The miracle of nature - a tree of stone

What is a stone tree? Is it possible to make a plant from a stone? Or is it just a form of stone like a tree? It is necessary to understand this. Of course, it does not consist of stone. There are two plants that are called a stone tree: a boxwood and a skeleton south. That's about them and there will be a speech.

Framework ordinary (southern)

The frame, or the stone tree, has more than 50 species. More often it is deciduous plants, but sometimes even evergreen. There is a frame and in the form of a bush. It grows in the tropics, subtropics and the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. What form of a stone tree? This tree has a rounded shape. The leaves are oval (up to 15 cm), elongated, with small serrations. The structure of the leaves is very hard.

The frame is adapted to arid stony soil, prone to salinity. He is very thermophilic. Also, the frame is well established in urban conditions, used for decorative purposes.

Where there is a stone tree

Under natural conditions, the skeleton is found in the south of Europe, in the north of the African continent and in some Asian countries. Small frame trees grow in the Crimea, in the east of the Caucasus. A whole garden of stone trees can be found in Israel. Stone tree is a long-liver, some species live up to 500 years. Has a straight trunk and can reach up to 20 meters in height. The frame is also adapted to minus temperature, it can withstand the frost to -20 ⁰ С.

Use of fruits and leaves

The stone tree has edible fruits. In the matured form, they acquire a dark purple color, almost black. Fruits are in the form of a small ball. In Israel, of these fruits, a national delicacy is made. There are seeds inside the fruit. Of these, a very useful oil is made, resembling almond in composition. Also, the fruits are grinded into flour and prepared from it a very tasty dish - "prishmi" (porridge). Many masters in Armenia, for the sake of these fruits, are framed in gardens. Tannins, which are contained in the bark of this tree, are used for the production of paint for fabrics.

Leaves of the frame like to eat goats and silkworms. And the fruits are very fond of pecking birds.

How is it used in the farm?

The stone tree is a good decorative material. Today, a lot of bonsai trees of this species have been bred, which perfectly live in room conditions. After all, the frame is very resistant to air pollution. It has a greenish-yellow wood, which is very dense and hard, well polishable. It is made of various souvenirs, canes, musical instruments and many other wooden products.

Southern skeleton in medicine

The stone tree has good healing properties and is widely used in medicine. It contains elements of organic acids, tannic, pectin, coloring substances, sugar, oil, many vitamins, mineral salts. From the roots and fruits of the stone tree make decoctions, which are used to treat diarrhea, dysentery. Also they well strengthen the cardiovascular system, increase the protective functions of the body. To prepare such broths, fruits and roots are harvested in advance: berries - after maturation, and roots - before the growing season.

What became famous for the skeleton

The stone tree is famous for its extraordinary properties. Its heavy and dense wood is very well appreciated. It is characterized by flexibility, elasticity, strength, hardness, so it has long been widely used in construction. Many heard about the mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, and so it was built in the 12th century (Turkmenia) precisely from the skeleton of the south.

Many people in ancient times loved to wear various talismans and amulets. In many Central Asian countries, such miraculous contraptions were made from stone wood. They were worn around the neck or hung in dwellings. It was also believed that pieces of wood carcass have a magical power, they guarded against evil spirits and bad eyes. Such pieces, or "Dagans", hung above the entrance to the house or at the gate.

The stone tree is not very demanding, it is easy to grow. In some areas of Israel, it is considered sacred, it is used in many areas. There, from the fruits of the frame make beads and put them around the neck of children or animals. This is considered a good sign, protecting from adversity.

Boxwood - a stone tree

A very ancient decorative tree is boxwood. But few know that this plant is also called a stone tree. The weathered boxwood shrubs met in ancient Roman times. But a wooden tree called boxwood because of the exceptional density of its wood. After all, this evergreen shrub is a long-liver, can grow up to half a century. He makes hedges, various bizarre and geometric figures. More solid wood than boxwood, not found on the European continent. It is made of small dishes, chess pieces, various small parts for appliances, pipes for smoking. Valued wood boxwood is very high.