Cedar belongs to a large family of Pine, genus - Cedar, or Siberian Cedar Pine. This genus is of particular interest because of the universal value of wood, needles and seeds. Cedar is also in demand in landscaping.
Cedar in the photo
The cedar tree looks like a real giant: it has a powerful trunk, reaching a height of 25 to 45 m, depending on the species.
Unlike Scots pine, the needles of the cedar are surprisingly soft, long, triangular, collected in whorls of 5-6 pieces. And in a pine - two and very rarely - three needles.
Shoots of two types - elongated vegetative and shortened generative. The tree is monoecious. Male kidneys - in the form of spikelets, looking up, red or yellow. Female - cones of 2-4 pieces - are at the top of the shoot and have a purple color.
The description of cedar roots is akin to the tree itself: the root system is as powerful as the aerial part, which allows the plant to endure all natural disasters and be unpretentious in culture. An adult cedar does not need agrotechnical care.
Its antimicrobial properties are also very valuable. The air around these trees is practically sterile. Many cedars have been planted by amateurs in summer cottages, household plots and garden plots in the central zone of Russia. It cannot grow in dry sandy places, but prefers sandy or loamy, moist, fertile soils.
Almost all types of cedar pines in forest plantations begin to bear fruit at 30-60 years, sometimes later, and in gardens where care and fertilizing are carried out in a timely manner, at 15-20 years and continue to bear fruit up to 250-300 years. A good harvest of large pine nuts occurs in those areas where 2-3 cedars grow in a group, since conifers are cross-pollinated trees. The seed development cycle of cedar lasts one and a half years.
Four types of cedar grow in Russia - Siberian, European, Korean and Siberian elfin.
With varieties of cedars and their photos you can find on this page.
Growing cedar from seeds and tree care
To give the garden a finished mature look, you need to plant an evergreen, long-lived tree. With its appearance, the cedar will give your estate solidity and power, confidence and optimism. In addition, this tree does not require systematic care. When growing and caring for cedar, forget about pruning, crown formation, and cleaning of fallen leaves.
Cedar is not only beautiful, but also useful. It heals the air with the aroma of pine needles.
It is necessary to plant seedlings on the site immediately on a permanent well-lit place at a distance of 5-6 m from each other. Between young cedars, you can grow undersized fruit trees and berry bushes. The crown should be formed on a low trunk, sprawling, multi-topped. Pruning or breaking out of the lateral buds is carried out in early spring, before the start of the growing season. Successfully established trees in the first years give 5-10 cm of growth with dark green needles.
The place for this tree should be open and extensive, the soil should be loamy, drained.
Video: How to grow Cedar seedlings
Germination of nuts is stored for 2 years. Immediately after collection, it is quite high, at 85%. It is better to sow in autumn. Shoots appear in this case in early spring. But you can stratify the nuts in wet sand, soak for a day and sow in the spring. Seedlings appear 2-3 weeks after sowing. They are dark green, with 10-12 cotyledons, up to 30 mm long. In the second year, paired needles appear from them, and only in the 4-5th year - whorls. The plants that have emerged from the shoots need a shade that lasts all the hot months for 2-3 years, that is, for the cedar that you decide to grow, you need to equip a tent.
The growth characteristics of cedar include the ability to grow in sphagnum bogs, and powerful adventitious roots are formed. Root growth begins simultaneously with the growth of shoots. Already after 5-6 years, the exactingness of the cedar to the soil decreases sharply.
Cedar is also undemanding to air temperature. It tolerates continental climate, frost and drought. The only thing is that buds can die during late spring frosts, which coincide in time with the flowering period.
However, this threatens trees that have already begun to bear fruit, which will happen only at the age of 30 or more. You have to wait a long time for the appearance of nuts, but the tree itself can live up to 500 years, giving abundant harvests every 4-5 years.
Siberian cedar in the photo
Siberian cedar- the most common and best studied. Its distribution area is extensive. Starting from the northeast of the European part to the southern slopes of the Urals, this species is an unshakable native, growing both in the lowlands and on the mountains. In Central Altai, it grows at an altitude of 2300-2400 m above sea level.
The crown is conical from a young age, and then becomes flat-topped. It can be both sharp-pyramidal and wide-spread. It all depends on the place of growth. In groups, in the forest, with a small feeding area, cedars are elongated upwards, and when planted alone, they are sprawling, have 2-3 peaks.
As you can see in the photo, the branching of the Siberian cedar is strictly whorled, longline:
Annual shoots are yellowish with a rusty coating, pubescent. The needles are trihedral, up to 13 cm long, serrated along the edge and sit in bunches of 5 pieces on shortened shoots. The needles remain on the branches for 3-6 years.
Cedar blossoms in spring, immediately after pine, and cones ripen in autumn, the next year after flowering. They do not crack, fall to the ground.
Pay attention to the cedar cones - in a mature tree they are very picturesque (light brown, elongated ovoid, up to 13 cm long and 8 cm wide):
There are from 100 to 140 nuts in a cone - shiny, dark brown and very tasty.
The taste of nuts was appreciated by the inhabitants of the forest, the cedar taiga. Nuts are the main food of the nutcracker, which often destroys up to half of the crop. From one tree you can get up to 1500 cones.
But thanks to the nutcracker, the cedar breeds. The bird takes nuts to long distances, hiding them in moss, old stumps, forgets and loses them. Nuts sprout, and thus the territory of cedar growth expands.
In addition to nutcrackers, capercaillie, hazel grouse, squirrels, chipmunks, and sables eat nuts. The bear is also a hunter for delicious nuts in the taiga. He often climbs into the crown of a tree, breaks it, causing great harm.
Video: Collecting cones on a cedar
When describing the Siberian cedar, special attention should be paid to the chemical composition of its nuts - they explain the reason for such a high popularity of this tree. Pine nuts contain up to 61% fat, up to 17% protein, more than 12% starch. Pine nuts are rich in vitamin A (vitamin of growth), B vitamins, which improve cardiac activity and are very necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system. They are especially rich in vitamin E (tocopherol, which in Greek means “I bear offspring”). It is not for nothing that during the years of good harvests of cedar, the fertility of sable and squirrel increases significantly.
It is known that pine nuts contain substances that improve blood composition, prevent tuberculosis, anemia.
From a kilogram of nuts, you can get up to 150 g of oil and 200 g of cake for pet food.
Cedar oil is one of the highest quality. It belongs to fatty drying oils. Light yellow in color and pleasant in taste, the oil is in demand not only in the food industry, but also in the paint and varnish industry, in perfumery, medicine, and canning.
Walnut milk and cream are made from nuts, which are high in calories.
Siberian cedar needles have essential oils, resins and vitamin C. It contains a lot of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, iron, copper, cobalt. When cutting growing cedars, cedar resin is obtained containing up to 19% turpentine.
Gum has embalming properties. In folk medicine, it is used to treat purulent wounds, cuts, burns.
In relation to light, the Siberian cedar is shade-tolerant, especially when young, when growth is slow. Despite the fact that it is a close relative of the light-loving pine, light is not decisive for an adult tree either.
European cedar in the photo
European cedar is a close species to the Siberian cedar. It grows wild in the mountains - the Carpathians and the Alps at an altitude of 1300-2500 m above sea level. There, together with larch and spruce, it forms impenetrable thickets.
Its height reaches 20-25 m. The crown is always wide, ovoid. The needles are thin, graceful, short. Cones from 6-8 cm long, nut seeds are also not as large as those of the Siberian cedar.
When describing the European cedar, it is especially worth noting its great endurance, it is frost-resistant and shade-tolerant, drought- and wind-resistant, not picky about soils and air humidity. But it does not have the advantages inherent in the Siberian cedar.
As shown in the photo, European cedar is often used in landscaping:
In Europe, this species is popular as a solitary plant (tapeworm) in parks.
Korean cedar in the photo
Korean cedar is the most majestic tree. By the beauty of the description, the Korean cedar is not inferior to any of the known species. This tree reaches 45 m in height and 2 m in diameter with a wide-conical and multi-peaked crown.
Young shoots with dense rusty pubescence. The needles are bluish-green, up to 20 cm long. Along the edge, it is finely serrated, rough, not similar to the needles of other species. It stays on the shoots for only 2 years.
The male spikelets of the Korean cedar are yellow, and the female cones are first reddish, then purple. Blooms in June.
Pay attention to the photo - the Korean cedar has ripe cylindric cones, 10-15 cm long, larger than the Siberian species.
They ripen in the second year after flowering. They fall to the ground without opening in November.
The seeds are twice as large as those of the Siberian cedar and contain more fat - up to 65%.
It bears fruit from 40-50 years of age to extreme old age in 1-2 years. But the number of cones on the tree is much less than that of the Siberian cedar. Seed germination lasts only a year, although it is 85%. They should be sown in the fall. Shoots appear the next year in early spring. They are with 10-14 juicy cotyledons.
According to the taste of nuts, needles - in terms of the content of vitamin C and wood - in terms of technical properties it is not inferior to Siberian cedar.
It is difficult to include low, creeping species in the family of tall, mighty cedars, nevertheless, they exist.
Cedar elfin in the photo
Cedar elfin- a low branching shrub with branches creeping along the ground, and sometimes a tree up to 4-5 m in height. The shoots are densely pubescent, the needles are stiff, up to 4-8 cm long, 5 needles in a bunch. The female cones are violet-purple.
As you can see in the photo, the pine elfin has mature cones up to 4 cm long, light brown, shiny:
Nuts, which are up to 40 pieces in a cone, are smaller than those of Siberian cedar, but they are also edible and tasty, although they contain less oil. Fruiting begins from 25-30 years.
Elfin grows slowly, everywhere - on the mountains and coasts, swamps and lowlands. Very winter hardy. An interesting fact that is worth noting when describing cedar dwarf pine is that this plant has the property of “laying down for the winter”, that is, the branches hibernate on the ground, covered with snow. Begins to vegetate only in spring. Propagated by seeds, layering, adventitious roots. It is valued as a nut and decorative culture for rock gardens.
himalayan cedar recently gained popularity in Europe. It is more of a decorative form than a view. It has falling paws-branches and a protruding top. The tree grows quickly, but is never taller than 25 m.
Himalayan cedar in the photo
Atlas cedar, or blue, is also a decorative form. Particularly noteworthy are its forms "Weeping" and "Golden". All these trees are not tall, but very sprawling, requiring a lot of space.
Cedar- This is a tree with evergreen needles from the Pine family. Botanical name - Siberian cedar pine. To cultivate a tree, grains are needed - pine nuts. The plant lives in the Urals, in Eastern and Western Siberia.
Thanks to nuts, the Cedar tree and its brethren have won the special interest of biologists and breeders.
Description
The root system is powerful, which allows the plant to unbendingly withstand all natural disasters. Mature cedar does not require agricultural care. Its antimicrobial properties are priceless. The atmosphere around the tree is almost sterile. It does not grow in dry sandy areas, but chooses the earth from sandy loam or loam, damp and fertile.
All types of cedars in the forests bear fruit by 30-60 years, and in gardens where constant care and feeding - by 15-20 years and up to 250-300 years. A good harvest of cedars in those areas where two or three trees live, as they are cross-pollinated. The cycle of seed ripening in cedar lasts a year and a half.
- Shoots and needles. The shoots are coffee-colored and covered with reddish hairs. Needles of a dark green color with a bluish bloom 6 - 14 cm in length. On the cut, it is trihedral and serrated. Feels plastic. It grows in bunches of five needles.
- root system. It is represented by one central rhizome 40–50 cm long, small side hairs with root hairs with mycorrhiza on the edges stretch from it. If the soil is airy and sufficiently drained, then massive anchor roots are formed at the main root, going 3 meters deep, designed with basal branches to ensure the stability of the crown and trunk.
- cones. The tree is monoecious and heterosexual: female and male cones grow on the same plant. The cedar plant is anemophilous - pollination produces wind.
In total, the genus of cedars has 4 types:
canadian thuja
The red Canadian cedar has no connection with the real cedar, it is a thuja folded from the cypress genus. The plant is known for its wood with strong properties. Alleys are equipped with this ornamental plant, dwarf plants are planted on siliceous lands. White Canadian cedar - called thuja western. In height 12-20 m, it has a compact pyramidal crown and is similar to other plants of the cypress genus. The wood is reddish, with a characteristic strength and fragrance.
Cones and seeds
. Male and female cones coexist on the same tree. The male ones are concentrated at the base of the processes, the female ones are at the edges of the growth processes, near the apical bud. The shoots are pollinated by the wind. The kidneys are conical in appearance. Mature cones are 15 cm in size, 8 cm wide. Young cones are lilac, over the years they acquire a coffee color, resemble an egg, then become rhombus-shaped.
The scales of the cone are compressed, it takes 15 months to fully mature. Cedar grains are ovoid, 1.5 cm long and 1 cm wide, dark, closer to brown. Giants bear fruit at the age of 60.
Landing and care
Maybe. He needs an intensive supply of potassium. Nitrogen is not added to the soil, it has a bad effect on the roots. Weed young cedars from weeds in a timely manner. Cedars are planted in the open, away from spruces, lovers of shade from the spreading crown of the cedar. Cedars look great with birch trees, but birch trees have a detrimental effect on their growth. Therefore, they maintain a distance when landing. Before planting a cedar, the territory is marked ahead of time to give the trees the necessary expanse, maintain a distance of 9 m.
Siberian cedar is mulched for direct ventilation and oxygenation of the soil. Mulch protects against freezing in winter, retains moisture. Mulch is added every year to increase adventitious roots.
Growing from seed
To give the garden presentability and power, firmness and love of life, a cedar is planted. This tree does not require regular care, pruning, creating a crown, cleaning the fallen crown. Cedar revitalizes the atmosphere around it with the aroma of pine needles. Seedlings are planted in a permanent well-lit area at a distance of 5-6 m from each other. Between young cedars, low fruit trees and berry bushes are planted.
They create a crown on a low stem, spreading, with many peaks. Cutting or breaking out the lateral buds is done early in the spring. Rooted cedars in the first seasons grow by 5-10 cm.
Germination of nuts 2 years. After collecting it is 85%. Seeds are sown in autumn. Sprouts appear in early spring. But you can speed up the germination of nuts in damp sand, soak for a day and sow in the spring. Sprouts are shown in 14-21 days. They are dark malachite, with 10-12 cotyledons, 30 mm long. The next year, pairs of needles are born from them, and for the 4-5th season - whorls. The plants that emerged from the seedlings shade all the hot months for a couple of years.
Cedar grows well on sphagnum bogs, forming powerful adventitious roots. Roots grow at the same time as shoots grow. After 5-6 years, the intelligibility of the tree to the ground decreases. Undemanding cedar to the temperature of the atmosphere. Withstands continental climate, cold and land. But the death of the kidneys is likely during late spring frosts, which coincide in time with flowering. This threatens 30-year-old trees that have entered fruiting. For a long time we have to wait for the appearance of nuts, but the tree lives 500 years and brings generous harvests in 4-5 years.
Pine kernels are a storehouse of vitamins and fats, they are used in medicine and the food industry. The trace elements contained in the grains improve memory and are a source of vegetable proteins and fats. The restrained use of grains increases immunity to diseases, revives the nervous system, strengthens the heart and blood vessels.
Cedar wood kills bacteria. Pine nut milk from grated grains is used for tuberculosis ailments.
Cedar resin heals wounds, is used for colds and lung diseases. Pine needles are used as a cure for asthma and scurvy. Needles are the basis for healing tinctures.
Diseases and pests
The main danger for cedars is bark beetles, especially conventional engraver. In the first decade of May, the age of the engraver begins, beetles identify a weak plant by aroma and gnaw through passages under the bark. Females lay eggs in them, from which larvae are formed. As a result, the tissues of the trunk become dead, and by the end of summer the tree dies.
If you overlook the beginning of damage to the bark by pests and do not protect the tree, then the battle with pests will be useless. The appearance on the bark of small holes with droplets of resin indicates that the tree is inhabited by bark beetles. The fight with beetles is very difficult and only experts can do it.
Another pest... Hermes Siberian. Hermes pierces the trunk with a pointed proboscis, and sucks the juice. Because of the hair-like growths on the body, Hermes is like white fluff on the bark and needles. When trees are treated with preparations, droplets are retained by “fluff” and do not reach the insect, as a result, Hermes does not die. In growths and beetles and eggs. Therefore, only those insecticides that act through the sap of the tree are used to fight.
Like pests, diseases destroy the cedar. The most popular of them is needle rust, appearing in warm and wet seasons. Rust looks like the formation of orange and yellow bubbles on the needles. These droplets become a yellow powder, these are fungal spores that affect the tissues of the needles. As a result of the rust disease, the needles are dotted with yellow with brown marks, and then crumble. To combat the disease, weeds are weeded: sow thistle, coltsfoot, on them the rust goes through a share of the formation cycle.
Usage
People have long seen the beneficial properties of cedar and use them in different areas of life: they make housing, furniture, wooden crafts from wood, use it in medicine and cooking: they make food and cedar oil from grains, from needles, resin, bark they prepare medicinal decoctions, essential oil.
Oil
Pine nut oil is made by pressing from the grains of Siberian pine, it simultaneously contains the beneficial properties of olive, coconut, sea buckthorn and burdock oils. Cedar oil contains five times more vitamin E than olive oil. Essential oil is made from cedar, Siberian pine, Canadian thuja and other coniferous plants. By properties, it differs at least from each other, differs only in the ratio of components. Essential oil is made from crushed bark, wood, young shoots. Essential oil has antiseptic, soothing, antiviral properties, it is used in cosmetology. Essential oil is not used inside, it is inhaled, applied to the skin, and healing baths are prepared.
Sap
Resin (cedar resin) is also used, pre-treated, because in its present form it is not used, it rapidly turns to stone. Resin is used in solutions, they are made by yourself or bought in a store. It is not difficult to make a solution of resin: resin dissolves in vegetable oil at a temperature of 50 degrees, it does not lose its healing properties and, if used correctly, heals.
seeds
Pine nuts have nothing to do with real nuts, the fruits of shrubs and trees of the nut family. The grains of a real cedar are tasteless, and the nuts that are familiar to us are the grains of a cedar pine. Oil and tincture are also made from them, they are used in medicine, dietetics, cosmetology, and in aromatherapy sessions. Pine nuts are used to increase immunity to diseases, improve vision, prevent cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and anemia. Nuts are rich in vitamins A, B, C, D, E, P, have minerals: manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, iodine.
The nut kernel has fats, proteins and amino acids: tryptophan, methionine, lysine. Nut kernels are used for weight loss: they stimulate the hormone cholecystokinin, which sends a signal to the brain about satiety. Nut tincture treats diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Prepare tinctures and balms from kernels and shells. The resulting drug is anti-inflammatory.
Pine nuts also bring harm. You can not eat more than 50 g per day, it is forbidden to eat with meat and dairy products, the protein in nuts prevents the absorption of food. Nuts are not given to young children, in order to avoid blockage of the respiratory tract.
They buy only unpeeled kernels, when they come into contact with light and oxygen, they go rancid and absorb harmful substances. If the nuts and dishes from them are bitter, then the food is thrown away. Rancid oil is the strongest poison and it will take from a couple of days to a couple of weeks to restore the body.
Cedar as a unique building material
Cedar wood is an excellent heat and waterproofing, natural antiseptic, and it does not smolder. Housing made of cedar is durable, the premises are enriched with phytoncides, and resin and essential oil have a good effect on the health of the owner of the house.
Cedar is a strong and beautiful tree, but it needs care. With proper care, a tree can live for centuries. Siberian cedars are powerful giants, amazing with the beauty and beneficial properties of the atmosphere next to them and their fruits.
A real cedar is a large tree with a spreading crown resembling an umbrella in shape. In nature, it grows in Lebanon and represents the national pride of the country. In this regard, the image of the Lebanese cedar is also on the flag of the state.
Here we will talk about another cedar, which is actually a type of ordinary pine.
What does a cedar cone look like, how does it develop, what are its properties - you can find out about this by reading this article.
Cedar, age
In Russia, real cedar (the aforementioned Lebanese cedar) is grown as an ornamental plant only in the Crimea and the Caucasus.
Well, the tree that we habitually consider cedar is one of several types of pine. In Russia, there are three types of pine (cedar): Siberian, Korean and cedar elfin (easier - cedar).
Siberian cedar is a strong, powerful tree with a conical, rounded crown. It is artificially bred in various territories of Russia.
Siberian cedar lives from 300 to 500 years. Only 20-70-year-old trees begin to bear fruit. A cedar cone, which appears on a tree periodically after 5-6 years, is the most valuable thing that a cedar has.
Trees can bear fruit for 250 years. In the most fruitful years, many harvesters appear in the cedar forests. Well, forest animals are not averse to making supplies for the winter: chipmunks, squirrels, nutcrackers, etc.
Fruits and seeds of Siberian cedar: description
Siberian pine is a monoecious plant (dioecious). Both its male and female cones are located on the same tree.
Moreover, the male ones are located at the very base of the shoot, and the female ones are at its ends, near the very apical bud.
Pollination of the plant occurs with the help of wind. Kidneys of conical shape (gradually tapering) have a length of up to 10 mm. On the axis of female cones there are scales with two seed buds in small axils.
Mature large cones reach sizes up to 15 cm in length and 10 cm in width.
A young cedar cone has a purple hue, and slowly turns brown, acquiring an ovoid, and soon a diamond shape.
The cone scales are tightly pressed and covered with short stiff hairs. They fully mature within 15 months.
Each cone contains 30 to 150 seeds (pine nuts). And 250 grams contains 1000 cedar seeds. With an average yield from one tree, you can collect up to 12 kilograms of nuts per season.
Cedar cone: photo, composition and properties
The taste of nuts and their nutritional properties are best preserved in their own "packaging" - cones.
The benefits of using nuts in food are immeasurable. Only 100 grams of kernels replenish the daily requirement of the human body for amino acids. Nuts also contain vitamins A, B (1, 2 and 3), D, E and a huge amount of trace elements: iron, magnesium, iodine, manganese, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, silicon, copper, boron, titanium, nickel, sodium, aluminum , silver and molybdenum.
Of the organic acids in the composition of nuts, citric acid is present. Nuts also contain proteins, starch, fiber, some sugar (sucrose).
The nut kernel is an excellent source of fats.
Emergence of a cone, obtaining seeds
The development of a cedar cone takes about three years. In the cones themselves, the seeds can last up to 20 years. These seeds can germinate without preparation before sowing. But stratification at a temperature of +3 to +5°C for about 14 days significantly accelerates their germination and increases germination (more than 50%). The seed planting depth should be 1 cm.
Before getting the seeds, the cone should be soaked about 2 or 3 times, then dried, after which it will open.
A cone of a real Himalayan cedar matures for 1.5 years, and then crumbles like a fir. Moreover, the seeds of this species retain their germination capacity only for about 5 months, in this regard, it is advisable to sow them after harvest in the first spring. Pre-sowing treatment is also not required. And their germination is 70%.
Cedar blossoms in spring, and cones with seeds ripen the next year only in August-September (i.e., after 17-18 months).
Cedar cone in food
Cedar nuts are widely used in the food industry. Cream, butter and milk are made from cedar fruits, which have a rather high calorie content.
At factories in Siberia, table oil with excellent taste is obtained using cold pressing, and technical oil is obtained by hot re-pressing. The cake remaining after the production is used for the preparation of halva. As a result of rubbing the nuts (very finely) with water, milk is obtained. Cream is obtained in the same way, but with less water.
Spreading
Extensive cedar plantations can be found in the Moscow region and in the vicinity of many other cities. Near the city of Yaroslavl, a huge grove of 300-year-old cedars grows.
Under natural conditions, the Siberian cedar grows only in Siberia, the Urals and Altai, where it is widely used for economic purposes.
Cedar also grows in the territories of Mongolia and Northern China.
The usefulness of cedar cones is immeasurable. It is widely used in medicine in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases.
The maximum life expectancy is 500 (according to some sources 800-850) years.
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✪ Recipe for cedar tincture - Siberian
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When choosing plants for the site, we want them to be winter and frost-resistant, resistant to diseases and pests, do not require special treatment, be decorative throughout the year, grow quickly; so that the culture is durable and our descendants can be proud of the work of our hands and it’s not bad if the plant matches the new fashionable landscape trends. Didn't forget anything? Oh yes! I forgot! It would not be bad for it to bear fruit, giving tasty fruits. We shovel a mountain of literature, sit on various forums and specialized sites, and, in the end, gradually our requirements are reduced, reduced ... and the very thought of such plants seems utopian. It seems to us that nothing like this can happen in our climate and we need to either say goodbye to this idea, or leave and plant a garden somewhere in sunny Italy, Spain, France ... But there is no need to despair, there are many types and varieties of plants that correspond to these requirements. In this article I will tell you about one of them. I want to introduce you to the cedar pine - a plant that we call "Cedar". If you look, then this is not one, but a group of plants. But, let's take it in order ... The following types are classified as cedar pines: Ermine pine, European cedar pine or European cedar, Korean cedar or Korean cedar pine, Siberian cedar pine or Siberian cedar. What do these plants have in common? Well, firstly, long dark green needles, collected 5 pieces in a bunch; secondly, the famous pine nuts. By the way, the seeds of all types of pines are edible, however, the seeds of cedar pines are of sufficient size for collection. Cedar pines are powerful large plants with a dense, beautiful crown. The exception is the cedar elfin, but it stands apart from the rest of the cedar pines. If I were asked which plant I consider absolutely winter- and frost-resistant, then cedar pines would undoubtedly be the first to come to mind. The artificial habitat of these plants is from the forest-steppe zone to the polar Kola Peninsula. Cedar pines calmly endure both low winter temperatures and high summer temperatures; sudden temperature changes and return frosts are not terrible for them. Therefore, in our region, these pines have found their second home. Starting from the age of 10, cedar pines do not actually require any intervention from us. Is it just to add mineral fertilizer once every three years, maybe arrange a shower in a particularly hot summer, well, keep track of Hermes and mealy worm. Also, with age, the cedar increases its annual growth - up to 50 cm. However, in young years, the cedar not only grows slowly (5-10 cm), but is also susceptible to various fungal diseases. During this period of its life, the cedar is very vulnerable. Young plants are extremely sensitive to soil acidity, alkaline and strongly acidic soil can lead to weakening of the seedling. Optimal acidity - pH 6-7. Also, young cedars need to be watered regularly and it is imperative to shower. It is worth remembering that root competition, compacted soil and, to a lesser extent, poor lighting can also lead to the death of a young seedling. Therefore, while the plant is small, we regularly weed weeds under it, make sure that the soil is breathable and, despite the fact that young cedars are shade-tolerant, we try to plant the plant in a sunny place. Once again, the older the cedar seedling, the easier it is to take care of it. However, you should not chase after large-sized plants - such seedlings are not cheap and planting them will not be very cheap. The optimal size of a cedar pine is up to 2-2.5 m. In general, I can talk about cedars indefinitely, admiring their beauty and decorativeness throughout the year. Remembering that this plant has long been a symbol of strength and health (cedar pine lives an average of 400 years and reaches 40 m), I want to say that cedar pines are not only suitable for our climate, but also ideal as a family tree. I want to remind you that the cedar pine is undoubtedly a "fruit" plant. In our climate, where the range of fruit crops is extremely limited, cedar can become part of the orchard. Yes, cedar pines are distinguished by late fruiting, in culture not earlier than 15-18 years old (in nature from 40 years old), yes, the seeds ripen within a year and a half, but believe me - it's worth it. The Japanese say: “Why do Russians need medicines when they have cedar pines?” And this is no accident, the seeds of cedar pine are rich in amino acids, most of which are essential acids. Cedar resin is also extremely valuable and irreplaceable. And what a decoction of needles ... Yes, if you list all the useful properties of this plant, then it will be enough for several articles! And, before moving on to the nuances of agricultural technology, I would also like to note that all cedar pines can be used for container gardening. That is, to grow both on balconies and loggias, and on open terraces. Well, now a few words about the agricultural technology of cedar pines. The basic rules for planting do not differ from planting any other plant, but there are a few points that will allow you to end up with a beautiful and healthy seedling. 1. It must be remembered that a feature of the mineral nutrition of Cedar pines is a strong need for potassium. Excess nitrogen in the soil has a depressing effect on the development of its root system. Based on this, we do not abuse nitrogen fertilizers, but at least once every couple of years we add potash fertilizers. 2. Be sure to mulch the plant and add a layer of mulch every year. First, pine and larch mulch will promote the formation of adventitious roots. Let me remind you that adventitious roots enhance the nutrition of the plant and accelerate its growth. Secondly, do not forget that cedar pines are mycotrophic plants. That is, the absence of mycorrhiza on the roots can serve as one of the main reasons for poor growth and premature death of the plant, and mulch in every possible way contributes to the development of mycorrhiza. Thirdly, a layer of mulch retains moisture in the upper soil layer, which is especially important when growing cedar on light sandy loam, and on heavy clay soil it protects its root system from being squeezed out in winter. And, fourthly, weeds under mulch slow down their growth. 3. When planting, you need to remember that cedar is a powerful plant and the minimum planting step is 3-4 m. 4. It must be remembered that the root system of cedar pine needs air, so the soil must be absolutely breathable. By following these simple rules, you will get a healthy, beautiful plant that will become the decoration and pride of your garden for many years to come!
Name
In Russia, the plant gained fame at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries under the name "Siberian cedar", although from a scientific point of view this species belongs to the genus Pine and is a close relative of the common pine, and not real cedars (Lebanese, Atlas and Himalayan).
Botanical description
Siberian cedar is an evergreen tree 20-25 (40) m tall. It is distinguished by a dense, often multi-topped crown with thick branches. The trunk is straight, even brown-gray, in old trees it forms a fissured scaly bark. Branching is whorled. Shoots of the last year are brown, covered with long red hairs.
Nutcracker and chipmunk play an important role in seed dispersal.
Distribution and ecology
Siberian cedar is often confused with Korean cedar, Siberian cedar and European cedar.
Consortative ties
Between Siberian cedar and nutcracker ( Nucifraga caryocatactes ) mutually beneficial interspecies consortium bonds have historically developed. Cedar seeds serve as the main food for the nutcracker and, as a result, in the process of evolution this was reflected in the structure of some of its organs and lifestyle, and the instinct of the nutcracker to store food for the winter turned out to be useful for the natural renewal of the cedar and the formation of stone pine forests. Creating stocks of cedar seeds, the nutcracker hides them in small (up to 30 nuts) portions in numerous places, more or less evenly distributed on uncovered and forested areas in the upper soil horizons and in the moss cover. Due to this, in places where the seeds of the nutcracker were lost or not used for any other reason, single or group seedlings of the cedar are formed.
In addition to nutcracker, chipmunk, squirrel, sable, bear, woodpecker, nuthatch, etc. feed on Siberian cedar seeds, but they cannot be called obligate consorts of cedar: in the diet of these animals, cedar seeds are not mandatory. only sable ( Martes zibellina L.), for normal life and reproduction, a certain amount of seeds of this breed is required.
Among animals feeding on other parts of the cedar (needles, wood, bast, etc.), obligate consorts are apparently absent. There are no obligate consorts in Siberian pine, probably among fungi, including those forming mycorrhiza. Although Siberian pine is a highly mycotrophic plant and cannot grow in the absence of mycorrhiza, mycorrhizal fungi associated only with Siberian pine have not yet been identified. So far, only one thing is known: the cedar develops mycorrhiza with the same types of fungi as other forest-forming species.
Chemical composition
Oxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic phenolic acids were found in the bast.
The chemical composition of the oleoresin of the Siberian cedar changes when climbing the mountains: the content of α-pinene decreases (from 50.5% to 39.1%) and the amount of Δ3-carene and β-phellandrene increases, respectively, from 27.6% to 39.5% and from 6.4 to 8.4%.
Siberian pine needles contain 0.8-1.05% essential oil. α-pinene (56.6-63.2%), β-pinene (0.95-1.38%), β-phellandrene (0.78-1.71%), limonene (0. 97-2.03%), germacrene-D (10.8-15.8%), cadinenes (5.7-8.4%), β-myrcene, cis-β-ocimene (0.46%), α-terpinene, pair-cymene, γ-terpinene, α-terpinolene, α-thuyene, camphene, sabinene, Δ3 carene, α-bisabolene, β-bizabolene, α- and β-caryophyllenes, bornylacetate, etc.
The needles of the cedar growing in the Novosibirsk region contain trace elements: manganese 756 mg/kg, iron 151 mg/kg, boron 13 mg/kg, zinc 12.6 mg/kg, molybdenum 2.6 mg/kg, copper 2.5 mg /kg.
The kernel contains amino acids - alanine 5.37 g/100 g of protein, arginine, aspartic acid, histidine, glycine, glutamic acid, proline, tyrosine, serine, cystine, including essential ones: lysine 5.74 g/100 g of protein , methionine 1.6, tryptophan 1.23, valine 3.39, leucine + isoleucine 15, threonine 3.1, phenylalanine 6.47. Nut oil contains fatty acids: myristic 0.1-1.26%, palmitic 3.6-7.26%, palmitooleic 0.04-1.19%, stearic 1.77-4.86%, oleic 19, 9-26.3%, linoleic 38.8-46.7%, linolenic 18.9-23.7%, arachidic 0.28-1.64%, eicosadiene 0.58-1.24%, eicosatriene 0, 94-1.35%.
19 amino acids have been identified in nut kernel proteins, 70% of which are essential or conditionally essential. Free amino acids found 18, dominated by glutamic acid, histidine, arginine, aspartic acid, proline, tyrosine, alanine. The kernel of nuts contains essential amino acids threonine 0.24-0.31%, valine 0.44-1.05%, methionine 0.14-0.39%, isoleucine 0.39-0.88%, leucine 0.69 -1.33%, lysine 0.35-0.78%, phenylalanine 0.35-0.81%, tryptophan. In terms of the content of phenylalanine, tyrosine, histidine, arginine and tryptophan, pine nut proteins are not inferior to the proteins of the main cereals and oilseeds, and in terms of the content of individual amino acids (cystine and tryptophan), nut proteins are close to dairy products proteins, surpassing them in arginine content. Pine nut amino acids, due to their specific composition, not only provide the structural-plastic and regulatory function of proteins, but also participate in the prevention of certain metabolic disorders in the human body.
The kernel of nuts contains mono- and disaccharides 2.57-4.92%, dextrins 2.08-2.53%, starch 5.26-6.11%. The kernel of nuts contains riboflavin 0.93-1.2 mg%, thiamine 0.24-0.66 mg%, tocopherols 9.2-32.8 mg%, vitamins B3, B5, B6 are also found. By the content of tocopherols, thiamine and riboflavin, pine nuts are significantly superior to other nuts. Found in nut kernels ascorbic acid 64 mg%. Nuts serve as a rich source of magnesium, which is necessary for normalizing cholesterol metabolism, preventing stone formation and reducing the excitability of the nervous system. Nut kernel contains iron 1.8-4.2 mg%, magnesium 244-440 mg%, zinc 0.85-2.1 mg%, iodine 0.03-0.07 mg%, silver 0.003-0.006 mg%. The content of fatty oil in the kernel of the nut varies depending on the degree of maturity, the zone of growth of the plant and can reach 63-66%.
Pine nuts collected in the Irkutsk region contain iodine 0.387-0.741 mg/kg, manganese 5.43-15.15 mg/kg, cobalt 0.107-0.197 mg/kg, copper 2.18-3.816 mg/kg, nickel 0.046 -0.073 mg/kg. Especially valuable is the high content of iodine, manganese and copper. The content of trace elements in nuts may vary depending on the year of collection by 15-60%.
The kernel of pine nuts contains fatty oil 56-63%, protein 17-23%, carbohydrates 10-14%, phosphatides 0.65-1.12%. Contains macroelements: calcium 16-20 mg%, magnesium 200-260 mg%, microelements - iodine 0.38-0.74 mg/kg, manganese 7-15.1 mg/kg, iron 7-18 mg/kg, cobalt , copper and nickel; vitamin E 9.24-10.9 mg%. Cedar oil contains vitamin E - 27.6 mg%, vitamin B1 0.51-0.66 mg%. The iodine number of cedar oil is 155-169. The nut kernel contains pentosans 2.1%, starch 12.4%. In fatty oil oleic acid 33.7-35.8%, linoleic acid 31.1-34.3%, linolenic 20.6-27.7%.
Pine nuts contain macronutrients (mg per 100 g of dry kernels): phosphorus 486-716, magnesium 396-488, potassium 350-403, calcium 35-49, iron 2-3.8; trace elements (mg per 1 kg of dry kernel): manganese 5.1-9.7, copper 1.5-3.1, silicon 2.1-3.1, iodine 0.38-0.71, silver 0.028-0.071 , as well as molybdenum, boron, nickel, cobalt, zinc, etc. Compared with other nut crops common in Russia, Siberian pine nuts are distinguished by a high content of phosphorus and especially magnesium. One hundred grams of the pine nut kernel fully satisfies the daily human need for magnesium, 200 g of the kernel - for phosphorus.
The kernel of pine nuts contains carbohydrates (%): glucose 2-3.8, fructose 0.14-0.3, sucrose 0.23-0.71, dextrins 2.1-2.5, starch 5.2-6 .11, pentosans 1.72-2.11; oil 59.2-66.3, nitrogenous substances 2.8-3.3, phosphatides 1.16-1.41 (by their number, pine nuts surpass the fruits of other nut crops and oilseeds). Cedar oil contains (%) linoleic acid 50.8-67, linolenic 14.9-27.4, oleic 10.4-22.3; tocopherols 47.8-68.2 mg%, including α-tocopherol 25.2-34.4 mg%, γ-tocopherol 5.8-6.6 mg%, δ-tocopherol 16.8-26.2 mg %.
Siberian pine seeds contain condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), hydrolysable tannins (derivatives of gallic and ellagic acids), flavonoids (eriodictyol, taxifolin), epicatechin, lilac and vanillic acids, as well as small amounts of catechin, protocatechuic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, naringenin and others
17 fatty acids were found in the pine nut kernel: myristic 0.7%, palmitic 6.4-7.6%, palmitooleic 0.08-0.3%, stearic 3.2-4%, oleic 21.7-26, 2%, linoleic (ω6) 38.4-44.3%, γ-linolenic (ω6) 16.8-18.7%, α-linolenic (ω3) 0.31-0.45%, eicosadiene (ω6) 0.6-0.7%, eicosatriene (ω6) 1.2%, etc.
The fatty oil of pine nuts contains 5-11% saturated acids, oleic 10.4-26.5%, linoleic 38.8-59.1%, γ-linolenic 14.8-24.4%, α-linolenic 0.15- 1.35%, eicosadienic 0.58-1.24%, eicosatriene 0.94-1.35%. Pine nut oil contains tocopherols up to 58-70 mg% (all α, β, γ, δ isomers are present). The composition of the fatty oil varies greatly depending on the zone of growth of the cedar pine. So, in the Irkutsk region, the content of linoleic acid in oil is 50.8-61.4%, linolenic 14.9% - 27.4%, and in the Novosibirsk region, respectively, 53.9-67% and 17.6-25, 2%, Tomsk region 40.4-44.5% and 18.2-21.9%. With an increase in geographical latitude, an increase in the amount of tocopherols in cedar oil is observed. So, in Siberian pine from the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the amount of tocopherols in walnut oil is 49.6 mg%, in Gorny Altai 35.1-67.1 mg%, in the Irkutsk region 47.8-64.6 mg%, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug 40-121 mg%. In most regions, the main isomer is α-tocopherol (from 50.5 to 61.2% of the total amount of tocopherols).
Pharmacological properties
Pine nut oil normalizes the lipid spectrum of the blood, lowers cholesterol levels, helps to reduce excess body weight. A number of physiological effects of cedar oil are associated with the presence of identified terpenes in it.
Economic importance and application
Cedar wood is soft, light and durable, with a pleasant smell, highly valued, used, in particular, for the production of pencils. The wood has a beautiful texture, shades from pink and light beige to pale chocolate and dark brown. It does not give in to moisture and is not corroded by bugs, it is almost not subject to decay, wormholes. Easily amenable to various types of processing, it is very well planed, polished and dries with virtually no cracking. Due to these properties, cedar wood is in demand in the manufacture of furniture, crafts, housing construction, and interior decoration. Wood has resonant properties; pianos, harps, guitars are made from it.
The stock of timber in middle-aged cedar forests is 260-560 m³/ha.
In traditional crafts, in addition to wood, thin cedar roots are used. Vessels of various shapes and sizes are woven from them - rhizomes.
Pine nuts are a valuable food product that can be eaten both raw and after heat treatment. In terms of the amount of phosphatide phosphorus, pine nuts surpass all other types of nuts and oilseeds and are equivalent to soybeans, the richest source of lecithin among vegetable raw materials. The daily human need for such deficient trace elements as manganese, copper, zinc and cobalt is provided by 100 g of nut kernels. They are also a rich source of iodine. Among carbohydrates, cedar seeds contain (%): starch - 5.80; glucose - 2.83; dextrins - 2.26; fiber - 2.21. Fructose and sucrose make up only 0.25 and 0.44%. Pine nut protein is characterized by a high content of lysine, methionine and tryptophan - the most deficient essential amino acids, which usually limit the biological value of proteins.
The yield of nuts in various types of cedar forests of Western Siberia is from 10 to 640 kg / ha (broad-grass cedar forests are the most productive, sphagnum - low-yielding).
Application in medicine
Pine nut oil is a complete source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). To meet the daily requirement of essential fatty acids, you need to consume about 20 ml of oil per day. It has a cholesterol-lowering effect, contributes to the normalization of the lipid spectrum of blood (HDL cholesterol levels increased by 29%, and LDL levels decreased by 21%, the atherogenic index decreased by 40%), lowering systolic blood pressure and reducing overweight.
Crushed pine nuts inhibit gastric secretion, the production of gastric juice decreases and its acidity decreases. One hundred grams of pine nuts covers the daily human need for vitamin E.
The preventive efficacy of cedar oil was confirmed when it was included in the diet of patients with cardiovascular pathology.
Use for other purposes
It is possible to produce confectionery products enriched with protein products from Siberian pine nut kernels, which can be recommended for functional and therapeutic nutrition. On the basis of cedar oil, formulations of three-component mixtures of vegetable oils have been developed, optimized in terms of the composition of acids ω-3 and ω-6 and intended for functional nutrition. Combined products with cedar cake have been developed: cheeses, mayonnaises, confectionery pastes, instant cereals, food concentrates - semi-finished flour confectionery products, bakery products.
Genetics
In 2014, studies were carried out on the polymorphism of Siberian stone pine at five loci (RPS-124, RPS-90, PTTX-2123, PTTX-2146, PICO) with a primer annealing temperature of 55 ˚С. The analysis showed that for RPS-124, RPS-90, PTTX-2123 the level of variability is low, the trees are monomorphic, however, for PTTX-2146, a third allelic variant was identified, which is typical for Siberian dwarf pine, which indicates the likelihood of distant hybridization. The highest level of genetic polymorphism shows
The Siberian cedar in Russia became known to people at the end of the 17th century. Despite the fact that the tree is called cedar, it has nothing to do with real cedars: Himalayan and Lebanese.
Description
Siberian cedar is an evergreen tree that belongs to the genus Pine. In height, the cedar can reach 44 meters, the trunk of old trees in diameter can reach 2 meters. The lifespan of a cedar is about 500 years. The needles of the tree have a dark green color, can reach a length of 14 cm. The needles grow in bunches, five needles each. The root of the tree is short, taproot, branching.
Spreading
The cedar is especially widespread in Western Siberia, in the Urals, in Eastern Siberia, in Altai, in Mongolia, in Northern China, in the Sikhote-Alin mountains. There are also artificial plantations of cedar in the European Northern part of Russia: in the Arkhangelsk region, Vologda, Yaroslavl, Kostroma regions. Siberian cedar is often confused with Korean and European cedar, but these trees have some differences.
Collection and storage
Siberian Cedar blooms in July, and the seeds ripen in August - early September, when they are collected by cones. To extract seeds from a cone, the latter is heated in a special drying machine, where, under the influence of temperature, the scales are bent, and the seeds themselves fall.
In case of poor separation of seeds from the cone, mechanical processing is used. After the seeds are pulled out, they are laid out in the sun to dry. It is very important not to miss the moment when the peel is already dry, but the seed inside is still soft. It is during this period that the seeds must be removed from the sun.
Seeds can be stored for no more than 6 months. After this period, their composition begins to change dramatically: poisonous products appear. The seed changes shape, color, taste. Seeds are also susceptible to moisture. Accordingly, they need to be stored in a ventilated place, in a fabric bag, periodically pouring into a container and allowing the accumulated moisture to evaporate.
Application
Cedar forests are famous for their fresh air and pleasant aroma. The thing is that cedar releases substances such as phytoncides into the air. They disinfect the air. Walking through the cedar forests is also very useful for mental disorders, nervous diseases.
For bronchial asthma, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases, decoctions and tinctures are used. Also, with various diseases of the oral cavity, to improve the quality of blood, to cleanse blood vessels, with uterine bleeding, it is recommended to use a decoction of pine needles. Tincture of needles is used for skin inflammation.
In rheumatism and similar diseases, alcohol tinctures and turpentine baths are used as rubbing. To relieve fatigue, it is recommended to take baths with infusion of cedar needles. In the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation, they drink a tincture of cones. Camphor oil of Siberian cedar is excellent in the treatment of diseases of the nervous system as an aromatherapy.
Siberian cedar, or rather its fruits and needles, are used for the following diseases:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Tuberculosis
- Tracheitis
- Pneumonia
- Pneumonia
- Angina
- Stomatitis
- Runny nose
- Purulent skin lesions
- Mastitis
- Rheumatism
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Peptic ulcer of the stomach or intestines
- Pneumonia
- Nervous disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Scurvy
- Uterine bleeding
- Chronic fatigue
- Inflammation of the gums
Beneficial features
Recipes
Infusion of cedar needles for rinsing the mouth with inflammation of the gums prepared according to this recipe: Siberian cedar, needles, in the amount of 5 grams, are ground in a mortar. Pour in a glass of warm water. Put on fire and cook for 20 minutes. After that, it is removed from the stove, infused for another half an hour and filtered. Rinses must be carried out several times a day, in addition, the same solution can be used orally to saturate the body with vitamin C, which is so necessary for inflammatory processes in the oral cavity.
For external use, infusion of cedar needles prepared as follows: 0.5 kg of needles are poured with 3 liters of boiling water. Insist about 6 hours, filter. Add to warm water bath. Take this bath for 30 minutes every other day.
For respiratory diseases prepare an infusion of cedar buds: crushed buds in the amount of 10 grams are poured with a liter of boiling water, insisted in a warm place, for example, in a thermos, for 3 hours. Filter. Take 3 times a day for a tablespoon, after meals.
As a diuretic and choleretic agent prepare a decoction according to the following recipe: Siberian cedar, kidneys, 2 tbsp. pour a glass of boiling water. Boil in a water bath for about 30 minutes. After that, insist another 40 minutes. Filter. Take daily for a week, 3 times a day, half a glass.
With uterine bleeding, mastitis, drink a decoction of the shell of nuts: 1 cup of the shell must be poured with a glass of boiling water, then boil for 30 minutes. Remove from stove and leave for 2 hours. Express. Take before meals 3 times a day, half a glass.
For peptic ulcers of the intestines and stomach Siberian cedar oil is recommended. Apply it in a teaspoon half an hour before meals - in the morning, and 2 hours after eating - in the evening.
For respiratory diseases make compresses from turpentine and petroleum jelly, in a ratio of 1 to 5.
Application restrictions
- angina pectoris
- Pregnancy
- Oncological neoplasms
- Individual intolerance
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