What are the main trees of the taiga? Flora of the taiga

Taiga occupies vast territories of our country, forests stretch from west to east. Trees growing in taiga conditions must withstand the climate of this zone. Summer here is quite warm, but very short. The winter period is long, characterized by severe frosts and an abundance of snow.

The taiga is dominated mainly by evergreen conifers, their share is about 78%; these trees can withstand long cold weather well. Hardwood trees (oak, ash, beech) occupy approximately 5% of the forest area, softwood trees (birch, linden) - 17%.

Experts distinguish the following types of evergreen taiga:

• light coniferous forests. They are predominantly represented by pine and larch;
• dark coniferous forests. Spruce, fir, and cedar grow here. As the name suggests, this type of taiga is very gloomy. Almost no sunlight penetrates through the tree crowns, so there are almost no shrubs or grasses near the surface of the earth. The root surface is usually covered with mosses and lichens.

Deciduous trees are found mainly near rivers and reservoirs; here you can find rowan, alder, birch, and aspen. As for the southern part of the country, maple, linden, oak, as well as currant and raspberry bushes are more typical for it.

In the light-coniferous taiga, under deciduous trees, there is also a second tier, these are various shrubs - honeysuckle, viburnum, euonymus, etc. In some areas there are climbing species (actinidia, lemongrass, etc.) entwining tree trunks.

Having knowledge of what trees grow in the taiga, people have learned to use them in their lives. The main representative of the dark coniferous taiga is, of course, spruce. This is a long-lived tree; its age can be 500-600 years. Spruce wood is widely used for making paper.

Siberian fir is also of no small importance for humans. Its needles are used to obtain valuable oil with medicinal properties. In addition, fir wood is suitable for making a variety of souvenirs, crafts, and interior decorations.

Pine wood, widely used in the construction industry, is characterized by the greatest value. In addition, resin is extracted from this tree, which is used in the chemical industry.

Larch has the greatest resistance to frost of all taiga trees; it can withstand drops in ambient temperatures down to -70 0 C. This tree sheds its needles in the winter; in the spring, with the beginning of sap flow, they appear again. Larch wood has a dense structure and does not absorb much moisture. The material is used in shipbuilding and is also used to make railway sleepers.

The flora of the taiga amazes with its enormous diversity; here you can find trees, shrubs, and herbs. It is not for nothing that the taiga has earned the “title” of the green lungs of our planet. It is taiga plants that largely ensure the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen on Earth.

Let's take a closer look at the plants of the taiga.

Taiga: what is this?

The taiga forest is huge ecosystem, whose geographical location is the north of Eurasia, the North American continent and Scandinavia.

Basically, the plant world is represented precisely coniferous plants, although there are also many deciduous trees: aspen, rowan, birch, alder. The taiga cannot be called a place with favorable conditions, which is why its inhabitants - both animals and plants - have to adapt to the harsh, unkind climate.

The evergreen taiga is heterogeneous; within it there are:

• light coniferous (includes larch and pine);
• dark coniferous (spruce, fir and cedar grow here).

Due to the fact that there are a lot of swamps in the taiga, there is ample space for mosses and lichens. There are also bushes. What plants are most typical for taiga places?

Coniferous representatives

Deciduous trees

Shrubs

Shrubs

Interesting! In taiga forests you can also find shrubs that are traditionally perceived as garden shrubs: raspberries, rose hips.

All plants and animals that nature has “settled” in taiga forests are frost-resistant and have a good root system that can develop in cold or marshy soils. This is why there are so many conifers here, because needles are a special form of leaves that help reduce moisture evaporation.

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cedar spruce birch aspen rowan Pine Spruce Birch Aspen Rowan)))) house coniferous cedar spruce fir to deciduous birch aspen rowan The basis of plant life in the taiga is coniferous trees.
In general, the vegetation of the taiga is very diverse. The entire territory can be divided into three parts. In the northern part of the taiga there are low-growing trees, most of them are spruce and pine. The middle part is characterized by spruce and blueberry forests, and in the southern part one can observe the most diverse vegetation. There is little light in the forest, so the low amount of undergrowth is understandable. In some places whole glades of green moss grow. In addition to trees, shrubs, such as juniper, currants, and honeysuckle, also grow in the taiga. Closer to the south, lingonberry and blueberry bushes are found in the forest. In the taiga in the Urals, trees such as cedar, rhododendron, fir and some valuable deciduous species grow Domprosto coniferous fir, cedar, spruce, pine, larch The basis of plant life in the taiga is coniferous trees.
In general, the vegetation of the taiga is very diverse. The entire territory can be divided into three parts. In the northern part of the taiga there are low-growing trees, most of them are spruce and pine. The middle part is characterized by spruce and blueberry forests, and in the southern part one can observe the most diverse vegetation. There is little light in the forest, so the low amount of undergrowth is understandable. In some places whole glades of green moss grow. In addition to trees, shrubs, such as juniper, currants, and honeysuckle, also grow in the taiga. Closer to the south, lingonberry and blueberry bushes are found in the forest. In the taiga in the Urals, trees such as cedar, rhododendron, fir and some valuable deciduous species growwhat animals and plants are there in the taiga? I urgently need 15. I need 15 urgently. There are pears, apple trees and plums growing in the garden. There are 147 trees in total. There are three times more apple trees than plum trees and 28 more than pear trees. What trees grow in a coniferous forest? Which trees grow in a coniferous forest and which in a broad-leaved forest? Why are broadleaf forests almost devoid of undergrowth? what trees are there in winter.

The taiga biome, also known as a fascinating ecological phenomenon, spans the northern latitudes of the globe from North America to Eurasia. The taiga is a difficult place to live, so plants and animals must be adapted to harsh climatic conditions, soil and terrain to survive. The soil of the boreal forest is cold, swampy and poorly suited for plant growth.

Surprisingly, there are a number of different plants that can withstand the long, harsh winters and short, fleeting summers of the taiga, and they range from large trees to tiny lichens. The taiga flora plays a certain role in this unique ecosystem.

Due to the harsh weather conditions and climate, not many plants survive in the Taiga. The main threats to the flora are forestry, forest fires, insects and pesticides. The species composition of boreal forest trees consists of black spruce, white spruce, banks pine, American larch, paper birch, aspen, balsam poplar, etc. Below is an expanded list of taiga plants, which includes trees, shrubs, herbs, berries, flowers and lichens, growing in boreal forests.

Flora of the taiga:

Balsam fir

Balsam fir is a coniferous tree from the pine family, common in the taiga of North America. Their relatively small height and branches growing from top to bottom make balsam fir well adapted to heavy snowfalls. These trees are a favorite shelter for.

Menzies's Pseudo-tsuga

Pseudosuga Menzies, or Douglas fir, or Pseudosuga thyssolifolia is a species of coniferous trees growing in the western part of the North American continent. These evergreen trees are an incredibly valuable source of food for animals. Pseudotsuga Menzies are tall, thick-trunked trees that can grow up to 100 m in height, with a trunk diameter of 4-5 m.

White fir

White fir, also known as comb fir, European white fir and Norway fir, is a tree in the pine family, native to southern and central Europe. White fir got its name because of its light-colored bark. The height of the trees varies from 30 to 50 m (in rare cases up to 60 m), and the average trunk diameter is 1.5 m.

Black spruce

Black spruce, like Pseudohemlock mensis, is a much narrower coniferous tree with drooping branches that give it a pyramid-like shape. Black spruce is a very durable tree and it has special features that are very well adapted to the difficult climatic conditions of the taiga.

Gray spruce

Gray spruce, or Canada spruce, or white spruce is an evergreen coniferous tree similar to black spruce, but with a much lighter trunk and leaves. White spruce is native to North America, where it grows from northern Alaska to Newfoundland.

Siberian spruce

Siberian spruce is a tall coniferous tree, with branches hanging down like a black spruce from top to bottom. Widely distributed in the Siberian taiga regions, it is one of the main sources of wood for the Russian logging industry.

Banks Pine

Banks pine is a species of coniferous tree in the pine family, native to Canada and the northeastern regions of the United States. Often found on mountain slopes, it is well adapted to drought, severe frosts and is undemanding to the soil.

Scots pine

Scots pine is a widespread coniferous tree in Europe and Asia, easily recognizable by its reddish-orange bark. The average height of the trees is 35 m, and the trunk diameter is about 1 m. Scots pine is regularly used in the timber industry.

Red cedar

Juniperus virginiana is a small coniferous tree from the cypress family, growing in various climatic zones of North America from Florida to the Canadian taiga. Externally, Virginia juniper looks more like a large bush, rather than a tree.

Paper birch

Paper birch is a plant in the birch family that gets its name from its bark, which resembles paper when peeled off. It is found in the wild in the northern part of North America, and is also cultivated in Europe and Russia. These trees are used for a variety of purposes, ranging from boat building to making birch syrup.

Gmelin larch

Gmelin larch is a species of coniferous tree, a member of the pine family. It is one of the most durable trees in the world, found in most of the coldest northern regions of the planet, and is especially abundant in the Siberian taiga.

Tamarack

American larch is a coniferous tree from the pine family native to the North American taiga region. These trees love the cold and also prefer wet and swampy areas, which are available in many parts of the taiga. North American taiga regions. It is the most commonly used wood for making snowshoes.

White poplar

White poplar is a fast-growing deciduous tree from the willow family. Loves moisture, which is more than abundant in the taiga. The average height of the tree is 16-27 m (sometimes more), and the trunk thickness is up to 2 m.

Hemlock

Hemlocks are evergreen coniferous trees of the pine family that especially thrive in cool, humid regions of Asia and North America. The genus includes 10 species of trees, 4 of which grow in North America and 6 in Asia.

The dwarf pine, or dwarf cedar, is a low bush-like tree from the pine family, which is found in the Far East, Eastern Siberia, northeastern Mongolia, northeastern China, North Korea and Japan. Elf cedar is capable of reaching 4-5 m in height, but this can take hundreds or thousands of years (Yes! These plants can live that long!).

Willow

Don't expect to see the classic willow in the taiga, but there are many species that are adapted to harsh climates. Unlike their tall counterparts, taiga willows are usually short, and sometimes there are specimens only a few centimeters in height.

Rose hip

Rosehip is a genus of shrubby plants from the Rosaceae family. Many types of rose hips are common in temperate and subtropical zones, but there are species that prefer more northern regions. These are low plants, about 2-3 m, which are well protected by thorns from attacks by animals on the beautiful flowers.

Kalmia angustifolia

Kalmia angustifolia is an evergreen shrub plant common in the taiga. The height of the plant varies from 15 cm to 1.5 m. Kalmia angustifolia blooms in the summer, the flowers are raspberry-pink in color, and the leaves are green throughout the year.

Green alder

Green alder is a shrub tree from the birch family. Despite its name, the leaves and branches of the plant may have a reddish tint. Green alder blooms in the warm season. Widely distributed in the taiga zone of North America and Eurasia, loves regions with high humidity.

Ivan-tea angustifolia

This small herbaceous plant loves taiga regions, which have a heavy upper canopy cover, and grows among forest clearings in dark, damp places.

Cranberry

The taiga is rich in swamps and wetlands, which attracts plants such as cranberries that thrive in similar conditions.

Cowberry

Lingonberries are an integral part of the diet of many animals. This is an exceptionally hardy evergreen plant, which makes lingonberry a typical representative of the taiga flora.

Ledum

Ledum is a shrubby plant with relatively small white flowers and fuzzy leaves. Often found around wetlands.

Common waxweed

Another type of low-growing shrub that loves the humid environment of the taiga, and has a number of amazing adaptations - such as long creeping roots, which allow it to live in areas unsuitable for other flora.

Cotton grass

Cotton grass is a perennial flowering plant that prefers wetlands. Distributed in the northern regions of North America, Europe, Russia and Asia.

Lichens

Trees plus moisture equals thriving lichens, and lots of lichens equals lots of happy animals! As in other ecosystems, lichens play an important role in the taiga, providing valuable nutrients for animals living in the harshest climates.

Sphagnum

Sphagnum, also known as peat moss, is a genus of moss widespread in the Northern Hemisphere around bogs and boggy areas of the taiga. Peat moss is a very hardy plant that contributes to waterlogging.

It’s not for nothing that the taiga is called “the green lungs of the planet.” The vegetation of these vast forests, the largest of which are the Siberian and North American taiga biomes, maintains the balance of carbon and oxygen in the planet's atmosphere.

The evergreen taiga is divided into light coniferous, consisting mainly of pine and larch, and dark coniferous, where Siberian cedar, spruce and fir predominate. The flora of the taiga is the kingdom of coniferous trees. Although, small-leaved species (birch, rowan, aspen, green alder) are also occasionally found here. There are many swamps in these places, with their own ecosystem. Mosses, lichens, shrubs and mushrooms grow everywhere.

Let's take a closer look at some typical taiga plants:

Siberian spruce is one of the basic representatives of the dark coniferous taiga. Its needles, rich in beneficial substances, essential oils and vitamins, release antibacterial phytoncides into the air. Wood is successfully used in construction. The spruce forest has almost no undergrowth - in conditions of high humidity and shading created by the paws of spruce trees, only the most shade-loving plants survive.

Fir is a coniferous tree with soft needles. Fir branches are often used by hunters to prepare bedding for overnight stays in the taiga. Tree oleoresin is used as an antiseptic wound-healing agent, and fir oil is a component of many cosmetics. Aromatic tea is brewed from pine needles. Fir wood is not a valuable material for construction.

Siberian cedar (Siberian pine) is one of the main species of dark coniferous taiga. Lives up to 800 years, starting to bear fruit around the 60th year of life. Each cone contains 30 - 150 seed nuts, which are readily consumed by both local animals and people. Cedar wood has a pleasant reddish color, dense structure, and is widely used in construction and for making furniture.

Larch is the most frost-resistant of the taiga trees (withstands temperatures below -70°C). Its soft needles fall off every autumn and grow again in the spring. Wood is valuable for construction because of its density and resistance to moisture and rot. Often forms a single-component forest - larch. Almost never found in dark coniferous taiga.

Juniper is a small shrub that grows everywhere in the taiga. It produces fruits in the form of cones containing sugars, acids, microelements, as well as a significant amount of phytoncides. Widely used in folk medicine.