Beech is not just a majestic deciduous tree with the aesthetic properties of wood. Since ancient times, it has been considered as one of the most energetically favorable breeds. Even a small beech detail can improve the physical and emotional state of a person, inspire creativity, give peace and tolerance. Those who found themselves in a beech forest at least once leaned against the trunk of a tall and healthy tree felt a special surge of vitality, youth and health. What is the secret of an amazing plant, how it looks, where it grows, what properties it has and what diseases it can cure - we will talk about these and other features of the breed later in the article.

Description

Beeches (Fagus) are representatives of the genus of the same name and develop up to forty meters in height. Outwardly, they are characterized by slender columnar trunks, neat densely shady spherical crowns and serrated leaves of an oblong-elliptical shape.

Did you know? There has been a tradition of healing with trees for a long time. The Old Believers say that bad energy should be given to spruce, and good energy should be taken from pine, beech and oak.

characteristic feature tree is the location of its root system in surface soil balls. It does not have pronounced signs of a rod, and its lateral shoots are distinguished by anchor branches.

The small endings of the roots often point upward or branch like a brush in a layer of dead litter. In old trees, basal paws grow strongly, so they are characterized by typical hollows and grooves.

Beeches are noticeable from a distance with a smooth grayish-silver bark and an even upright trunk. The tree lives up to 500 years, but the active period of its growth lasts only during the first century.

Already after eighty years, the trunk stops increasing in height and only thickens. Old specimens can grow in diameter up to one and a half meters or more. Annual growths in the crown are still noticeable up to 350 years of age.

Other crops cannot grow under the roof of these trees. Usually, under densely closed branches in pure forest plantings, only dead leaf litter is observed.

Did you know? Dendrotherapists say that to improve physical and emotional health, it is enough to have a small beech object with you. For example, beads or a bracelet. For the owner, this is not just an ornament, but a source of vitality, creativity, common sense, balance, and also a strong antiseptic.

At the moment of blooming of leafy buds, which differ in one and a half centimeters in length and a spindle of a similar shape, inflorescences appear from the lower sinuses. They are divided into male and female.

It is noticed that the former are located along the entire length of the branches, and the latter - only at their ends. After flowering throughout the summer, the fruit ripens - a trihedral fleecy nut with sharp ribs. There are usually 2 or 4 of them in the achene.

The tree needs low temperatures in winter, as this has a positive effect on the development of female inflorescences. But at the same time, during flowering, it is afraid of excessive moisture and dryness. Indeed, in such conditions, pollen is doomed to death.

In addition, in the rainy season, the sticky secret released from the buds is washed off. And this, in turn, affects poor pollination.

Kinds

Botanists distinguish about a dozen species of beeches. Consider the most popular of them.

European (Fágus sylvática)

It is also called the forest beech. This is the most common representative of the Beech family, which is often found in the western, central and eastern regions of Europe (Denmark, Norway, Great Britain, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Greece, France, Spain, Portugal). In Ukraine, similar trees grow in the Carpathians, as well as in Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Ternopil, Rivne, Khmelnytsky and Vinnitsa regions.

In addition, the species has been introduced to the North American continent. In these parts, beech plantings form entire forest subzones, although the plant is often cultivated in botanical gardens, parks and arboretums.

Many gardeners prefer it in landscape design using different breeding forms of the species. A feature of the European beech is its wood, which is widely used in furniture construction, and the fruits that are used for food.

Did you know? In Soviet times, there was a state standard for the manufacture of wooden sticks for ice cream. The Ministry of Health of the SRSR strongly recommended that they be made only from beech. And all because, as scientists explain, this wood has no equal - it is completely absorbed in the human body.

Distinctive characteristics of the European beech is an ovoid or wide cylindrical shape of the crown with a rounded top and thin branches. Its maximum area often reaches 315 m2.

Large-leaved (Fagus grandifolia)

These flowering trees from the Beech family are well known in the eastern zones of North America and Western Europe. The extreme line of their prevalence stretches from Nova Scotia along the St. Marys River to the southern shore of Lake Superior, covering the states of Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, reaching the very Atlantic Ocean. Botanists distinguish separate areas of large-leaved beeches in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, as well as on the Mexican coasts.

On the European lands the species came only at the end of the 18th century as an ornamental culture for the garden landscape. Over time, the quality of the wood was evaluated. The plant can be found in mixed deciduous forests, where there are maples, birches and lindens.

The peculiarity of the species lies in large elongated leaf plates. Each kidney extends up to 2.5 centimeters in length. The foliage is low-pubescent, broadly lanceolate. On average, the leaves are 6-12 cm long and 3-6 cm wide.

The tree looks spectacular in any season: in spring, young silky leaves attract the eye, in summer they transform into a thick dark bluish-green coverlet of the crown, and in autumn they are filled with reddish-burgundy hues.

Important! Harvested for medicinal purposes, beech leaves and bark should not be dried in direct sunlight. Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, irreversible processes occur in the chemical composition of raw materials and useful components are destroyed. The best option for drying is a well-ventilated attic.

Oriental (Fagus orientalis)

The species is very common in the coastal zones of the Black Sea and in the Caucasus. Differs in very slow growth and increased shade tolerance. That is why young oriental beeches produce abundant shoots under forest cover, but when they grow to adulthood, the branches close tightly, not even giving grass a chance to grow.

Characteristically, these plants occupy more than a quarter of all forests in the Caucasus. They develop best at altitudes up to a thousand meters above sea level.

Vivid signs of this species are wavy, entire foliage, as well as hanging, fleecy young shoots. The wood has a white-yellow color and high physical and mechanical properties. The only drawback of a beech board is its poor resistance to decay, which is not in the best way affects the durability of the material.

Experts advise that before use, be sure to treat lumber with special solutions, which improve its endurance.

Japanese (Fagus japonica)

This type of beech tree is common on the Japanese islands of Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, as well as on the Korean Peninsula. They prefer mountainous areas and can rise up to 2 thousand meters above sea level. Cultivated specimens can also be seen in European gardens, but not often.

Important! With insufficient heat treatment, beech fruits can cause poisoning, which is manifested by unpleasant sensations in the abdomen, general malaise, nausea, headaches, and acute gastroenteritis. In case of intoxication, it is recommended to flush the gastrointestinal tract.

A characteristic difference of the Japanese beech is its moderate height. Compared to other brethren, representatives of this species do not grow above 20 meters and are often multi-stemmed. Their foliage reaches 6-8 centimeters in length and is distinguished by a slightly heart-shaped base, as well as a fleecy central vein. The fruits of the Japanese beech always stand out with a more pointed end.

Taiwanese (Fagus hayatae)

It is a tree with a twenty-meter trunk and a neat dense crown. The distribution of the species is limited to Taiwan. But even at home, the culture is rare in deciduous forests, as it is gradually being replaced by an actively growing alpine beech. In addition, the Taiwanese variety practically does not give young shoots.

Crenate (Fagus crenata)

This type of beeches is characterized by slender trunks that stretch up to 35 meters. Also, the species is characterized by a spherical dense crown, which consists of thin, tightly closed branches and leaves, which reach a length of 10 centimeters.

City beeches are popular in Japan. Because they dominate in local deciduous forests. Due to the prevalence of this plant, local cooks often practice adding young leaves to food, and the Japanese traditionally make coffee from beech nuts.

Did you know? Beeches attract lightning. This conclusion was reached by a group of researchers who studied the stripes left after heavy thunderstorms on trees without bark. According to statistics, every hundredth tree suffered from a lightning strike. The top five most dangerous species are linden, spruce, poplar and oak.

Englera (Fagus engleriana)

The species is characterized by a 20-meter trunk height and a very voluminous crown that develops in the shape of an oval. This is due to strong branching. The plant differs from other beeches in the elongated-oval shape of the leaves.

The breed is considered rare. It is found only in some areas of the People's Republic of China. Cultivated varieties can be seen in the garden landscape of other countries.

Long-leaved (Fagus longipetiolata)

This variety of beeches in everyday life is often called South Chinese, which is due to the place where the tree is distributed. Most often, their wild forest thickets are found in the tropical forests of Vietnam, as well as in the southeast of China. The smooth grayish trunk of a long-leaved beech does not grow above 25 meters. The rounded crown is slightly flattened at the top.

Radiant (Fagus lucida)

This variety, like the previous one, is better known to the inhabitants of China. It also develops upwards no higher than 25 meters and is characterized by a neat rounded crown with edible small nuts. hallmark species is a specific reflection on the bark.

Where does it grow

Beech plantings have long inhabited our planet. It has been scientifically proven that 85 million years BC, these plants occupied a vast territory on most continents. In those days, the extreme line of their range passed from Canada through Alaska, Greenland, Kamchatka and the Urals. But already after 62 million years, beeches occupied the southern territories of Eurasia and North America, displacing typical subtropical vegetation.

After the onset of the ice age, beech trees were replaced by conifers in northern Europe. This can be judged by fossil wood remains found in Scotland.

Today, botanists list the beech as one of the most common representatives of the flora. In any corner of the world: even in the lowlands, even in the mountains, you can find them. Moreover, these trees will be dominant in mixed or deciduous forests.

If you look closely at the modern map of the world, then you can safely give the entire temperate and subtropical climatic zones of the Northern Hemisphere to the beeches. Trees do not climb above 2.5 thousand meters above sea level, prefer fertile loamy substrates with alkaline and slightly acidic pH, are distinguished by increased endurance, and are not demanding.

Important! Experts call the best period for harvesting beech wood the first half of autumn.

Medicinal properties

Since ancient times, mankind has been practicing beech herbal medicine, using the foliage, bark and oil of a majestic plant for these purposes. Healing decoctions, teas, baths, lotions, compresses are prepared from its raw materials.

The medicinal properties of the culture are very extensive. Bioenergetics interpret it as an additional source of vitality, knowledge and inner peace. It is not for nothing that beech wood furniture is highly valued to this day.

According to experts, beech has the following healing effects:

• calms the nervous system;
• helps with insomnia;
• improves blood circulation;
• heals wounds;
• has an antiseptic effect;
• beneficial effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
• normalizes blood sugar levels;
• relieves pain and relieves swelling;
• improves appetite;
• raises vitality;
• normalizes the liver;
• improves the condition of the skin, nails and hair;
• helps with rheumatism (massages with beech oil are shown);
• improves metabolic processes;
• prevents the development of anemia and beriberi;
• cleanses the body of cholesterol, free radicals and toxins;
• helps with diseases of the upper respiratory tract, bronchi and lungs.

Important! Beech nuts are suitable for consumption, but they should not be eaten raw. This is due to the large amount of toxic alkaloids that are neutralized during roasting.

Video: beech nuts

Application

Beech is valued in the economy not only as an energy amulet and medicinal raw materials. Many cultivated species of this breed are widely used in landscape gardening. In this option, trees can be located in single and group plantings. Very often they personify piece green areas in forest parks, and are also an excellent material for creating hedges.

In many countries, the most important resort and aesthetic value is given to beech forests. As a rule, it is in these areas that prestigious health facilities for children and adults are located.

Environmentalists emphasize the role of beeches in air purification and soil protection from erosion and weathering. According to experts, beech plantings contribute to the ingress of surface water runoff into deep soil layers.

Due to this, a uniform replenishment of natural reservoirs with atmospheric precipitation is ensured and their siltation is prevented. Studies have shown that large soil erosion never occurs in such forests. Meanwhile, the roots of the trees secrete substances that increase the fertility of the substrates.

Old trees are cut down in order to get valuable timber. It is widely used in carpentry, for the manufacture of furniture, musical instruments (guitars, violins), parquet, weaving details, measuring equipment, rifle butts, wooden containers.

Did you know? English brewers use beech even in the manufacture of the beloved Budweiser drink by adding wood chips when brewing..

Characteristic features of beech wood are:

• white or yellowish-red tone, which eventually turns into a pinkish-brown;
• density;
• satisfactory moisture resistance;
• heaviness;
• tendency to deform with increased moisture;
• ease of processing and polishing;
• fragility in outdoor conditions.

Beech trees have found their use in cooking. For example, acetic acid is made from their wood, and nuts are used for desserts and pastries. Also, this raw material is the basis in the process of obtaining tar, methyl alcohol and creosote oils.

It should be noted that, based on the rich vitamin and mineral composition of beech fruits, in places where there are many of these trees, local residents traditionally cook pancakes, pancakes and shortbread cookies from walnut flour. And in the Caucasus and in the Carpathian regions, this ingredient is used for all bakery products.

The most valuable oil is obtained from beech fruits, which is widely used for food purposes (it is not much inferior to Provence in its taste), as well as in cosmetology. It is added to various masks as a nourishing ingredient for hair, face and skin. Depending on the manufacturing technology, beech oil technical types used for feeding livestock and coffee surrogate.

The raw material for beech oil is chinariki (beech nuts)

Important! Beech therapy is categorically contraindicated for people prone to allergic reactions, as well as with individual intolerance to the constituent components. Therefore, experts advise to conduct a test before using any plant material for food or cosmetic purposes. To do this, it is enough to apply a small amount of the drug to the area with sensitive skin..

In addition, beech raw materials are widely used in folk medicine. For many diseases, a universal cure is ordinary tea, made from a teaspoon of dry chopped leaves and a glass of boiling water. Up to 1 liter is shown per day.

And for those who love forest walks, bioenergetics are advised to find a young and strong tree, lean back against it and mentally "merge" with it into a single whole. Such practices give a charge of strength and health.

reproduction

Beeches are characterized as shade-tolerant and undemanding plants that adapt to any conditions. Therefore, they multiply easily and quickly. Under natural conditions, this process is most often carried out by the seed method, as well as with the help of root shoots, which occasionally releases young shoots.

But there are other techniques for obtaining a young seedling. Let's consider them in more detail:

Care

All types of beeches are sensitive to air pollution and soil salinity. For planting, it is better to choose loamy areas with calcareous components. If there are none, you will have to resort to liming.

In the spring, it is desirable to apply complex mineral fertilizers to the site, which will improve the development of the seedling. Moreover, the first 3 years after planting, it practically does not grow.

Trees are well tolerated by sanitary cutting and crown formation. Calmly react to the shadow and the scorching sun, but do not tolerate northern winds, drafts, prolonged temperature drops and drought.

Beeches prefer warm and moderately humid air. Therefore, when grown in a household plot, young trees require periodic watering and liming of the soil. Also among the important procedures in the care is the annual removal of old, frozen or diseased branches.

In the first years after planting, rooted seedlings require preventive spraying from harmful insects and pathogens. Also, do not forget to loosen the soil in the trunk circle and remove weeds. To retain moisture in the soil for as long as possible, you can mulch it with mowed grass.

Did you know? Indian yogis believe that beeches, more than other trees, absorb the energy coming from space and, getting into the human abode, constantly share it with the residents.

Diseases and pests

Despite the half-century life expectancy of beeches, they are very sensitive to diseases and pests. Therefore, timely preventive measures will only benefit young seedlings.

Of all the representatives of the fauna, the most dangerous for beeches are:

• beech shuttle;
• red-tailed caterpillar;
• gypsy moth butterflies;
• skinned orange and yellow-gray;
• shooters;
• beech strophedra;
• goldtails;
• beech streptopteran moth;
• corydalis entire;
• forktail;
• moth moth;
• woodworm odorous;

Wood is widely used by man in various branches of economic activity. The properties of wood of a particular species determine the possibility of its use in a particular production. From right choice material depends on the final appearance of the product, its quality and durability.

Wood: hardwood properties

Hardwood is characterized by an expressive structure and almost complete absence of smell. It is felt mainly immediately after the cut, as well as during processing. Most often, wood is used as a finishing and decorative material. There are ring-vascular (oak, ash, elm, etc.) and scattered-vascular hardwoods (birch, beech, walnut, aspen, linden, etc.). They have a different character of the arrangement of vessels in the annual layer. Let us consider in more detail the properties and structure of the wood of some hardwoods.

Oak

Oak wood is distinguished by its expressive structure and beautiful coloration. The breed is sound. It has well-visible annual layers, narrow sapwood, which differs significantly in color from the heartwood, which can be light brown or dark brown.

Oak wood is characterized by high strength and ability to bend. Due to the presence of tannins (in large quantities), it has the greatest resistance to decay compared to all hardwoods.

The properties of oak wood contribute to easy processing of the material, good staining and polishing. Quite widely used for carving, interior decoration and furniture making. Thanks to large vessels, the material is characterized by good bendability without breaking the fibers. The mechanical properties of wood make it possible to use oak for the production of bent furniture.

A valuable material for finishing is which, as a result of a long stay in water, acquires a very high strength and in most cases almost black in color.

Beech

The breed is non-nuclear. The wood has a beautiful texture, white with a yellowish-red tint. The annual layers are clearly visible. Beech wood is similar in some physical and mechanical properties to oak. It is strong, dense, hard, quite easy to bend, cut, processed with varnishes and paints. However, when dried, it tends to warp, and is also unstable to decay, which is why it is practically not used for making furniture.

Beech wood is more in demand in the manufacture of musical instruments, when carrying out some finishing work, in carving, and so on.

Ash

It has a dark brown heartwood and a light yellow wide sapwood with a beautiful grain pattern. Wood is characterized by high strength and toughness. It has a good ability to bend when steaming, is slightly prone to cracking, practically does not warp when dried. Rot resistant.

By value, ash wood is equivalent to Used for furniture and musical instruments. Valuable crafts are made from ash growths (caps).

Birch

The most widely used in industry is warty birch. The breed is non-core, has white wood with a yellowish or reddish tint. It has good strength and toughness. Hardness and density - medium.

The material is easy to work with. It is well cut, drilled, and also easily polished, glued and painted. However, despite all positive properties birch wood, there are some of its disadvantages. It is practically unstable to decay, dries out a lot, warps. But this does not affect the demand for this material for finishing work, since the properties of birch wood make it possible to imitate various valuable species. Also, the material is used for the production of a number of other veneer products (blocks, skis, etc.).

Karelian birch wood has a very unusual texture. Broken heart-shaped rays, wavy growth layers and dormant buds in the form of dark stripes combine to give a beautiful mottled surface. The material is used for the manufacture of art products, furniture veneer.

Elm

It has a dark brown heartwood and yellowish white sapwood. The material is strong, hard, dense, viscous. It does not crack or warp during drying. However, due to the too dense structure penetrated by small pores, the processing (in particular, polishing) of this material becomes much more complicated.

Used in carpentry. When steaming, it lends itself well to bending, due to which it is used for the manufacture of curved parts. For turning crafts, the influxes (burls) on the elm are especially valuable.

Walnut

Wood has a rich tonal range, as well as a variety of textures. Color varies from light brownish gray to almost black. When freshly cut, the wood is light-colored, gradually darkening over time. It is characterized by strength, moderate hardness, high resistance to decay. Keeps its shape, does not warp, easy to process. Well polished, cut, glued and impregnated.

It is used mainly in the decoration of premises, furniture, for the manufacture of carved products.

Aspen

During storage in a felled form, aspen wood acquires a white color with a slightly noticeable greenish tint. Heart-shaped rays and annual layers are practically invisible. A distinctive feature of aspen wood is the almost complete absence of knots. It has high resistance to moisture, does not warp, practically does not crack. Aspen is easy to work with. It is soft, pliable, cuts well, pricks, polishes easily, sticks together securely. The disadvantage of aspen is rapid drying.

The properties and structure of wood determine its use for the production of plywood, the manufacture of matches, dishes, toys and other small items.

Alder

The natural color of alder wood varies from white to pale brown. After a log house, as a result of interaction with air, it changes to red-brown in a short time.

Wood is not very durable, it can warp during drying, but it has a number of positive technological properties, as it is characterized by lightness, moderate hygroscopicity and softness. Easy to cut, polish, glue and paint. It has no odor and does not absorb foreign odors. It has a strong resistance to decay, due to which it is often used for equipping wells, as well as pantries. In addition, it is used for carving and finishing work. Physical properties alder wood allows you to make imitations of some tree species (for example, mahogany and ebony).

Linden

The wood is white with a slight pinkish tinge. Annual rings are practically invisible. It is characterized by a uniform structure and strength. Such properties of linden wood as lightness, softness and viscosity make it possible to easily process the material in all directions, both by hand and on. It is well painted, glued, and keeps its shape. The wood is resistant to decay, does not crack or warp during drying.

Due to its strong structure and low deformation, linden is used for the manufacture of large parts of carved furniture. Drawing boards, pencils, utensils, etc. are also made from this material.

Pear

The wood is reddish white or pinkish brown. How younger tree, the lighter the color. The texture is uniform in density, the core rays and annual rings are barely visible. The material is hard, dense, heavy, characterized by high and also compressive strength. The mechanical properties of pear wood are superior to oak and ash. During the drying process, it practically does not warp or crack. It cuts pretty well in all directions. Easy to polish and paint.

It is often used as a material for decorating furniture, for carving, mosaic work. The physical properties of pear wood make it possible to make imitations of ebony from it.

Apple tree

The wood is pink in color with bright red veins, hard, heavy, rather viscous, has a homogeneous structure. Characterized by high strength and wear resistance. Apple wood is prone to severe drying and warping, so it is better to use it in a dried form. The material is well polished, polished, painted. When impregnated with drying oil or linseed oil becomes dark brown. It is used mainly for the manufacture of carving and joinery.

The main properties of coniferous wood

Coniferous wood is characterized by a specific resinous smell, more clearly manifested macrostructure and greater biostability compared to hardwoods. These properties of wood of various species related to conifers contribute to their widespread use in the construction and production of various consumer goods. Conifers include pine, spruce, larch, yew, fir, cedar and juniper.

Pine

The color of sapwood in pine can be from pale yellow to reddish-yellow, the heartwood - from pink to brownish-red. It is characterized by a rather pronounced striped texture. The core rays are not visible. Annual rings are clearly visible on all sections.

The wood is strong, soft, light, very prickly. Due to the large amount of resin, it is characterized by increased resistance to decay. After drying, it practically does not warp. Easily processed, well sawn and cut, relatively well glued.

The high technological properties of pine wood and its wide distribution make it the most commonly used of all conifers. The material is used in construction (both civil and industrial), in furniture, carpentry and parquet industries. In addition, musical instruments, plywood, barrels, etc. are made from pine.

Spruce

Spruce wood is characterized by softness, lightness, good sharpness. A distinctive feature is the exceptionally uniform distribution of the fibers. The physical and mechanical properties of spruce wood are inferior to pine wood in a number of ways. It has less strength as well as resin content, which makes it not as resistant to precipitation and other weather conditions. Due to the less malleable structure and the large number of knots, spruce wood is more difficult to process.

The material is mainly used in the manufacture of furniture. Stringed instruments (violins in particular) are also made from spruce, since no other tree is capable of giving such a resonance.

Larch

It has a narrow light sapwood and a reddish-brown heartwood. Hard, resilient, resinous, extremely rot-resistant wood. The properties of larch wood, both physical and mechanical, are quite high. Distinctive features of the material are strength and durability. It is also characterized by a high density, which increases significantly with drying (to such an extent that a nail is not hammered into it).

Due to its high physical and mechanical properties, larch has wide application. It is an indispensable material for construction work. Parquet made from larch wood is highly durable and very long term operation. The beautiful texture and high resistance to warping make it a valuable material in the furniture industry.

Siberian cedar

The wood is pinkish in color with a beautiful grain pattern. Annual rings are clearly visible on all sections. Differs in ease and softness. By technological properties cedar is inferior to pine, but outperforms spruce. The material is excellent for processing, but not very resistant to decay.

Cedar wood has resonant properties, thanks to which musical instruments (guitars, harps, pianos) are made from it. In addition, it is used for the manufacture of furniture, in the production of pencils and so on.

Fir

The structure of fir wood is close to that of pine. It is quite strong and dense, easy to process. But it contains few resinous substances, which is why it is characterized by low resistance to decay and requires additional processing.

Fir wood is quite often used in the construction of houses for the production of window and door blocks, flooring. Also, this material is widely used for carving.

Yew

It has a narrow yellowish-white sapwood and a brownish-red heartwood. The annual layers are characterized by a sinuous shape and are clearly visible in all sections. Yew is included in the list of species called "mahogany". Hard, heavy, dense wood. The properties of wood are mostly positive. It has a high resistance to decay. Good in processing, polishing and staining. It is considered one of the best materials used in finishing, turning and carpentry. Burls are very valuable, often formed on yew trunks and used mainly as a finishing material.

Juniper

The wood of the shrub is characterized by a sapwood of a pinkish-white color and a yellowish-brown core. It has wavy annual layers, which are clearly visible on all sections. Heart-shaped rays are not visible.

The wood is strong and heavy. Differs in resistance to rotting, almost does not lose in volume in the course of drying and practically does not swell when interacting with moisture. The more dry the material, the more beautiful the cut. It lends itself well to processing, polishing and coloring.

The use of the material is somewhat limited due to the small size of the shrub trunks. Most often, juniper wood is used for carving, making decorative items, small crafts, toys, turning products, and so on.

Oak wood has always been associated with the concept of strength, power, health. The oak tree itself is a majestic picture. Its wood is dense, hard, heavy and has high strength. It is also characterized by resistance to moisture, decay and various fungi.

The wood is porous with a beautiful texture. The color is brown or yellowish brown. The sapwood part of oak wood has a light yellow color. From time to time, the color of its wood darkens, which, however, gives it a more noble appearance.

Oak is a perennial tree, more than a century old is not the limit for it. The height of the oak reaches 30 meters, and the diameter is from 1.2 to 1.8 m. Oaks growing in forests are characterized by the presence of a straight trunk without knots up to 15 meters high.

Wood density: about 700 kg/m3. Hardness: 3.7 - 3.9 Brinell.

Influence of growing conditions on wood properties

If we compare the properties of wood from trees grown in different natural conditions, we can notice significant differences. The worse the soil on which the oak grows, the better its wood. That is why oak wood from the northern regions is more valued.

So, oak, which grows in oak forests on sandy soils, has a thick dark-colored bark, and its wood is painted in a light straw color. The hardness of the wood of such oaks is high, but it lacks elasticity.

If an oak grows near water, for example, on the banks of a river or stream, or among alder bogs, then it is called lead, water, iron or ols oak. It differs from its counterparts in a straight trunk and a dense crown. The bark is leathery, spotty. Its color is light gray with a bluish tint. The wood has a pink tint, the layers are large. Elasticity is very good, but when dried, it has a tendency to crack. Unusually heavy.

Intermediate varieties of trees that grow in places located between oak forests and alder bogs have average values ​​of elasticity in their qualities, and are lower in hardness than those of upland and ols. The bark of such oaks is thick, its color is brownish-gray. Often in the butt part of these trees there are hollows, and the top part of the trunks is dry.

Where is oak wood used?

Summer oak wood is widely used in construction, and its moisture resistance properties make it possible to use it in underwater structures or in the hulls of wooden floating craft. It is also good for making souvenir crafts.

Winter wood is used in carpentry, furniture and parquet production. Oak firewood is not the best option because the coal cools down quickly. And to maintain combustion, you need good traction. Yes, and it is a pity to use such valuable wood as fuel, unless waste from other industries can be used for firewood.

Features of working with oak wood

Drying of oak wood should be carried out in natural conditions. It is not recommended to try to speed up this process as this may lead to cracking.

Stained oak wood takes on a dark purple hue

For wood to acquire decorative look, apply staining - for oak, this is done by keeping it in water for several years. After such an exposure, the color of the wood becomes dark purple and silky. Hardness from long soaking only increases, although it becomes more brittle.

When working with oak wood, it should be remembered that it does not like alcohol varnishes, and polishing is useless due to its high porosity.

Oak wood does not like oils - they form ugly spots on its surface. This wood does not need staining, because it has a beautiful natural texture and color. To finish, it is enough to cover the surface of the product with a transparent varnish, preferably one that dries quickly.

For construction purposes, it is better to use wood with a large width of annual rings. This wood is highly resistant to wear. For the manufacture of furniture, souvenir crafts, wooden sculptures and chiseled products, lighter and softer wood with narrow annual rings is better suited.

(lat. Fágus) - a genus of deciduous trees of the Beech family. The beech family (Fagaceae) is one of the most common families of dicotyledonous deciduous and evergreen trees in the world, rarely shrubs. The family contains 8 genera and about 100 species. The most famous in the Northern Hemisphere are 3 species - beech, oak and chestnut. All of them are valuable forest-forming and mountain-reinforcing rocks.

Beech (Fagus) is the second most common and valuable genus of the beech family after oak. These are monoecious deciduous trees, slender, columnar, 45-50 m high, with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m. The crown is wide-cylindrical or ovoid. The bark is smooth, gray, hardens and becomes brittle with age. In forest plantations, trunks acquire characteristic spotting due to the development of lichens on them. During the growing season, beech consumes up to 400 liters of water per day. Every day it releases up to 5 kg of oxygen into the atmosphere and absorbs up to 6 kg of carbon dioxide. Thus, the beech purifies up to 20 m3 of air daily. The leaves are elliptical, lowered from below, dark green in summer, turning straw yellow or bronze in autumn. The number of leaves in the crown for plants over 100 years old is 200 thousand. Such a beech covers an area up to 100 m2. Flowering begins at the same time as the leaves bloom, the flowers are pollinated by the wind.

Beeches grow up to 350 years, most intensively at the age of 40-100 years. Life expectancy is over 500 years. Refers to wind-resistant breeds.

Beech forests (beech forests) - a plantation with a predominance of beech in the stands. These forests are common in countries Western Europe and in the southern regions of Scandinavia, in the east of the Balkan Peninsula, in the northern part of Turkey and Iran, in the USA, Japan and China. Beech forests are concentrated in mountainous regions, where they occur in various altitudinal zones; on rich burozems, the timber stock reaches 1000 m3/ha.

beech wood

Beech is a scattered vascular non-nuclear ripe wood species. Beech wood is white with a yellowish or reddish tint. The annual layers are clearly visible. The core rays are wide, on the radial section they look like shiny stripes, and on the tangential section they look like brown lenticels, creating a characteristic mottled pattern. Older trees sometimes have reddish-brown mature wood ("red core"). This does not affect the quality of the wood; on the contrary, such trees are especially valued by cabinetmakers, but they are quite rare. Beech wood, steamed in a special way, takes on a more pronounced red-brown color.

Beech has a characteristic rich structure due to well-marked annual rings and a developed system of core rays, colored darker than the base wood.
Macrostructure indicators

Beech belongs to the species with high uniform density. The number of annual layers per 1 cm of the cross section of the forest beech is 4.5 and the percentage of late wood is 30%. The microroughnesses remaining after processing the surface of beech wood, like many other scattered vascular species, are 30-100 microns, which is approximately two times lower than that of oak.

Freshly cut beech wood has a moisture content of about 80%. The maximum humidity at water absorption - 120%. Beech, like oak, is a highly drying species. Beech wood is less prone to warping and cracking during the drying process than oak wood. Beech belongs to the species of medium density. The density of beech wood is 670 kgm3. Hardness (according to Brinell) 3.7 - 3.9.

The air permeability of beech is more than an order of magnitude higher than that of oak core wood. In terms of strength properties, beech wood is practically not inferior to oak.

In terms of long-term resistance to deformations, beech is practically not inferior to oak, as well as in another indicator - the ability to hold fasteners. Beech has, perhaps, the highest bending ability, which was widely used in the production of bent furniture. In terms of resistance to rotting (biological damage), beech (ripe wood) is classified as medium-resistant species (it is noticeably inferior to heartwood of pine and, especially, oak), and sapwood is classified as low-resistant. Compared to oak, beech wood is lighter and more often affected by fungi, more actively absorbs moisture from the air. This explains the limitations placed on the use of beech for the exterior of houses. Beech wood is well processed, perfectly finished, accepts various paints and varnishes, stains and stains.

Application of beech wood

Beech wood has always been valued by furniture makers for its rich texture and good workability. However, the Austrian furniture maker Michael Thonet provided the greatest popularity to beech products. His bent Viennese chair (chair no. 14), made mainly of beech, set a record that is unlikely to ever be broken. Over the period from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the First World War, over 50 million pieces of such chairs were produced around the world.

Elegant beech parquet gives the room a discreet and noble atmosphere. A light pinkish tint evokes feelings of warmth. The simple and noble structure of this flooring is the perfect finishing touch to any interior. True, there are some peculiarities. The color scheme of beech wood is quite diverse - from pink to white. To remove this coloration and give the wood a more uniform shade, as well as make it more stable, beech requires pre-steaming. If this is not done, the texture of the wood will be very colorful. In time, this procedure takes about three days.

Due to its high wear resistance, beech is widely used for the manufacture of wooden stairs. The pleasant warm tone of beech wood is the reason why it is often used for separate small items: tool handles, etc. From Beech, excellent sliced ​​veneer is obtained, especially from large assortments, and it is used for finishing. Barrels are also made of beech (albeit less often than oak), mainly due to its strength and ability to bend easily. Beech is also used to produce high-quality charcoal and a number of forest chemistry products.

It is well known about the use of beech chips in brewing a well-known brand of beer. Budweiser.

Pine, birch, cedar, beech, ash, oak are the most common types of wood in the production of various joinery products. Let's talk about the types of wood most involved in the manufacture of solid and high-quality interior stairs to cottages, country houses, cottages and duplex apartments.
Oak, like ash, is best suited for structures such as stairs and more. Oak is considered a noble material, and belongs to the most valuable tree species.

Dense woods such as beech, oak or ash have a higher thermal conductivity than less dense pine or birch. Therefore, oak and ash are mainly used in the production of floors, stairs and furniture that last for centuries. Highly hygroscopic wood (such as beech) readily absorbs moisture from the air, which can change its size, shape, and electrical conductivity. To reduce hygroscopicity, wooden products are coated with protective paints, varnishes, etc. The mechanical properties of oak and ash are almost the same - a slight difference in the density value in favor of oak. As for hardness, oak is opposite here - 3.7, and ash - 4 (according to the Brinell method). Stairs made of oak or ash are distinguished by high wear resistance and resistance to mechanical stress. In addition, oak and ash wood has a high viscosity value, which determines such a property of these materials as flexibility. Without tiring you with numbers, I will say that the resistance to various loads, such as compression, tension, is very high for both oak and ash. Dense oak and ash wood has a high ability to hold nails and screws, which is especially important for its long-term operation.

As for the aesthetic properties, that is, the color and texture of wood - here they are also somewhat similar. Oak wood has a characteristic greenish tint. As for the texture for the eyes of most people, it is similar, but for a specialist, of course, the difference is immediately visible. The texture pattern of ash is more pronounced, and oak has small veins that are characteristic only of it.

Ash wood staircase features beautiful wood texture pattern

Aesthetic properties of oak and ash.
The texture of oak and ash allows patination, which will not work, for example, with beech, birch and pine.
Ash and oak are used in the manufacture of elite, high-quality furniture, stairs, parquet floors. For the ability to stone with time, oak, along with ash, invariably remains one of the most wear-resistant and durable building materials. The flexible and durable ash has found its way into the manufacture of firearms, sports equipment and work tools. It is the favorite material of kings and designers.

Beech wood is light, with a reddish-yellow or grayish tint, growth rings are weakly expressed. Due to the homogeneous structure of the wood, the beech massif visually looks calm, warm, even soft.

This is a fairly hard material, but unlike ash and oak, it does not have a bright texture pattern, it is rather weakly expressed in it. Beech is processed much better than ash or oak, and practically does not differ in density and hardness.

Birch

Birch wood is quite hard and resilient, fine-fibered and more uniform in structure, unlike oak or ash. In the production of stairs, it takes its rightful position. It's not expensive, but it's harder than pine. In the course of processing - the birch gets a silky surface, beautiful warm shades.

Wood is very durable, especially under impact loads. Although the density of birch is average, this does not reduce its value in use as a material suitable for the price and quality in the manufacture of stairs, furniture, and interior details.
Wood can be widely used in interior decorating. Also, birch can be easily imitated to look like other valuable wood species - hence its widespread use in carpentry. Karelian birch is especially valuable in finishing works, due to the special arrangement of fibers.

Pine is a soft wood. Due to the fact that pine has a soft wood, it is perfectly processed by a cutting tool.
An important parameter is a lower cost compared to beech, ash or oak stairs. The individual elements that make up the stairs fully retain all the advantages of this material. Pine steps after appropriate processing have a smooth surface and good strength characteristics. With proper selection of length, width and thickness, pine steps are able to withstand a fairly large load.

Decorative turned balusters made of pine wood help to create a spectacular appearance stairs. After processing with special varnishes, pine balusters fully reveal the natural texture of wood. In the manufacture of stairs, namely steps for stairs, it is recommended not to use pine, as the steps are subject to direct wear.

Elm

Botanical name: Ulmus campestris L. Karagach is by nature a deciduous tree that belongs to the elm family. In turn, the elm family belongs to the sound rocks. Some specimens of trees of this species reach 30 meters in height and almost 1.5 meters in diameter. If we carefully look at the cut of the tree, we will see clearly visible annual layers and core rays. The presence of core rays contributes to the appearance of characteristic ebb. Mature wood consists of fine layers, which are mostly yellow-brown or light brown with brown or red-brown inclusions. In the open air, under the influence of sunlight, elm wood gradually darkens. The structure of wood fibers is even or slightly wavy. As for the texture, it is completely unique and has a characteristic sheen.
Karagach has a wide scope. Let's take a closer look at all the main uses of elm wood. First of all, when choosing a tree that will be used in a particular area of ​​the national economy, attention is paid to such a concept as a breed characteristic. The characteristic of the rock is determined by the following criteria: strength, density, resistance to cracking, resistance to decay, wear resistance, flexibility, low knotting and lightness. If we evaluate elm wood according to all these criteria, we can draw the following conclusion: elm wood has excellent wear resistance and flexibility. What does the concept of durability mean? Wear resistance is the ability of wood to resist destruction during friction. As you know, elm is a hard and dense wood species, so the wear and tear of this tree will be minimal. This property of wood is one of the main ones when choosing a tree for the construction industry. The next criterion is flexibility. The flexibility of a tree is its ability to bend well and at the same time not straighten up, without breaking or collapsing. Moisture plays an important role in flexibility. After all, the more moisture the wood contains, the less flexible it becomes. In order to reduce the percentage of moisture contained in the tree, it is steamed. Karagach has very good flexibility, which allows it to be used in the manufacture of furniture. However, there is another property of this wood, which we have already mentioned earlier - this is the texture.

Karagach is a southern type of hardwood, its texture is simply unique. This enables elm wood to become a valuable decorative finishing material. A good natural luster gives elm a special elegance and attractive appearance. And finally, with regard to aesthetics. First of all, attention is drawn to the color of the wood. Due to its pronounced natural color, elm wood becomes an indispensable material in the production of exquisite furniture. And the last. An interior staircase made of solid elm is a combination of beauty and durability, warmth and strength, art and luxury. Due to its quality characteristics and affordable price, stairs, as well as various furniture made of this type of wood, are very popular among true connoisseurs of noble wood species. If your main requirement for finishing material, is its naturalness, beauty, safety, durability and unsurpassed quality, then elm wood is what you need.
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