Birch furry: description with photo

As soon as they did not call the birch in Russia! The people spoke of her: "white-skinned", "belaya", "bright" and even "sparkling". The Slavs believed that this tree is a gift of the gods, protecting the human race. At first glance, all birches look the same, but in fact they are divided into several types: birch dowl (warty), birch fluffy, birch Karelian. The first two types of wood have a white smooth bark and are considered light-loving. They are unpretentious and grow quite fast.

Such different birches

Most often in the field of our vision comes Betula pubescens ulufornia - birch bush. Its description is as follows: the branches are directed upwards and are abundantly covered with ovoid leaves. They are pretty sticky and pleasing the eye with their grace. Birch fluffy pollinated by the wind, its flowers are same-sex and gather in long inflorescences. Male flowers hide in thin earrings, and female - in thick. The fruit of the tree is a small nut with a pair of membranous wings.

The birch pendula (Betula pendula roth), or warty, is distinguished by petiolate leaves in the form of a rhombus. They have a small "croup" of white color. If it is crushed, the tree will be covered with a white cloud of plaque. Types of birch and woolly birch birch combine the same height (30 meters) and the flowering period, which falls in May. The fruits of both trees mature by the end of summer.

Forest "inch"

So affectionately called Betula pendula carelica - Karelian birch, which is found mainly in southern Russia. Its height is only 5-7 meters. This is the main difference between the Karelian birch and its other "sisters".

Also, the barrel "inch" is not very slim and smooth. On the contrary, it is covered with various hillocks and rushes. If we compare all species, then the warty and furry birch differ more intensively from Karelian. But the advantage of a small birch is that it has an amazingly beautiful wood. On the trunk looks like an amazing pattern, reminiscent of a marble coating.

How Birch Is Used in Medicine

For medicinal purposes, leaves, buds, birch mushrooms, juice and bark will do. Let's consider, what medicinal effect some parts of this tree possess. Birch buds have a conical shape with pointed tips. Their length varies from 3 to 7 millimeters.

Those who have tried the buds to taste, they know that they are astringent and resinous. Usually they are collected from January to April. This can be done only in those areas that are intended for cutting trees.

Traditional healers successfully apply birch buds against puffiness of cardiac origin, treat diseases of the urinary tract and kidneys, use in inflammatory processes of the skin, muscles and joints. For these purposes, prepare tincture, a decoction and use them inside, according to the recipe.

To the birch tree behind the leaves

Also for harvesting the leaves of a tree are suitable. Most often, birch is used for this purpose. The photo eloquently demonstrates her small, but neat leaves. They usually exude a faint fragrance.

Fans of folk medicine know that birch leaves should be harvested in May. It is at this time that they have high stickiness and are considered the most useful. It is recommended to collect leaves from those trees that are in the depths of the forest.

Some take with them a convenient folding ladder, because they know that the trees are sufficiently tall, called the birch tree, the birch is fluffy. Their height is more than 25 meters, and getting to the branches sometimes is not easy.

Coal, juice and chaga of birch

From the bark of "Russian beauty" receive activated charcoal, which is used for intoxication, dyspepsia and flatulence. Pharmaceutical companies produce birch charcoal in tablets and powder. It is often used in medical institutions for poisoning with poisonous substances.

In addition, the birch bark is used to produce tar, which is known for its bactericidal property. Also this substance is a part of various ointments, which are prescribed for the treatment of fungal skin diseases.

Extraordinary tasty and useful birch juice! The course of it falls on the spring thaw. The main thing is not to miss this moment, because the juice of birch is valuable only in fresh form. It contains a rich amount of vitamins, which are recommended for the treatment and prevention of avitaminosis. Also, the juice has a positive effect on the digestive function of the stomach and helps to remove harmful substances from the body.

Birch mushroom is also popular among admirers of folk medicine. It is thoroughly washed, and then soaked in water for 5 hours. After that, pass through a meat grinder, dilute with warm water and leave to infuse at room temperature for about 2 days. At the end of this time, the resulting infusion is filtered. Store it in a dark place.

Interesting facts about birch

If you go out on a summer day to nature and look around the splendor of trees, then from this diversity a birch bush will necessarily stand out. This spreader is widespread in different parts of Russia. Fans of everything mysterious argue that a modest tree was revered as sacred by different peoples.

Including it was used in magic. Celtic astrologers compared the birch to the sun and before starting a new business, they often came to a tree to hug him by the trunk and ask for luck. The Druids also revered the birch as a symbol of the beginning.

In many traditions, it was personified with innocence, purity and femininity. In Russia people tried to determine the weather by the type of tree. For example, if a birch fluffy looked more magnificent than usual, it is to an arid summer. On the magical properties of the white beauty, opinions often disagreed.

Some called it the "tree of the dead" and never used wood, leaves and kidneys for medicinal purposes. They resorted only to conducting magical rituals. The most frequently used components of the birch are wavy or warty. Even earlier, it was called "weeping" because of the long branches that were lowered.

It was she who was attributed to the other world: the dead, the mermaids and the water. Therefore, on the holiday, the water birch was brightly dressed and asked to protect it from evil spirits.

The Legend of the Mermaid

People have long believed that mermaids love birch more than anyone else. Our ancestors have laid down the legend that one of them was delayed on land longer than usual, without having had time to hide in the water at dawn. So she turned into a thin birch tree to be near her friends.

In addition, there were rumors that mermaids were fueled from the tree by energy, to which it was simply overcrowded. Also, the local girls resorted to the birch tree to leave a message to the dog. For this they wrote birch bark or leaflets on the bush in the hope that the owner of the forest would fulfill their cherished dream.

Local residents tried to protect the birch of any kind. If they wanted to get juice out of it or make simple woodwork from wood, they would definitely ask permission from the spirits. Subsequently, security amulets made of birch became popular in every Russian hut.

White beauty against evil

In fact, any kind of this tree was considered sacred. Just a bush fluffy was the most common. All varieties of this green plantation have strong cleaning properties. The strength of the birch extends both to the physical body of man and to the energy body. People say about this: "Heals the body and soul."

Psychotherapists note that birch surprisingly affects people. It helps to get rid of depression and depression. Wise people made from birch branches brooms that not only perfectly cleaned the dwelling, but also charged space for good luck.

Often birch branches were made of wreaths and hung on fences to protect the house and living in it from negativity and natural disasters. All the old traditions show that the birch is always open for contact with man.