Ash (pl jesion or jasień in local dialect of Podhale)

The common ash is one of the tallest trees growing in Poland. It can grow up to more than 20 meters high. The tallest ash in Poland grows in Bieszczady mountains and is already 31 meters high! Obviously, ashes may live for a very long time, often up to 200 or even 250 years old. The ash is very easily recognizable even without any leaves because of its characteristic black buds growing on rather thick twigs. The bark of ash is thick and rough and the tree covers itself with leaves that look a little like the leaves of rowanberry. During falls the ash sheds its green or yellowish leaves without changing their colour. The ash is wind-pollinated and blossoms before growing leaves. Its fruits are known as ‘ash keys’ and grow in bunches. They resemble small nuts with a single wing. They are considered a delicacy by many species of birds and the parrot breeders often feed their pets the seeds of ash.

The common ash grows in the Tatra mountains in the lower montane zone. It thrives on wetlands in riparian forests growing on the banks of rivers. The ash also grows in abundance on Podhale, as for centuries it has been planted by residents nearby their houses. Why is that? First of all, the tall trees sheltered the lower buildings from lightnings. What is more, the ash kept the ground dry and provided people with wood to produce doors, windows, floors, shafts, rungs of ladders and even skis. Finally, after the ash shed its leaves they were collected and used as litter for livestock.

The ash has been in use in practise of medicine ever since the antiquity. It was mentioned by Hippocrates, the father of medicine. The bark of young twigs of ash served as a substitute of quinine and its leaves were used in production of laxatives and remedies for rheumatism and snakebites. The tincture made from the leaves of ash is an aphrodisiac.

The common ash has always been considered to bring good luck and fortune, which is why it is often used for wayside shrines.

Sycamore maple (pl klon)

The sycamore grows up to 40 meters high and its trunk diameter exceeds 1 meter. It is a long-living tree, some of the trees growing in the Tatra mountains are estimated to be about 500 years old. They are an important part of the lower montane zone but they also occur in the upper montane zone, or even on the upper border of tree line. Ever since the ancient times people were very interested in sycamore trees, to which they attributed supernatural properties. The sycamore accompanied men from the moment of their births as its wood was used to create cradles. The ancient Slavs believed that causing damage to sycamore trees would bring misfortune to the perpetrator. In poetry, the sycamore is considered to be the tree of lovers (Laura and Filon).

The sycamore grows in various places. It produces large amount of seeds, which resemble small, round nuts and are provided with tiny wings, that allow them to travel with gusts of wind like tiny helicopters and to reach and spread on lands far away from their mother plant. The sycamore grows its seeds in abundance every second year. If they happen to fall on fertile soil the plant will have a chance to grow to its impressive full-size, however, even if the seeds fall on a barren scree they still do much better than seeds of many other species of trees. Small sycamore plants can grow even in dark places, however, as they grow older they require more light. If many sycamore trees happen to grow in the same place they create sycamore stand (pl jaworzyna). In the Tatra mountains there are many places that were named due to the abundance of sycamore trees, such as Jaworzyna Rusinowa, better known as Rusinowa Polana.

During the fall, the leaves of sycamore trees turn bright yellow, which makes them more easily recognizable.

Young sycamore plants often look like spherical bushes trimmed by a gardener. As in the case of other maples the sycamore tree contains a lot of sugar in its sap and these “gardeners” are in fact deer that nibble at the sweet and nutritious stems of the plants. The flowers of the sycamore trees also contain large amounts of nectar and its seeds are a source of nutrition for many animals, such as bullfinches.

The sycamore wood is of high value. Apart from cradles, it is used to produce furniture, musical instruments and so-called cyrpoki to drink żętyca, which are sort of cups used to drink sheep’s milk whey.

Fir (pl jodła)

The fir are large, long-living conifer trees. In a friendly environment they can grow up to 50 meters high, as it is in the case of the tallest fir in Poland, which grows in the Fir Forest (pl Puszcza Jodłowa) in the Swietokrzyskie mountains. However, the firs that grow in the Tatra mountains do not reach such sizes due to the harsh climate conditions. As a species the fir thrives in high air humidity and temperatures a bit higher than other conifer trees, which is why it is most often found in the lower montane zone. However, in some cases the fir are found growing on much higher grounds, even at the height of 1400 meters above the sea level, though the trees are much smaller there.

The fir have a strong and deep-ranging root system, which makes them more wind-resilient than, for example, a spruce. It is easily noticeable in windfalls, where among the fallen spruce tall firs stand undamaged. In such cases the trees have characteristic ‘crowns’ at the top, which are created by strong gusts of wind.

The fir grow in symbiosis with some fungi, which help the trees collect water and mineral salts from the soil. The most characteristic of the fungi is saffron milk cup (pl mleczaj jodłowy).

The needles of the fir are softer and flatter than those of the spruce. The bottom side of the needles is characterized by two bright stripes, which makes them more distinguishable from the similar needles of the yew-trees. The cones of fir are quite big (up to 20 centimetres of length) and grow up vertically on the branches. Once the seeds are ripe, the cones fall apart leaving only their cores on the branches. The seeds are small and provided with a tiny wing, which helps them reach grounds far away from the mother tree.

Unlike pines or spruces, the small fir plants grow well in shade. They can vegetate sheltered by other trees up to few decades with low annual growth, waiting for strong wind to overthrow the trees that block their sunlight. Once the trees have fallen the fir immediately springs up and soon becomes the tallest tree around for a very long time.

The fir have many enemies in the forest. The deer nibble at the twigs of the small plants and the bigger ones have their bark eaten, which causes injuries that can get infected with various pathogens, which in consequence leads to many diseases among the trees. The fir are also sensitive to air pollution. In the Tatra mountains it was remarkably noticeable during the 80s. and the 90s. when the air circulating above the mountains was much more polluted than it is now.

For men, the fir have many uses. Its wood is used in constructions, though to less extent than the wood of spruce – that is because the latter contains much less resin in it. The fir wood is used in production of furniture and its twigs are collected for decoration purposes as they are used in creating of both funeral and Christmas wreaths.

Relict Pine (pl sosna)

In a friendly environment the pine can grow up to quite impressive height. If there is a lot of open space around the tree, it becomes very wide, however, if it is planted among other trees it grows tall and slim. Because of its taproot the pine holds its ground very strong. Its branches are decorated with rather long needles, growing in twos in spurs. The pine blossoms in May, when the buds turn into a new generation of needles. It has both male and female flowers. The female flowers later grow into cones and the male ones produce pollen in May in such an abundance that sometime people seeing it on their cars are afraid of sulphur falling from the sky. The seeds of pine are hidden in its cones. The seeds are small and provided with a tiny wing, which allows them to travel great distances with the winds. The seeds mature during the fall, however, they are no released until the following spring, unless the cones are forcefully opened by hungry animals. The pine cones are highly appreciated by squirrels, crossbills and great spotted woodpeckers. The latter ones are capable of wedging the cones in the crevices of the bark and splitting them open with their bills. Such process of feeding, characteristic for woodpeckers, is known as the forge.

The pine grows in symbiosis with various species of fungi, for example bolete mushrooms.

Even though it is the most common tree growing in Poland, in the Tatra mountains there aren’t that many of them. The ones that grow there are mostly called relict pines. Why is that? Well, they appeared in the Tatra mountains at the end of the last glaciation and together with the other pines (arolla pine and mountain pine) they dominated every place reached by their seeds. They grew without any problems since there were no other trees tall enough to block their much needed sunlight. After some time other species of trees, such as the spruce, fir and beech, started growing in the Tatra mountains as well. Soon they began replacing the pine by blocking its saplings’ sunlight. Finally, the pine survived exclusively in places where the other trees could not, which is on montane rocks. The pines growing in such places live up to 500 years! Apart from the Tatra mountains, the relict pine also grows in different places. One of the most well-known examples is the famous pine growing on Sokolica in Pieniny mountains.

The pine is very beneficial for people. Its needles and buds are used in production of medicines and its resin in production of turpentine. We also use the pine wood for various purposes, starting from the production of cellulose and furniture, through construction of houses and ending with making coffins.

On the other hand, the relict pine is not used by men because it grows in places that are difficult to reach and because its low annual growth. The relict pine’s needles are a bit shorter than other pines’ needles and its branches are often twisted. Still, the species is not only important for the ecosystem, but it is also a living piece of the Tatra forest’s history.

Spruce (pl świerk or Smrek in local dialect of Podhale)

The spruce is the most common conifer tree growing in the Tatra mountains. Its needles are quite short and sharp and its cones grow downwards (in contrast to the firs – their needles are softer and their cones grow upwards). The cones contain the seeds of spruce, which are small and equipped with wings, that allow them to spread with wind on high distances. The seeds are spread even further on the account of the birds, that feed on them and lose some of them on the way to their nests. The red crossbills are especially fond of the spruce seeds. The bird uses its characteristic curved bill in order to hull the seeds from the cones. The spruce seeds are also a delicacy for the coal tits and for the squirrels.

The spruce grow in the lower montane zone among other species of trees, however, they have also dominated the upper montane zone. On the upper border of the forest (about 1500 – 1550 meters above the sea level) the spruce fight for survival. Their enemies are the difficult climate conditions and mountain pines. At this height the spruce are rather small and often very old – some of the trees are even few hundred years old. In most cases, the spruce growing at such height have no branches on the wind side. A lone specimens of the spruce may be found even at the height of 2000 meters above the sea level, however, in the form of small, vegetating and deprived of seeds bushes. In the gullies, the spruce are often broken because of the avalanches.

The spruce thrive on shallow, mountain grounds because of their short, yet vast root system. The saplings often grow on fallen trunks of old, decaying trees. If that happens, after some time the old trunk falls apart and the water washes away its remains making the spruce look like it was placed on the stilts made of the roots that were once growing inside the old trunk. The spruce growing on the grazing lands are spherical in shape because of the sheep, that nibble on their twigs. Once the spruce grows tall enough so that the sheep cannot reach it, the trunk springs from the spherical bush. This phenomenon is known as the grazing form of the spruce.

The spruce is not as wind-resilient as other species of trees. It is also more prone to pest attacks. Every few decades vast patches of the spruce forests are fallen by the wind and infested by the parasitic fungus armillaria and by the European spruce bark beetle. The beetle infest the spruce in May. Female beetles crawl under the bark and form corridors by eating their way through the bark. Then they lay eggs in the corridors and the larvas continue to eat through the bark. Once they are mature they hatch out and move on to the next tree to lay a new generation of eggs. Up to three generations of the beetles may hatch during a single summer. The spruce fight the pests by filling up the corridors with sticky resin, however, if there are too many beetles eventually the tree runs out of sap and withers. Fortunately, not all of the fungi are enemies of the spruce. It coexists in symbiosis with many species of fungi, such as the false saffron milk cap and edible boletus, which form mycorrhiza in its roots.

The spruce wood is an excellent material for constructions. It is used in production of beams and planks, but also of musical instruments and cellulose.

The spruce is also an important part of the folklore. Generally, it is believed to bring good fortune. People used to plant the tree next to their houses, as it was supposed to protect the residents from witchcraft and diseases.

Swiss pine/arolla pine (pl limba)

The same as in case of the relict pine the swiss pine appeared in the Tatra mountains at the end of the last glaciation where they benefitted from their unrestricted access to the sunlight. Over the course of time the pines were displaced by other species of trees, previously growing in lower montane zones. Since the pine was more climate resilient it managed to continue growing at the upper border of the tree line, where the more expansive spruce simply could not because of the cold and the winds frequently occurring in that area. In the end the swiss pines, along with the larches, have completely dominated the upper border of the forests.

The deep-ranging root system of the swiss pine makes it resistant to wind and thanks to its taproot the avalanches pose no threat to it either. The arolla pines can also sustain very low temperatures and lightning strikes, because the taproot also serves as the ground. Still, as the swiss pines is relatively often struck by lightnings it is not recommended to seek cover under their branches during a storm.

The needles of the swiss pine grow in spurs of five. Its cones are quite big and full of relatively heavy seeds, which are usually spilled and spread by hungry animals. Such a way of spreading the seeds is called zoochory. The seeds of the swiss pine are mostly spread by the spotted nutcracker, however, other birds, like jays, and even mammals, like squirrels, also participate in the process. The animals feed on the seeds of the arolla pine, but also collect some of them for the winter. In some cases those stashes are left untapped for various reasons, like when the animal dies before it has a chance to use it. If that happens the seeds get their chance to sprout; it often happens in weird places, such as crevices of a boulder. The seeds of swiss pine contain large amounts of proteins and fats, which makes them a good source of nourishment even for the big animals, such as bears. The seeds are also edible for men. In Syberia the seeds of the arolla pine are known as the pine nuts.

The swiss pine wood is very valuable. It is used in woodcarving and in production of furniture. The smell of the wood protects the contents of chests from clothes moths and other pests that cause damage to fabrics and paper. The swiss pine was also used in production of medicine. The species is now scarce and protected, as it used to be cut down so much that it came to the brink of extinction. Fortunately, ever since it was listed as an endangered species and put under protection the population of the swiss pine trees is systematically rising in both Polish and Slovakian National Parks.

Larch/European larch (pl modrzew/modrzew europejski)

The larch is the only conifer tree that sheds its needles before the winter. The species has a strong connection to the wind – its flowers are pollinated by the wind and once the tiny seeds fall out of small, spherical cones they are spread by the wind as well. The larch is wind-resilient due to its deep-ranging and vast root system and because once it sheds its needles during the fall its branches become less resisting to the wind. That is why the larch often survives the windfall when trees of other species don’t. The larch can grow to substantial sizes and live even for a couple hundred of years.

Like the pines, the larch is photophilous. It doesn’t like shade nor places ‘crowded’ with other trees. The tree grows in symbiosis with some species of fungi, such as the Suillus grevillea, also known as the larch bolete or the Suillus cavipes, which grows exclusively in the vicinity of larches. Sometimes other boletus, typically growing around the pines, may also be found in the vicinity of larches. The fungi help the trees collect water and mineral salts from the soil.

The larch wood is used in the constructions and production of furniture. Because of its high content of resin the larch wood is time-resilient and moisture-proof.

The larch is known in local dialect of Podhale as świerk (the spruce), while the spruce in called Smrek. Slovakians on the other hand call the larch smrekovec.

Over the course of history the larch used to save people from famine, as people used to mix its edible pulp and phloem (parts of the tree situated between the wood and the bark) with bread. Of course, the pulp and the phloem were dried and crumbled first. People used to eat larch manna as well. The so-called manna of Briancoco is a white substance that forms at the ends of the larch needles.

The larch is also an important part of folk customs as its twigs are used to decorate houses for various celebrations, such as the Pentecost.

BUSHES: MOUNTAIN PINE, COMMON JUNIPER, ALPINE ROSE, BLACK-BERRIED HONEYSUCKLE

Mountain pine (pl kosodrzewina/kosówka)

The mountain pine is an essential part of the Tatra mountains’ ecosystem. The mountain pines form separate montane zone situated between the upper tree line and the fells, although they sometimes grow in places higher and lower than that. Apart from the mountains the mountain pine also grows at peat bogs. Its branches are similar to the ones of the common pine, but they grow wide instead of tall. They are twisted, flexible and thick with needles sprouting in twos. Like the common pine the mountain pine stores seeds equipped with wings in small cones. The seeds of the mountain pine are a delicacy for many species, including the red crossbill, which is equipped with a curved bill fit specifically for opening the cones. The mountain pine can be crossbred with other species of pine as they are closely related. The mountain pine lives in symbiosis with the same species of fungi as the common pine, so they are often surrounded with bolete mushrooms.

The mountain pine can grow in both calcareous and granite soil. It can sustain extreme climate conditions, however, similar to the other pines, it requires lots of sunlight and suffers from thick snow caps. In the zone of the upper border of the treeline the mountain pine competes against the spruce. The spruce groves cause the snow to accumulate, which is bad for the pine. On the other hand, the flexible mountain pine can sustain the avalanches that break the spruce.

In the past the mountain pines were often burnt down by men to create open spaces for the pastures. The mountain pines were also used as the firewood and in production of balms. Nowadays the population of mountain pines is once again rising, since there are no pastures above the upper treeline anymore.

The mountain pine grows in the Tatra mountains in clean air, however, it has high tolerance for the pollution, which is why it is sometimes planted in the cities as a decoration. The pine is also used to stabilize the grounds that are prone to erosion.

According to some old legends the mountain pine used to be a full-sized tree, however, ever since the tree allowed for its wood to be used to make the cross for the Passion of Christ it has to crawl twisted on the ground. A twig of the mountain pine is also a part of the coat of arms of the Tatra National Park.

Mountain juniper (pl jałowiec halny)

The juniper is associated mostly with the tall bush covered with very sharp needles. However, in the Tatra mountains (and other mountain ranges) there is a subspecies of the bush that has more prostrate form and much less sharp needles. It is called the mountain juniper. Like the common juniper the mountain juniper grows in the lower montane zone, however, unlike other junipers it may also be found above the upper tree line. It grows in the soils that are low in calcium. The mountain juniper grows in patches that serve as home for various rodents and invertebrates.

Like other junipers the mountain juniper keeps its seeds hidden in the so-called juniper berries, which are cones that look like berries. Each elongated juniper berry contains three seeds. The berries mature for two years. During the first year they are green while in the second year they become darker. The juniper berries are a source of nutrition of many birds, such as the fieldfare, and rodents. After the berries are eaten the animals spread their seeds.

Alpine rose/mountain rose (pl róża alpejska)

Every rose has its thorns, however, the alpine rose keeps them only on the lower part of its stem. It is a bush that grows in the montane zones and among the mountain pines. The mountain rose can grow both in calcareous and granite soil.

During May and June the bush grows fragrant, dark-pink flowers with yellow pistils and orange stamens. At the end of summer the flowers turn into fruits that hang on the thin twigs of the bush. The red ‘fruits’ of the rose are in fact receptacles surrounding the proper fruits of the rose – its seeds which have a form of tiny nuts.

Such a beautiful plant couldn’t be overlooked in poetry. At the beginning of the 20th century Polish writer Zofia Urbanowska wrote a novel titled Rose with no thorns, which takes place in the Tatra mountains. The characters of the novel are looking for the title plant.

Apart from the roses growing in the Tatra mountains the alpine rose is also cultivated for the purposes of production of cosmetics. Its seeds are used to make an oil, which an essential ingredient of moisturizing creams.

Black-berried honeysuckle (pl wiciokrzew czarny)

The honeysuckle is a bush that can grow up to two meters tall. It grows in wet and fecund parts of the lower montane zone forests, often accompanied by the spruce, willows and grey alders, as well as in the upper montane zone, where it is surrounded by rowan trees and the spruce. In Poland the black-berried honeysuckle grows, apart from the Tatra mountains, in the Sudetes and other ranges of Carpathian Mountains.

The honeysuckle grows accessory fruits that resemble the blackberries, however they are very poisonous and should not be eaten by people, though some species of birds do feed on them, which helps the honeysuckle spread.

The black-berried honeysuckle blossoms in May. During that time it is covered with bright flowers that attract bees.

There is also an interesting species of moth that feeds on the leaves of the honeysuckle. It is called the hummingbird hawk-moth and it can pollinate the flowers of martagon lilies while hovering next to it, just like a hummingbird.