Which tree is higher: a birch or an apple tree? Birch and apple-tree: difference

The wealth of the flora of Russia is truly grandiose. Thanks to the widest geography in the vast expanses of the country, a variety of plant species grow. Some of them are well known to us, we do not even suspect the existence of others.

Such different trees

To study the flora of the native land is best based on examples. Very interesting can be the search for answers to a number of questions. For example, which tree is higher, a birch or an apple tree? Which wood is stronger, walnut or beech? How to determine the age of a tree? The answers to these and many other questions reveal the secrets of these silent and caring companions of mankind - trees. If you learn to correctly ask, you can be surprised by many facts, hitherto unknown, about those habitual and intimate plants that we see every day. Rowan and ash, chestnut and poplar ... Can a person without hesitation answer, which tree is higher? Birch or apple trees can also be an example for comparison - do you know which plant has a wider range of growth? It is with the last two representatives of the plant world that we suggest starting to get acquainted with the nature of our native land.

Symbol of Russia

The white trunk, curly branches and lush foliage make the birch tree look like a bride, in folklore she was often given a central role. This tree is considered a symbol of Russia. In natural plantations of our country there are up to 70 of its species, and in the world there are up to 140. The greatest number of species is found in the eastern regions of Asia, as well as in North America. Birch comes to the most extreme southern and northern boundaries of the growth of tree representatives of plants.

In the European part of our country birches are widely spread with a birch bushy. Both species are straightforward, have white or grayish-white bark and trunk diameter up to 80 cm. They are one of the main forest-forming species, grow in pure birch forests, or with other coniferous and deciduous trees in mixed forests . In the latter it is easy to see which tree is higher. Birch or apple-tree, and along with them oaks and other rocks similar in height, form the middle tier, cedars and perennial fir trees - the upper, on the lower one there are shade-loving shrubs. Despite the neighborhood of the more "mighty" breeds, birch trees are the first of all trees to be populated by felling and conflagration.

The unpretentious beauty

Often in the forests of Russia you can meet a forest apple tree. The northernmost areas of its habitat are the Karelian Isthmus, the Volgograd and Perm Regions, large areas with native wild plantations in the Voronezh and Kursk regions. Apple trees and birch are found not only in wild landscapes, both trees perfectly and harmoniously coexist with a man. Domesticated species of apple trees can be found on every farmstead or vegetable garden. The genus of apple trees has about 50 species. Most of them are wild. One forest tree in the middle belt can bear fruit with a total mass of more than 50 kg. This rather unpretentious plant survives on various soils, it tolerates frosts well.

Difference in age and height

If you compare which tree is higher, birch or apple-tree, then it is better to consider how these plants grow in the wild. It all depends on the terrain and the species. Under favorable conditions, the birch can reach up to 30 meters in height, on average - 10-15. The apple forest is somewhat lower, rare specimens exceed 20 meters (these may be, for example, the apple trees of Sivers, found in Kazakhstan and Central Asia). On average, the height of the apple tree is 7-12 meters. As for age, for sure everyone is interested in knowing who lives longer, birch or apple tree. In comparison with the known long-livers (and we know that the oak can reach the age of 800 years, and the sequoia and baobab - 3000 years), our investigated species are referred to as "middle peasants". The average age of the birch is 100-150 years, some representatives of the stone birch survive to 500 years. Garden apple trees live approximately 80-100 years, the maximum age of wildlife is 300.

Value for people

The birch and the apple tree have proved their undoubted benefits to humanity, of course there is a difference between them, but can it be compared? Birch wood is used to produce veneer, it produces parquet, household items, wooden parts in guns. Karelian birch goes to the production of expensive furniture. In apple trees, dense wood with a beautiful pattern, suitable for carpentry and turning production, it often produces small crafts. Calculating the future sweep of the crown, and also considering that above, the apple or birch, these trees are often planted as ornamental plants in parks and squares. And about the fruits of apple and birch sap, you need to write a separate article. Their benefit in improving the body and saturating it with vitamins, tar and tannins, essential oils, sugar, fiber and other elements is irrefutable.

These are our vegetable friends-neighbors. Clear, simple and useful.