SOME TREES THAT GROW IN SLOVENIJA
Compilation made by: Laura O., Laura G., Urh K., Rok K., Žan B., Marko B., Ines D.G., Kim J, Klara L., Patrick O., Mentor: Vesna Kosmač
Coniferous trees
SPRUCE TREE FACTS:
Spruce tree is most common and also most important tree in our country. It can grow up to sixty metres high and it is evergreen. It has got hard prickly needles and quite long hanging cones.
UNBELIVABLE BUT TRUE:
The biggest spruce enemy is only a few millimetres big bark beetle. When it starts its feast the tree is doomed.:
USAGE:
Source of pictures: V. KosmaÄ?, 2010
The squirrels are crazy about the cones. They spend hours peeling them looking for sweet seeds.
Spruce tree is often used to firewood and making furniture. People in our country also value its nutrition. Sometimes they take its apices And put them in a jar together with some sugar. What they get is a very effective anti cough syrup.
LARCH FACTS:
Most common is in higher altitudes. Frost and cold do not hurt it. It is not evergreen. In autumn it looses its needles. Its needles are soft.
UNBELIVABLE BUT TRUE: It loves the wind, and is often found in cities because it tolerates polluted air very well.
FACTS:
It has got funny little soft cones. Children use them to play or make various decorations.
FACTS:
Source of pictures: V. KosmaÄ?, 2010
The oldest larch in our country is about 800 years old. We wish it could talk.
PINE TREE FACTS:
Pine trees are evergreen. Their needles are long, hard and full of resin. They like to stick to the fingers. The cones come in various shapes and sizes.
UNBELIVABLE BUT TRUE: There are several types growing in our country. Some have very delicious seeds.
FACTS:
All pine trees have got ethereal oils. In summer when temperatures are high, pine tree forests smell very nice. They sure clean your sinuses.
Source of pictures: V. KosmaÄ?, 2010
JUNIPER TREE UNBELIVABLE BUT TRUE: Juniper in our country is more like a bush than a tree. Its berries are often used in cooking. They are added in goulashes and in roast meat.
Source of pictures: V. KosmaÄ?, 2010
The evergreen bush and its berries help many birds to get through long winters.
FACTS:
Juniper has got very strong, hard and pointed leaves (like needles). They grow in groups of three. No messing around the bush, I guess!!!
Deciduous trees
CHESTNUT TREE FACTS:
FACTS:
Source of pictures: V. Kosmač, 2010
Even if you don‘t know which tree is chestnut, you can find out easily. Sit down under a tree and if it feels like sitting on a hedgehog you got it!
Besides that chestnut another called horse chestnut (see below) grows in our country. It is not good for eating. It is believed that horse chestnut is a relic. It survived several ice ages and it goes back to the Tertiary period.
UNBELIVABLE BUT TRUE:
In some countries people make flour from chestnut seeds. They use it for cooking.
Source of pictures: V. Kosmač, 2010
BEECH TREE UNBELIVABLE BUT TRUE:
FACTS:
The inside of beech tree seeds is very tasty. Some use those insides to make salad oil. They also use young leaves to make salad.
Beech trees are very common in our country. In fact it is the most extended tree in Slovenia.
FACTS:
Beech trees are not only appreciated by people, but also by animals. They offer good shelter and food for many types of birds, for squirrels and wild pigs. They really adore its seeds.
Source of pictures: V. KosmaÄ?, 2010
FACTS:
Some farmers gather beech tree leaves in the autumn and use them as bedding for domestic animals – cows for example.
TREMBLING POPLAR TREE UNBELIVABLE BUT TRUE:
Trembling poplar tree got its name because its leaves treble and rustle in the wind. Pretty scary during the night if you are alone in the woods.
Source of pictures: V. Kosmač, 2010
UNBELIVABLE BUT TRUE: Trembling poplar tree has got very strong roots. They can destroy concrete walls or water pipes when searching for water.
Source of pictures: V. Kosmač, 2010
FACTS:
Trembling poplar tree flowers look and feel like cat‘s tails.
BIRCH TREE FACTS:
Birch tree is the national tree of Finland. It tolerates very cold and very long winters.
FACTS:
Birch tree has got unmistakable white bark. We found out, that in the past herdsmen in our country loved birch tree bark because it burns even if wet. So they could start a fire even when rainy or cold winter days.
STORY:
Why birches have got white bark? It‘s a folk story: In the past birches had brown bark like all the other trees. However, their bark and branches were often used to punish disobedient children. This was easy during the day, but during the night parents had trouble finding them. For that reason the God changed them into white, so that parents could find them, if their children were disobedient during the night. Just in case, you know… Source of pictures: V. Kosmač, 2010
LIME TREE FACTS:
Lime tree is the national tree of Slovenia, Slovakia and Czech republic.
FACTS:
Lime tree flowers smell very nice and are full of nectar. For that reason bees adore them.
FACTS:
Lime tree has also got interesting – heart shaped leaves. In Greek mythology the tree is a symbol of love, life, happiness and truth.
UNBELIVABLE BUT TRUE: In the past people strongly believed that lime tree wood turns away witches and the devil himself. For that reason the wood was always within reach.
Source of pictures: V. KosmaÄ?, 2010
OAK TREE UNBELIVABLE BUT TRUE:
Oak trees can reach high age. Up to 700 years. In the past many French and English ships were made of oak because its wood is water resistant. To build one ship they needed 4000 trees.
FACTS:
Oaks have got some funny looking seeds called acorns. They look like a boy with an oversized hat. However, the seeds are loved by numerous wild animals. They help them get through harsh winters.
FACTS:
Oak trees are very common, but there are different types of oak growing in our country.
Source of pictures: V. KosmaÄ?, 2010
MAPLE TREE UNBELIVABLE BUT TRUE:
Maple tree is the national tree of Canada. In the past when there was a lack of sugar in Europe, they used maple tree juice to sweeten the food.
FACTS:
Maple trees have got some very funny looking seeds. When they are blown by the wind they look like miniature helicopters.
FACTS:
The leaves have got the shape of a human hand.
FACTS:
Today maple syrup can be bought in almost every shop. It goes well with pancakes….
Source of pictures: V. Kosmač, 2010
SOURCES USED: 1.
The funny icon: http://www.crazywebsite.com (23.10.2015)
2.
Vesna Kosmač, rastlinski ključ za določanje lastnosti rastišč, Didakta, 2010