cuttings should be at least 20 cm in length. In open ground they are transplanted in June.
Landing
Spruce is a large freedom-loving tree. You can not plant it closer than 4 m from the walls of buildings, fences. Places with a shallow groundwater table will not work. Also, proximity to fruit plants should be avoided.
It is advisable to carry out work in the fall. Pits are prepared with a width and depth of about 1 m. The distance in group plantings is 3-4 m. Sand, peat, hardwood, superphosphate are added to heavy soil. High acidity is neutralized with lime.
20 cm of drainage is placed at the bottom of the pits, half is covered with soil. The roots are positioned so that the neck is flush with the surface. You can not tamp the soil when planting. Immediately after being placed in the ground, the tree is watered.
Care Features
It is necessary to feed the spruce 1-2 times per season, introducing complex mineral additives under the root. After the plant is recommended to water.
In the first 5 years, spruce need to be moistened every week from April to September. It takes 10-15 liters of water. An exception is the period of heavy torrential rains.
Young shoots are sensitive to frost. If you want to keep the dense crown as strong as possible in severe cold, you need to wrap the trees in burlap.
Drying branches must be removed so as not to provoke the development of diseases. To prevent fungal infections, you can sprinkle branches with dry wood ash. Crowns should be sprayed with insecticides at least 1 time per month.