Trees and shrubs are able to clean the air not only from pollution. Some of them contain volatile and essential oils that inhibit the development and destroy pathogens, bacteria and viruses in the surrounding area. Such plants include conifers.
Fir
It is distinguished by large cones that grow vertically, and resemble candles on a New Year tree. The height of the fir can reach 40 meters. The coniferous trunk has a cylindrical trunk and pale yellow, almost white wood.
Fir bark is smooth, painted in gray. On its surface thickenings of different sizes may form, which are ducts of resin. They contain resin, which is often called "fir balsam."
Fir branches are thin, densely covered with needles. In the lower part they can reach a length of 10 m. In the absence of interference, they grow in different directions and fall low to the ground. Very often take root and form a fir dwarf.
At the ends of the branches, oval or rounded buds are formed. They are covered with scales and a thick layer of resin. The fir flowering period begins in late spring. Cones ripen all summer, and fall when they fall.
Fir needles and bark contain a large amount of essential oil, rich in camphene, organic acids, bisabolene and camphorene. The largest number of beneficial compounds is released in May and September.
Thuja
Thuja is the most popular coniferous plant, known for its decorative and medicinal properties. It is often called the "vital tree."
The homeland of thuja is North America. The tree belongs to centenarians. Life expectancy may be 200 years.
It is a tree or shrub with a crown of horizontal, spherical, columnar or creeping shape. Thuja branches are covered with small, soft needles, which eventually takes the form of scales. The needles are dark green. With the onset of winter, their color changes to brown or brown. Cones have an oblong or oval shape. Inside them are flat seeds.
Thuja needles contain a large amount of essential oils, tannins and resins.
Pine
The most common coniferous plant, characterized by rapid growth. The tree has a lifespan of 600 years.
Pine has a thick branched trunk, covered with bark with deep cracks. The branches are thick, arranged horizontally and form a dense conical crown with several tops. Pine needles are long, soft, pointed, painted in saturated green. The needles are arranged in pairs and reach a length of 7 cm. When the tree reaches 60 years of age, it begins the flowering period.
Pine needles and bark contain essential oils, carotene, vitamins, and organic acids. Resin and phytoncides improve and purify the air. It is not by chance that sanatoriums and dispensaries are placed in places where the plant grows.
Juniper
This is an evergreen Cypress family native to North Africa. It can take the form of a tree or shrub up to three meters high. In household plots, juniper is grown as an ornamental and medicinal plant.
The conifer has long, well-branched shoots with a crust of red-brown color. It is densely covered with needle needles up to one and a half centimeters long. Flowering shrubs begin in May. The flowers are small and nondescript. In their place, bluish-black cone fruits are formed, coated on the outside with a waxy coating.
Cones contain fruit sugar, glucose, resins, ascorbic acid, essential oils, volatile, wax, tannins. They are used to treat diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and are used as a disinfectant and diuretic.
Spruce
The height of this coniferous tree can reach 30 m. The plant has a straight, slender trunk covered with rough gray bark. In some places, it has cracking, through which smudges of resin are clearly visible. The trunk is difficult to distinguish, since it is covered with branches to the very bottom.
The needles are painted in dark green color, short, up to 2 cm long, has 4 sides. It remains on the plant for 10 years. Adverse environmental conditions can shorten the life of needles up to 5 years.
Dense cones ripen in late autumn. They have a cylindrical shape and reach a length of 15 cm.
The plant produces a large number of volatile, which can destroy harmful microorganisms within a radius of several kilometers.
Cypress
The plant is grown not only in personal plots, but also at home. In nature, it grows in regions with a tropical and subtropical climate.
Cypress is a tree with a straight trunk and a pyramidal crown or a sprawling undersized shrub. Branches of cypress are soft and thin, grow vertically upward, tightly pressed against the trunk. They are covered with small dark green leaves that look like fern leaves.
Young plants have needle-shaped leaves, like most conifers. With age, they become like scales. Cypress fruiting with small round cones, painted in grayish brown.
The bark and fruits of the plant contain aromatic carbohydrates, alcohols, essential oils and resins. They are used as an antiseptic and disinfectant for the destruction of pathogenic microflora, as well as for the treatment of skin diseases and viral infections.
