Birch– familiar to all tree. It is very noticeable against the background of other trees due to its white bark. Compared to coniferous birch groves always seem very light.Birch has long been considered the most important resource for humans, everything was in progress – bark, flowers, wood… It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this tree. But what makes birch interesting and valuable? Here are some interesting facts about this healing tree.
FACT 1: Birch is a pioneer among trees in new areas
Birch seeds are extremely light, 5,000 seeds weigh only 1 g. Its seeds are light gliders that fly long distances and fall to the ground kilometers from the mother trees. Birch love the sun. Cleared forest areas, open spaces after a fire and or former pastures are ideal areas for birch. As a pioneering tree species, it is one of the first tree species to colonize new areas. In insufficient sunlight, birch grows to a height of 30 meters.
Birch forms a new forest in open areas.
Other pioneer tree species are willow, alder or poplar. They all depend on a lot of light. They prepare the ground for future tree species, shading the soil and thus limiting other grasses and shrubs in their growth. The result is a semi-shady forest with low shrubs and layers of grass, in which other tree species grow, such as maple, beech, oak and others.
FACT 2:
Snow-white crust as protection from the sun
Birch is ideally suited to sunny places. White bark – its protection from the sun. It reflects light and ensures that the wood does not overheat. Thus, birch prevents the formation of cracks. The birch bark is water-repellent.
FACT 3:
Birch sap
Birch is one of the species of trees that “bleed”. The term is conditional because the trees do not actually bleed. The comparison is based on the fact that in the spring, when their bark is damaged, a lot of water flows out of the trees. In addition to birch, this phenomenon can be observed in walnut, maple, and vine.
Trees produce especially strong sap in the spring, just before planting.
This is due to the fact that trees are increasingly draining water from the ground to the branches in the crown. Without leaves, however, little liquid evaporates and the tree is heavily filled with water and dissolved nutrients.
Freshly picked juice tastes a little sweet and lively.
Birch sap is considered a healthy spring drink and is popular as a hair tonic.
FACT 4: Birch and mushrooms
Birch forms a symbiosis with many species of fungi. These include, for example, boletus, black chestnut, pink wool.
Mushrooms live together with trees and support each other. The tree supplies the sugar solutions formed during photosynthesis to the fungus, which provides the tree with soil nutrients such as nitrogen. Due to their huge network in the soil, fungi release much more nutrients from the soil than a tree can get through its roots.
FACT 5: Postcards made of birch bark
Birch bark is one of the oldest predecessors of today’s paper. Thin layers of bark that are easy to remove, light, resistant to tears and water-repellent. Carved messages withstood the weather and were therefore especially popular.
During the First World War, soldiers at the front again resorted to bark. Due to the lack of postcards, they wrote on pieces of bark and sent them to their relatives. Today, birch bark can be purchased for special art projects.
FACT 6: Birch with a name
The name of the singer Bjork Güdmündsdouttir from the Icelandic language translates as “birch”.
Her name is the month in Ukrainian (March) and Czech (Czech: Březen).
Birch is widely used in landscaping and it, like all plants can get sick. Therefore, at the first signs of the disease, incomprehensible condition of the tree, it is necessary to turn to specialists in time.