We are all used to seeing some trees in forests and parks, squares and forest plantations constantly dressed: in hot summers, and even in snowy winters. Only instead of leaves on their branches needles. Coniferous trees belong to the evergreen. The main representatives: pine and spruce, fir and juniper, larch and sequoia, cedar and yew. By the way, the name "conifers" does not exactly reflect the main characteristics of this department of the plant kingdom: not all representatives have needle-shaped foliage. But in general there are more than 600 species of conifers !
Pine needles
Common pine has been familiar to everyone since childhood. For many, this is a magical Christmas and New Year tree, which is decorated for the winter holidays. Unlike larch, the needles (foliage) of which turn yellow in autumn and then fall off, pine needles are on the branches year-round, throughout the life of the tree. But is it the same needle foliage? Of course, individual needles do not live for decades (like the tree itself), but much less. And pine needles of various species of this tree also have a different life span. What will it be for some representatives of conifers?
How many years does a pine needle live
While the tree grows and reaches old age, many generations of needles have time to change. However, this change is not visible, so to speak, with the naked eye, and at first glance it happens imperceptibly. Some needles fall, others grow, and the whole tree remains evergreen, and this process does not affect its appearance in any way until old age. How many years does a pine needle live? It depends on the species. So, in ordinary pine needles are renewed every 2-3 years. Needles develop in pairs, but in pairs they fall from trees, connected to each other. At any time of the year, fallen needles are visible on the ground under a pine tree. The life span of the needles is quite simple to determine: you need to look at the pine branch from a close distance (it is better to choose a young and low tree for these purposes). So, the very first will be the growth of this year - the escape of a branch with the brightest green needles. Next is the growth of last year with darker needles. The third increase, from the year before last, will be almost completely devoid of needles (or they will be on a branch in a small amount and have a yellowish color). Then a bare branch (the fourth year) will follow, since the needles on growth remain for a maximum of 3 years.
Centenarians in the world of needles
But not all species of pine have such a short eyelid for their needles. Guess how many years the pine needle of the spinous (or long-lived) lives? This tree is a kind of record holder: needles live up to 45 years, according to the testimony of scientists studying the flora. By the way, the same pine species in different climatic conditions have different lifetimes of needles. In the middle lane, for example, 2-3 years. And how many years does the needle of common pine live in the Far North? Almost twice, or even three times more - 5-7 years. The needles of pine and spruce, fir and cedar, and many other conifers, have this feature.
Needles of spruce and fir
It is different from pine. The needles are located one at a time and live for about 5-7 years. Years of life can be determined for them in the same way as in pine trees - by annual growth. Fir needles are softer than spruce and pine, not prickly. They live up to 12 years, and the fir itself has a rather thick crown, well obscuring the ground space.
When the needles fly around
Dead pine needles, for example, fly around at the beginning of the autumn period, in a fairly short time. Before this, in some areas (older branches) they acquire a yellow-orange color, becoming visible from afar among the younger greening needles. Then fall off one after another and quickly. According to the terms and time of the year, ordinary pine is very similar to some trees with foliage. Only this process can be called conifer, and the tree does not get rid of all the needles, but only the oldest. This is especially noticeable when the earth around the trees is covered with moss: it is completely covered with yellow fallen needles.
At fir, spruce needles from branches fall off more or less constantly, practically throughout the whole year: both in winter, and in autumn, and even in spring. Before falling out, they are not as brightly colored as pine needles, but have a brownish rather than orange hue.
About the benefits of needles
Pine and its needles are traditionally considered powerful energetics and biostimulants. Needle leaves contain many vitamins (five times more vitamin C than in citrus fruits), trace elements, and essential oils. The smell of needles has a beneficial and healing effect on diseased respiratory organs. And essential oils are used to prevent tuberculosis (affect its pathogen, stopping reproduction), cardiovascular diseases. So, having been in a pine forest in the fall, where the earth is strewn with freshly fallen needles, having breathed enough, everyone can feel an additional charge of energy and a surge of vigor.