Crimea amazes with a huge number of natural attractions, rare plants, including trees. Some of them can be found in single copies and only on the peninsula. It is impossible to describe all of them in one article, but below I have collected the most interesting tree-like representatives of the Crimean flora.
An evergreen plant of the heather family. There are approximately 20 species in total. A relatively short tree, up to 6 meters, mainly grows on the southern coast of Crimea. In the summer, the delicate crown cracks and falls off every year. Over time, the lower layer of green color strengthens and changes color to a red-brown tone. The berries are edible, reminiscent of strawberries. Despite their low growth in girth, some trees (there are only 2 of them on the peninsula, 1000 years old) reach 4 meters.
The relict tree is poisonous and grows mainly in forests and on mountain slopes. It is very rare to see yew groves. The crown is strong, dark green in color. The plant belongs to the conifer family, but has no resin. The only tree with such properties. The lifespan of individual specimens is 4 thousand years. Yew contains a huge amount of toxic substances. Even the slightest particle that enters the human body causes serious poisoning. The age of the yew growing on the famous one is more than 1000 years.
Pine Stankevich (Pitsundskaya)
The tree, up to 15 meters high, has several differences from ordinary pine. Firstly, it has dark gray bark and a high resin content. Which makes it an ideal building material. Today logging is prohibited. Secondly, the needles are somewhat longer than those of other pine representatives. The tree belongs to an endemic subspecies. The trunk is rarely straight, mostly curved, twisted in shape. It is under strict state protection. It can be seen on the mountain slopes of the southern coast.
Oak
In total, about 600 species of this majestic plant, famous since ancient times, are known. Only three are found on the territory of Crimea: petiolate, rocky and fluffy. The pedunculate oak has the longest lifespan. It grows up to 8 - 10 centuries. While rocky or fluffy is only 100 - 200 years old. Unfortunately, it is now difficult to find hundred-year-old fluffy oak trees in Crimea. More often, rocky species reach centuries of age. Sessile and pedunculate oaks are similar in crown, leaf shape, color, and so on. Fluffy is very different from them.
Beech forests are located at an altitude of 350 to 1350 meters above sea level from Ai-Petrinskaya Yayla to the Old Crimea itself. The largest trees are found on the northern slopes, approximately at an altitude of 600 - 1000 m. The average height is from 20 to 30 meters. Unlike others, they do not grow in heaps, but fakes. Beech forests have sparse grass cover. Shrubs are also rare guests on their territory. The main feature of such plantings is the complete absence of birds. So if you want to know what complete silence is, go to the beech forest of Crimea.
The only tree of its kind, there are from 890 to 1150 species in the genus. There are 15 varieties growing on the territory of Crimea, four of which scientists have called medicinal. All fruits are edible, but in other countries there are also poisonous representatives. Hawthorn is as durable as oak. Its age can reach 400 years. The leaves of the tree are unusual, jagged, the bark is brightly colored, and the inflorescences are large, but with a specific, not very pleasant smell. Prefers to settle on slopes and in mountain crevices and ravines.
A unique plant, famous since ancient times for its beneficial fruits and the ability to use parts in a variety of ways. The color of the fruit varies from yellowish to almost black. The shape of the berries differs depending on the variety; they can be oblong or “barrel” shaped. It grows mainly in the mountains, giving the area a unique look, especially during the flowering period, which falls in February. It has long been valued and dogwood wood, light, with a brown core, was especially loved by artisans.
Of the 600 species of this beautiful tree, only seven are found in Crimea: white, broom (goat), purple, three-stamen, Babylonian (weeping), ashy and others. Indigenous to the Crimea are purple, brittle, white and goat willow. The tree is water-loving, therefore it is found exclusively on the banks of rivers, lakes and other natural bodies of water. Life expectancy is short - from 20 to 70 years, but in this relatively short period of time it manages to bring maximum benefit to a person. First pleasing to the eye with flowering in early spring, then with vines.
Ash was admired by Gogol and Dal. This is a unique tree, characterized by a very sparse crown and non-repeated flowering in April - May. In the old days, the color of the plant gave off a pleasant aroma; now only some species can boast of this. Today, the dark brown or purple inflorescences are odorless. The fruits of the tree look like helicopter blades; they spin funny when they fall, causing delight in children. Another feature can be considered the leaf fall season, when the clear “undresses” without changing the color of the leaves.
Coniferous tree, which has three species in its genus on the territory of Crimea: Himalayan, Lebanese and Atlas. All of them were brought to the peninsula at one time or another. Today, representatives of the cedar genus can be found in. The first seedlings were brought there in the early 1800s. The Atlas variety is distinguished by bluish, hard needles and a “story-tall” type of crown. The Himalayan cedar has a lower crown. Its long needles (up to 5 cm) and fairly large fruits – cones – attract attention.
Slender cypress trees did not always “live” in Crimea. Their homeland is Greece. Initially, the plant appeared in the Botanical Garden of the city of Nikita, and today it has become so established that it spreads on its own. The coniferous plant is distinguished by a cone-shaped crown, almost ideal in shape. The needles are soft, the cones are small, round, decorated with an intricate pattern. The aroma of cypress helps improve the functioning of the respiratory system. Helps cope with many diseases. And the ancient healers knew about this.
Most representatives of spruce can be found in Gagarin Park in Simferopol. Spruce is an “overseas” plant; it was also brought to Crimea, and despite its “whimsical character”, today three of its species decorate Crimean gardens and parks: prickly, European, and ordinary. The crown has regular outlines. Dark green needles do not stay on branches for long, only 7 - 8 years, and in urban areas even less - up to 4 years. The lifespan of this coniferous beauty is from 300 to 500 years. And with age she becomes even more beautiful, more majestic.
This is the only evergreen species of sequoia, its homeland is the coast of North America, California. It was brought to Crimea in 1840, as you guessed incorrectly - to the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. The trunk is covered with red-brown bark, fibrous type, up to 70 cm thick. The branches are thin, folded into a beautiful crown of a narrow pyramid. The main feature of this type of sequoia is that it is wood that does not burn in fire. On the territory of Crimea there are two legendary trees near the western facade of the no less famous one. Their height is about 35 m, their girth is 9.
An original tree with thick, sparse branches reaching upward. The trunk, along with the leaves, is covered with large, hard leaves that resemble scales. The scales have a triangular-pointed shape, length - up to 3 cm. The lifespan of peculiar needles is about 15 years, minimum - 10. Large brown cones, reaching 20 centimeters in diameter, have up to 300 (!) edible seeds inside. In its native countries - Chile, Argentina it grows up to 60 meters. There are only a few araucarias in Crimea - in and in the park of the Partenita sanatorium.
A spreading tree with an openwork crown grows up to 45 m in the wild; cultivated species are much lower. Only 20 - 25 meters. The main feature is large spines, up to 30 cm, with which the entire trunk is dotted at a certain distance. The reddish-white spines grow singly and in clusters. The plant blooms in June; the inflorescences are not attractive, but they emit a very pleasant aroma. The fruits are beans, brown in color and stay on the tree until late autumn, giving it a special appearance.
Wild cherry - sakura, is a symbol of Japan. In Crimea today it is not uncommon to find representatives of these small trees, striking with their beauty during flowering. Delicate pink flowers evoke a storm of emotions. Flowering is short-lived, about a week. There are several types of plants. The tallest is the finely serrated sakura, characterized by larger foliage that turns an incredibly beautiful purple color in the fall. The flowers of this species are much larger than those of its other brethren.
The plant can be in the form of a bush or tree, up to 7 meters tall. It is characterized by the bark of a multi-stemmed tree with greyish-green or light brown bark. In the gardens and parks of Crimea, shrubs are mainly found. It provides aesthetic pleasure during the flowering period with golden-yellow inflorescences collected in thirty-centimeter brushes. Thanks to which it received its second name. Attention: absolutely all parts of the plant are poisonous! Under no circumstances should you come into contact with the leaves or inflorescences.
The second name is Trachycarpus Fortune. The plant belongs to the palm family; out of 1,700 species, only it has taken root on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula, but only on the southern side. This cold-resistant palm feels great in. The plant is carefully protected from strong winds in winter by tying it up and wrapping it in a special cloth. Trachycarpus looks especially impressive in May, when the plant is flowering. The inflorescences have a beautiful appearance of hanging ears of bright yellow color. By autumn they look like red panicles.
It would take a long time to describe the trees and shrubs of Crimea. But, in my opinion, the representatives of the Crimean flora described above are quite enough to understand how unique the nature of the peninsula is. At any time of the year it amazes with its beauty and uniqueness!
Arbutus andrachne L. Taxonomic position Order Ericales. Heather family (Ericaceae). Conservation status Rare species (3).Area
Eastern Mediterranean, Crimea, Western Transcaucasia.
Features of morphology
Evergreen multi-stemmed tree up to 12 m tall, with geniculate branches. The bark is thin, smooth, dark coral in color; in June–July it cracks and peels off in patches, exposing young green bark, which by the end of summer acquires a coral-red color. The leaves are leathery, glossy, ovate-oblong, entire. The flowers are five-membered, collected in paniculate inflorescences up to 10 cm long. The corolla is fused-petaled, there are 10 stamens. The fruit is an orange wrinkled berry.
Features of biology
In Crimea, it grows on the southern coast in the form of small groups or individual trees on southern dry rocky and rocky slopes, on steep cliffs, rising to 200–300 (up to 700) m above sea level. u. m. Lithophyte, mesoxerophyte, heliophyte. It blooms in April – May at an average daily air temperature of +7–+10°C. The plant is entomophilous. Fruits in October - January.
Threats
As a preglacial relic, it is sensitive to low temperatures and is damaged at −15°C. Risks include destruction of growing areas during construction work, fires, grazing, and massive cutting of branches for bouquets.
Security measures
It is protected in nature reserves: Yalta Mountain Forest and Cape Martyan, state nature reserves Ayu-Dag and Kastel, the natural monument Cape AiTodor and other protected areas.
Information sources
Flora of the European part of the USSR, 1976; Ena, 1990; CHKU, 2009; Shevchenko et al., 2010.
Compiled by: Ena A. V., Shevchenko S. V.
Photo: Svirin S. A.
TYPE FLORA or plant world.
Sorting through pictures from my Abkhazian vacation, I formed a folder - “Vegetable World”. This is about their flora.
So what about flora? I grew up among her and at that time I didn’t find anything outlandish. He reached out his hand from the window and... ate, for example: persimmon, peach, pomegranate or grapes, sometimes he chose the variety - kachich or isabella, there was also a nut growing in the yard. But now, having already lived enough in the middle zone, i.e. in comparison, the subtropics began to seem... very “quite” to me. Yes, yes, the northernmost subtropics in the world sometimes display examples of amazing natural imagination and diversity.
Well, as a preamble, it’s worth saying that all the wealth of flora here is imported. At the beginning of the twentieth century, through the efforts of Russian scientists, merchants and philanthropists, especially Smetsky, outlandish samples of tropical and subtropical crops were brought to Abkhazia. Eucalyptus from Australia, cypress nuts from Greece, aleander from the azure, araucaria from South America, as well as tobacco, cacti, vines, tomatoes and corn (by the way, hominy, made from corn flour, became the main food of the Abkhzians) and beans. Tea, persimmon and feijoa from China, a candy tree from Vietnam, and a bunch of palm trees and everything else came from Africa. In short, it turned out to be very interesting and fun. And, surprisingly, almost everything stuck. Here, for example, is the “work” of a liana, which at once (according to my estimates, it took her about thirty years to do “this”) “snacked” the concrete colonnade of a cafe destroyed by the war, with the ironic-historical name “Friendship”. And judge the rest of the miracles for yourself.
This is what the trunk of an Australian eucalyptus tree looks like. Sometimes it is called the shameless tree. He periodically changes his bark, throwing off his old clothes and, as it were, naked all the time. But seriously, this tree is a savior. Previously, the entire coast of Abkhazia was swampy and the malaria mosquito was rampant here; holidays in Abkhazia then were not so pleasant precisely because of them. The eucalyptus acted as a "pump". Adults “consume” up to 500 liters of water per day. The swamps dried up and... paradise began.
As children, punks make “nests” on their tall eucalyptus trunks.
And here is a fig tree or fig. Its seed, even falling into a crack in a house or garbage, begins to germinate. Fifteen years later - a new tree.
This is what it looks like from the outside. By the way, the leaves of this tree were used by Renaissance artists to “cover” nature in their paintings, usually with biblical content.
Plant luxury.
Or here... the ceremonial view of the Philharmonic.
Plane trees in the park.
This is how climbing plants “crawl” up to the fifth floor. And even higher...
Or this is how it will become ingrained in the wild.
On the fortress wall... Tenth century.
So they live by sucking the juices of those who cannot “give a blow.”
Anomaly.
Or... this is at Stalin's dacha near Lake Ritsa.
This is how the roots lift the asphalt.
The road goes along a plane tree alley.
This is how plants “intersect” with stones.
This is how Pomegranate grows.
And here I am looking at a blank for a smoking pipe. The sea carried her away.
In general, there are a lot of picturesque snags on the beach.
Alpine forbs.
Flowers among the mountains.
But I don’t even know the name of this plant.
Tall Pitsunda pine.
Fern.
Bamboo Alley.
There are also thicker ones.
Still life.
In abandoned orchards, trees run wild. This is in Tsebelda. The spectacle is wild.
Finita la comedy.
English fairy tale about the strawberry tree
In it, the strawberry tree fell in love with the bird. The bird was dying and took refuge in a tree. The tree, having healing properties and a kind heart, cured the bird. She flew away, and the tree, gathering all its strength, strained all its branch muscles, tore its roots out of the ground and went to look for its beloved bird.
For many years it climbed to the top of the mountain, the sun scorched it, the bark peeled off, but it did not catch up with the bird. The tree got tired and said: “Cut love,” which can be freely translated as “there is no future for unrequited love,” or even more freely - “you won’t be nice by force.”
Shameless (strawberry tree) on Ayu-Dag. Photo by JuliaUa
I am sure that it is very difficult to find a person who is not familiar with strawberries. Everyone has seen it and many have even collected it, but not everyone has heard about the strawberry tree.
These evergreen trees are members of the Ericaceae family and are very unusual plants that boast of their orange-red coloring of the trunk, which replaces the bark every year. It is for this property that such an exotic miracle is also called shameless.
Small-fruited or red strawberry (Arbutus andrachne) can be found in the Crimea, where it is known as “resort girl” and “shameless” - because the tree is able to “shed its skin.”
I called this tree "red beauty" until I learned the name. I first met him on the old Sevastopol road, on the way to the Devil's Staircase. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take photos then (the camera was discharged).
Finally, on July 24, 2014, I met this wonderful tree in Livadia Park
Its beautiful coral-red trunk immediately catches the eye. The bark of the tree is completely smooth, without any cracks, like the reddish skin of a well-tanned person. The outer layer of bark is paper thin and shed annually. After this, the trunk becomes light and greenish. Over time, it turns red again.
The strawberry tree is remarkable in that it is the only evergreen deciduous tree in the natural flora of the subtropics of Crimea. Its leaves are dense, leathery, shiny, and have a fairly regular oval shape. They tolerate light frosts well in winter.
The fruits of the strawberry tree are small, spherical, orange, with a finely lumpy surface, somewhat reminiscent in appearance of strawberry fruits (this is how the plant got its name). However, their internal structure is different, since the strawberry tree is completely unrelated to strawberries. These fruits are juicy and sweetish. They attract birds, which feed on them and spread the plant's seeds.
The fruits of the small-fruited strawberry are edible, but not particularly tasty; they are suitable for culinary processing.
Arbutus. Photo: Hava Tor/The Epoch Times (The Epoch Times)
There are about 20 species of strawberry tree. Its botanical name is Arbutus. In Crimea and Asia Minor, the tree was nicknamed “kizil-agach”, that is, “mahogany”, by the color of its bark. It lives for several hundred years, does not shine in height, and is down to earth. But... its usefulness, applicability, and attractive beauty stand out significantly among the diversity of the tree kingdom.
Legends about the strawberry tree
The Hebrew name for the tree is ktalav. The name comes from several ancient Arabic legends, very sad
What could be sadder than betrayal? This is exactly what the legends are about. The son moves far from home, his father recovers thanks to the efforts of his daughter-in-law, who then becomes pregnant by him. The son returns, finds out about the betrayal and kills his father in despair. He buries it, and over time a red tree grows there, which sheds its bark once a year, as if it were bleeding. Ktalav consists of two words with roots “qatal” and “av”, “qatal” - to kill, “av” - father. 
Small-fruited strawberry (Shameless, Red strawberry, Strawberry tree, Kurortnitsa) in Alupka Park around the Vorontsov Palace
And here are photos of the strawberry tree from the site
Interestingly, the English cut love and the Hebrew “ktalav” are pronounced almost identically. And in America the strawberry tree is called “whisperer”
When it sheds its “dress,” it makes a rustling, clearly audible sound. In addition, the strawberry tree is a relict plant. The philosopher Theophastus, who lived in the 300s BC, mentions him in his writings.
The strawberry tree is an evergreen plant that lives in the Mediterranean, Mexico, on the coast of the Caucasus and Crimea, and in North America.
And another interesting coincidence: Arbutus is translated from the language of flowers as “I love only you.” 
A personal look at the exotic strawberry tree and its interesting cultivation and special care
By the way, I first met him in Crimea when I was on vacation there. I liked this miracle so much that I decided to start breeding it at home.
Having become interested in this treasure, I learned a lot of interesting things about it. For example, it bears fruit in September, and its fruits can intoxicate and cause a severe headache if eaten in large quantities. But, to be honest, I didn’t experiment. By the way, only in ancient Latin it is called arbutus. There are several types of this plant: mencis (its fruits are similar to strawberries, so it is also called strawberry mencis); large-fruited.
I decided to start raising such a handsome dog myself. But in order for me to be able to take care of it myself, I urgently needed advice on how to properly look after it. I turned to specialized literature, where I learned about all his features, as well as how to raise a handsome man. But it took me a huge amount of time. So I decided to save it for you. I will leave you with instructions so that you can take care of this pet correctly.
First of all I will say that You can grow strawberries at home if you create the necessary microclimate in winter
To do this, I choose a well-lit room that I ventilate regularly. In the summer it grows at temperatures of eighteen to twenty-two degrees. At this time of year, I often take this miracle out onto the balcony so that it can be in the fresh air, as it is very useful. Well, in winter it lives with me at temperatures from three to eight degrees. I perform pruning to remove damaged, unsightly or too thick branches.
You may have problems caring for your baby
First of all, diseases that arise due to improper care of the bush. For example, if the soil is over-moistened, mushrooms from the genus Septoria may infect your pet. When such a disease occurs, the leaves are affected by chestnut spots. In case of minor damage, I remove greens with spots, but if something is more serious, then I resort to treatment with fungicides.
Even in waterlogged soil, the bacterium Agrobacterium, which lives on the roots, can settle. If this happens, I remove the affected trees so as not to infect the others. And also, if the soil is too acidic, then the beauty may develop chlorosis, since she will not have enough iron. In this case, I treat the baby with a special preparation containing iron. Pets also have pests, and the most dangerous is the spider mite. Well, that's all about how to care for this exotic guest.
How to board a pet
I read that it can live on any garden soil. But I use a slightly acidic one, which contains organic fertilizers. Calcareous soil is also suitable for your pet. I place it in a permanent place in October or in the spring. I change the place of permanent residence, choosing in March or April in the case when the roots of the pet outgrow the volume of the pot.
Special watering
Watering is very necessary for young trees. As for adult plants, they are drought-resistant. However, I produce it all year round for shrubs of any age. For this I try to use soft water. I don’t do spraying, since my brainchild certainly doesn’t need this procedure.
For a tree to be beautiful, it needs fertilizing
For shrubs, feeding means a lot. I feed my bushes with both special fertilizers for heather plants and universal products. At the end of winter, I add manure to the soil. As for adults, I feed them every three to four months with granular fertilizers. And in the spring I add potassium and nitrogen fertilizers to the soil. Thanks to this, my pets become more lush and cheerful.
All secrets about reproduction are revealed
Reproduction occurs in two ways, for the first I use seeds. I sow them in peat mixed with sand and keep them indoors without heating. When the seedlings grow up, I place them in soil of the same composition, but one at a time. Then they live indoors with me for a year or two. If necessary (when the root system needs space), I transfer it to a larger container using the transfer method.
In the second method, I resort to cuttings, for which I use semi-lignified cuttings, the length of which is ten centimeters. I cut them in the month of July. I place them in the same mixture and keep them at a temperature of sixteen to eighteen degrees. Then, when they have roots, I plant them one at a time. Then I care for them in the same way as for seedlings.
Arbutus andrachne
The small-fruited strawberry is probably familiar to everyone who has visited the south of the Crimean Peninsula in its parks and Nikitsky Garden. It is better known among the local population as the “shameless” or “resort” tree. In the scientific literature, the species is called “Greek strawberry tree” - according to the place of distribution, or red strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne). “Red” - because for most of the year its trunks and branches remain coral or red-brown, “strawberry” - because from a distance the fruits resemble strawberries, but that’s where the resemblance to the berry ends.
In Latin, the name of the genus sounds like “Arbutus” - arbutus. It belongs to the Heather family and, according to some sources, has 11, and according to others, 14 species. Red strawberry is one of them.
Area
Small-fruited strawberry is a very rare species. Like all arbutuses, it is heat-loving. In wild flora, it is distributed in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, in certain regions of South-West Asia, and on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. Its northern border runs along the south of the Crimean Peninsula. It is resistant to drought, often occupies rocky areas where other representatives of woody plants do not take root. In the mountains it very rarely rises above 300-500 meters above sea level. It grows in clearings, in light coniferous and deciduous forests.
On the Crimean peninsula, small-fruited strawberry can be found on capes Aya, Martyan, in the Koshka and Ai-Nikola mountains (here is the largest population in Crimea). The most accessible specimens for Crimean tourists are located in Nikitsky Botanical Garden
and Alupka Park. Among the Crimean strawberries there are two long-livers, more than a thousand years old, each with a trunk girth of 4 meters. The photo shows one of them while measuring the barrel.
Red arbutus is a relict plant from the Cenozoic era, as evidenced by its remains found during excavations in the Middle East in the layers of the Tertiary period. Consequently, the plant lived on earth at least one and a half million years ago. The number of small-fruited strawberry plants on earth is declining, so the species is protected by the states in which it grows.
Legend
According to one legend, the red strawberry tree received its Latin name from the Arabic words “Ktal AV”, which loosely translated means “killed the father”. Perhaps it was based on the association of red bare tree trunks with men's bloody hands. The essence of the legend is this.
A long time ago there lived a family: a husband, a wife and a father-in-law, that is, the husband’s father. When the father fell ill, the loving son went in search of a potion, but searched for it for so long that the father managed to recover and even conceive a child with his daughter-in-law. The returning son, having learned about what had happened, hacked his father to death, on whose grave a tree with a red trunk grew.
Shameless tree
The main feature of the small-fruited strawberry is the annual renewal of the bark. The bark is dark red, paper-thin and peels off easily, revealing greenish “bare” trunks. Cracking and shedding of the bark occurs in July-August. This is accompanied by a slight rustling sound, which is why in some countries the plant is called a “whisperer”. In our country, throwing off tree clothes is associated with ladies undressing on the beach, and for this reason the small-fruited strawberry is called the “resort woman”. An even greater similarity is added by the fact that day after day the young skin seems to tan and eventually turns reddish-orange. In this form, the plant stands until next summer, when everything begins to repeat itself again.
The behavior of the strawberry tree described above does not remind everyone of beach lovers. Some, due to the annual exposure of the trunk, similar to a naked female body in the tanning stage, call him ironically “shameless” or “stripper”.
You cannot touch the exposed trunk with your hands. When touched, the tree gets burned, after which ulcers form on it, and it begins to hurt. The photo shows the consequences of such curiosity - a strawberry trunk disfigured by disease.
Description
Although the small-fruited strawberry is classified as a Heather, which are mostly shrubs, subshrubs and herbs, it looks like a bush only in childhood, when the young thin branches are not covered with bark at all. Mature plants are real multi-stemmed giant trees, capable of reaching a height of 12 meters. They live for several hundred years. The trunks are erect, often curved. At the same time, the diameter of one trunk is relatively small. Specimens in which it is about 80 cm are not common. Basically, the trunks are only 20-30 cm or slightly more in diameter. This can be explained by the slow growth rate of the tree and the small number of specimens remaining on the ground.
Small-fruited strawberry blooms densely and for a long time, is an excellent honey plant and serves as a landscape decoration at this time. In Crimea, flowering occurs in April, and in warm winters or further south - even earlier, in February - March.
Red arbutus flowers are small, up to 1-2 cm in size, with five petals, whitish, bisexual (there are male and female organs). Collected in panicle inflorescences. The shape is slightly reminiscent of lilies of the valley, only without the characteristic delicate smell, but rather sweetly aromatic.
The leaves are medium-sized, from 3 to 11 cm long, up to 4 cm wide, with a dense leathery leaf blade, ovoid-oblong in shape, alternate, located on a short petiole. Some leaves may have a pointed edge. In winter, the leaves do not fall off, but remain on the plant. Small-fruited strawberry is the only native evergreen deciduous species of the Crimean peninsula. The rare large-fruited and hybrid strawberries we also encounter were planted by humans.
In mid-to-late summer, when the temperature reaches its annual maximum, the red strawberry tree partially sheds its old leaves, which are replaced by new young leaves. In this way, the tree is protected from the sweltering summer heat: the less moisture evaporates from the surface, the less it suffers from drought. At the same time, the old red bark peels off, exposing a thin greenish bark containing chlorophyll. At this time, the green bark performs the function of fallen leaves - it participates in photosynthesis.
“Shameless” produces fruits and berries in June. Round, covered with small tubercles, the size of a cherry (up to 15 mm), from a distance they look a little like strawberries. Contains many small seeds. Juicy when ripe. Their color is red or orange and their taste is astringent. The pulp is yellow-orange. The fruits ripen in the fall and then become dark red in color. Although the berries of red strawberries are edible, they do not have a special taste, so they are popular only with birds, which, after eating, help disperse the seeds. Despite the large number of seeds, almost no new plants grow. The reason may be poor seed germination or death of young seedlings, for example, from drought or low temperatures.
Cultivation
Small-fruited strawberry is a very impressive plant, one of the most beautiful types of Arbutus. During its life, its trunks bend and twist bizarrely. Completely smooth, coral-colored most of the year, they rise up like hands, supporting an openwork crown of leathery green leaves. In spring, the trees are covered with numerous white and fragrant flowers. In autumn, the branches are decorated with red “strawberries” (fruits).
Such a beautiful plant has long attracted attention, and from the beginning of the 18th century it began to be cultivated. In Crimea, small-fruited strawberry was introduced into cultivation in 1813, almost immediately after the foundation, by order of Alexander I, of the “Imperial Tauride State Botanical Garden” on the southern coast of Crimea (now Nikitsky Botanical Garden).
In arid regions, small-fruited strawberry is planted in gardens and parks to decorate the landscape. It tolerates drought and high temperatures well, so it is considered promising for urban landscaping and reforestation.
In northern latitudes, the red strawberry tree is grown in winter gardens in tub culture.
Growing
Small-fruited strawberry is a slow-growing and light-loving tree. Can also grow in partial shade. Suitable for growing from 7 to 10 frost resistance zones, while zone 7 is recommended very carefully. Trees can hardly withstand short-term temperature drops to -10 -15 degrees. Their annual shoots freeze, the inflorescences and leaves of adult trees die. In open ground, when there is a threat of frost, young seedlings are covered for the winter and also protected from strong winds.
Small-fruited strawberry prefers sandy and loamy soils with a neutral or acidic reaction, well-drained, rich in nutrients, and moderately moist. Tolerates moderate pruning.
Reproduction
Small-fruited strawberry propagates most often by seeds.
Freshly harvested seeds are soaked for 5 days in warm water, sown to a depth of no more than 0.8 cm. The readiness of the seed for sowing can be determined by the cracked shell. Stratification at 0 degrees in rotted pine needles for 1.5-2 months helps to increase seed germination.
Slightly grown seedlings are planted in separate pots. During the year they are kept in the same conditions as the crops, but always with good ventilation. Hardened seedlings are planted in open ground after positive temperatures have established in the spring. Plants are planted at a distance of at least 3 meters.
Cuttings are less successful. It is carried out in the usual way. Green cuttings are harvested in early spring, and semi-lignified cuttings (cuttings with bark) are cut from annual shoots in late autumn.
Reproduction by layering is also possible. Young shoots are bent to the ground, pinned at one point, and sprinkled with soil. The open tip of the shoot is directed vertically upward. Rooting takes about two years.
Despite the unpretentiousness of the small-fruited strawberry, it is difficult to reproduce. Therefore, for planting, it is preferable to purchase ready-made seedlings with a closed root system. You can find them in foreign nurseries. According to reviews, hybrid strawberry can be sold under the name Arbutus andrachne.
Difficulty in propagating red strawberries arises from certain soil fungi that live under the tree and form mycorrhiza with it. Strawberry roots do not have root hairs, and mushroom vultures, attaching to them, supply the roots with the necessary nutrients in an accessible form. A similar symbiosis is characteristic of all Heathers, to which the small-fruited strawberry belongs. Therefore, when growing from seeds, it is recommended to take soil under the trees next to which the “shameless” plant grows in nature, or under the strawberry itself. It is important that when seeds germinate, the fungus penetrates the root of the sprout and thereby subsequently provides it with nutrition.
A long taproot can also cause poor survival when transplanting young plants. After all, it is very difficult to dig up a seedling from the rocky soil of a mountainous area without damaging the root system.
Properties
Nature has endowed the small-fruited strawberry with unique wood that is difficult to rot. Exclusive handmade products were made from it, for example, boxes, furniture and other household items. Due to the curvature of the trunks, they were not used in construction.
The leaves and bark of the red arbutus tree contain a high percentage of tannins and were once used in tanning.
Small-fruited strawberry can grow next to its “brother” large-fruited strawberry . As a result, hybrids appeared, endowed with the traits of each of them.
On the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula, in the most inaccessible places and rocky tracts, the remains of forests of an amazing plant with a very tasty name have been preserved - the strawberry tree, or, to be precise, the small-fruited strawberry.
But, unfortunately, this unique relict plant of the pre-glacial period, belonging to the heather family, is an endangered species in Crimea, which, by the way, is the northernmost border of its habitat. Nowadays, only single trees or small sparse thickets are found in the wild. The largest wild strawberry habitat is located on the protected Cape Martyan.
Strawberry is a very beautiful evergreen deciduous honey tree with intricately curved branches. It has leathery leaves and blooms with flowers that resemble lily of the valley flowers in appearance.
The wrinkled red fruits of the small-fruited strawberry are a bit reminiscent of wild strawberries. Hence the name of the tree. The tree received another name - shameless - because its aging bark turns red by mid-summer, cracks and peels off, exposing the young pistachio-green bark. And so it repeats from year to year.
Strawberry fruits ripen in autumn and have a rather pleasant taste. But they have nutritional value in their natural form only for birds.
Red strawberry tree, or small-fruited strawberry, or Arbutus (Arbutus andrachne). It is a type of strawberry tree. Reaches a height of 5-12 m. The crown is wide, with curved branches. The trunk diameter is about 20 cm. The bark is thin, smooth, reddish or coral, for which the plant received the popular name “coral tree”. In June, the old bark begins to crack and peel off in patches, revealing young olive-green areas. By autumn, the young bark becomes golden, then acquires a pinkish tint, and by mid-winter it turns red again.
Arbutus leaves are ovate, leathery, oblong-elliptic, finely toothed along the edge, up to 10 cm long, up to 6 cm wide, dark green, bluish below. They bloom in May-June. Flowering occurs in April.
The flowers are white or cream, small, fragrant, externally reminiscent of lily of the valley flowers, collected in dense panicles.
The fruits are multi-seeded, spherical, orange drupes with a diameter of 1.5 cm, similar in shape and color. The taste is dry and fresh. They have no nutritional value. Fruiting in June.
In nature, there are about 20 species of small-fruited strawberry.
Spreading
In the wild, the plant is found in Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and Western Asia. Settles on dry limestone rocks at an altitude of 200-300 m above sea level. Cultivated on the southern coast of Crimea, Adjara and Abkhazia.
The crop is drought-resistant, but sheds its leaves when there is a lack of moisture. Grows and bears fruit well in any soil.
Application
Small-fruited strawberry is recognized as one of the most beautiful plants on the planet, therefore it is grown for decorative purposes. It is a valuable crop used in green building.
Its hard, dense wood of a beautiful white hue is used for making crafts.
The fruits are eaten. The berries acquire a sweetish, pleasant taste after they sit for some time. They are used to make jelly, compotes, and jam.
In Ovid's Metamorphoses, the strawberry tree is mentioned several times. Theophrastus wrote about it in his book “Research on Plants”. Twenty species of this genus are native to Western Europe, the Mediterranean, Western Asia, and North and Central America. The plant was depicted on the coat of arms of Madrid as a symbol of fertility. Why was the strawberry a symbol of fertility? The roots of many heathers are braided with fungal threads, and in the strawberry tree, the roots infected with fungi take the form of pear-shaped nodules (mycodomathia), the epidermal cells of which have turned into root hairs. Thanks to the presence of mycodomathia, strawberries, like heathers, can grow on poor, infertile soils, while producing abundant fruit yields.
Red strawberry tree, or small-fruited strawberry(Arbutus andrachne), found in our country on the southern coast of Crimea and occasionally in Abkhazia and Adjara. The generic name was given to the plant due to the external resemblance of the fruit to the false strawberry. They are just as juicy, orange-red, with a finely tuberous surface, edible, and have a powdery, sweetish pulp. The fruits become more tasty after they have been sitting for some time. The aroma of strawberry fruits is not at all the same as strawberries. They are usually eaten with sugar or sprinkled with syrup or liqueur. They are used to make jelly, marmalade, jams and preserves. Birds like robins, buntings, tits, warblers, and blackbirds readily eat strawberry fruits. Clusters of red fruits increase the decorative value of the tree.
The specific name of the red strawberry tree is given because of the characteristic color of the bark. Starting from mid-summer, it undergoes desquamation, and falls to the ground in the form of twisted rolls. After this, the trunks temporarily become olive-greenish, but gradually acquire a “tan”, becoming first grayish, and then yellowish, pinkish, and by autumn they again acquire a characteristic coral-red color, for which the plant is called red strawberry tree, and in common parlance - coral tree. The change in color of the trunk is reflected in the local name of the plant - “resort woman”. In America, strawberry trees are sometimes called “whisperers” because the shedding of bark in places where these plants grow en masse creates a soft crackling and rustling sound.
At the same time, the soil under the trees is covered with red, onion-like peel.
The red strawberry tree looks very elegant: reddish trunks and branches are visible through the lacy emerald green foliage. It can grow for several hundred years.
On Mount Ai-Nikola near Yalta there grows a thousand-year-old tree, the circumference of which is about 4 m.
Strawberry leaves are leathery, shiny, somewhat reminiscent of pear leaves. They are generally elliptical in shape with a pointed tip. However, there are leaves of a different shape: broadly elliptical, almost round, oblong, lanceolate with a rounded or blunt apex. Leaf size also varies greatly, even within the same tree. The average leaf area is 23.3 cm2.
The leaves fall not in winter, but in summer when a dry period sets in, but the plant does not stop photosynthesizing. Simultaneously with the release of old leaves, the thin, up to 1 mm thick, red skin gradually falls off, accompanied by the exposure of a thin layer of living chlorophyll-bearing cells. The green bark compensates for the photosynthetic surface reduced as a result of the shedding of leaves.
The absolute indicators of the intensity of photosynthesis of small-fruited strawberry leaves are low, which is generally characteristic of winter-green plants. Before the leaves of the current generation begin to fall, the intensity of leaf photosynthesis is several times higher than the assimilation activity of the bark, while during the period of mass falling of leaves of the previous generation, the photosynthetic activity of chlorophyll-bearing tissues of the bark of the shoots and trunk increases sharply. Thus, the reduction in assimilation caused by leaf abscission is compensated by increased photosynthetic activity of the bark.
The plant blooms at the age of 20 - 25 years. At this time, its crown is decorated with white, creamy, elegant flowers, reminiscent of lily of the valley flowers. They are collected in large erect paniculate inflorescences. The flowering of one tree lasts about a month. Flowering times vary greatly depending on weather conditions. The small-fruited strawberry is beautiful at all times of the year. This is one of the plants of interest for ornamental gardening.
Special mention should be made of strawberry wood. It is a beautiful whitish color with a brownish tint, hard, strong, therefore in Ancient Greece it was used for the production of weapons. Later, weaving looms were made from it. Of course, the small number of plants does not allow the use of wood for economic purposes. They are grown mainly as ornamental plants.
Strawberry is drought-resistant and light-loving. If shaded by other plants, its trunk bends strongly towards the light. It grows on steep limestone cliffs and dry gravelly slopes, giving cliffs and cliffs a picturesque appearance. Quite often found with other rare plant species: tall juniper, Pitsunda pine.
Once upon a time, the strawberry tree was found quite often in Crimea. Currently, there are only a few thousand mature fruit-bearing trees here, preserved in 20 shelters. Some places where this plant grows have been declared natural monuments. The best preserved natural plantings of strawberry trees are located on Cape Martyan, where young plants predominate (56.5%) with a height of 0.2 - 2 m and a trunk diameter of up to 5 cm. Middle-aged plants with a height of 2 - 7 m account for 35.7%. Few old plants of the red strawberry tree have been recorded - 6.6%, including only 10 towering 10 -13 m. Their age is about 150 years. These figures indicate that with increasing age of plants, intensive self-thinning of small-fruited strawberry plantings occurs. The death of young plants is explained by their instability to external conditions. Experiments conducted in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden in 1929 - 1931 showed that in the case of sowing seeds in a natural environment, seedlings that appear in the spring develop only for some time and die when a hotter and drier period sets in. Apparently, the same thing happens in nature during self-seeding. And only in years with mild winters, when very early emergence of seedlings is possible, do they have time to adapt to drought.
Difficult growing conditions on the northern border of the range determined the life form of the small-fruited strawberry: with age, the trees develop several trunks, which arise from dormant buds at the base of the main trunk and are not much inferior to it in growth. In the protected Martyan grove, small trees 5-6 m high with 2-5 trunks are often found.
The high variability of small-fruited strawberry is manifested not only in the variety of crown shapes (ovoid, elliptical, hemispherical, flag-shaped, irregular), but also in the size and shape of leaves, inflorescences, and fruits.
The number of the species and its range are declining due to logging and changes in living conditions as a result of human activity. The influx of organized and unorganized vacationers into Crimea also creates unfavorable conditions for its growth.
High decorativeness, durability, and the ability to protect slope soils from water erosion - all this requires especially careful treatment of the red strawberry tree. The plant is protected in the Cape Martyan, Pitsunda - Myussersky nature reserve. The Nikitsky Botanical Garden has developed a method for its propagation. Hundreds of small-fruited strawberry seedlings were transferred for planting in Crimean parks.
In the ornamental gardening of the southern coast of Crimea and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, the strawberry is of great interest due to its original appearance. It is good in open sunny places, but is especially effective on rock ledges and steep rocky slopes. Due to the high sensitivity of young plants to cold, strawberries should be grown in warm and protected places. Seeds are sown in boxes shortly after collection, covered with glass on top and placed in cold greenhouses. The emerging seedlings dive in the spring into ridges prepared from lime-clay drained soil, with obligatory shading in the first year. To protect against frost, plants are covered with fallen leaves or pine needles for the winter. Caring for young plants in the first year consists of loosening the soil, watering and shading, in the second year - loosening and limited watering without shading. In the third year, the plants with a clod of soil are planted in a nursery for growing, where they remain for 2 - 3 years. After this, the seedlings are quite suitable for planting in a permanent place.