Field bindweed: description, useful properties and application

Field bindweed - it is almond grass, bitterness, toffee, bindweed and birch bark. It is a weedy herb, however a very beautiful plant, with a thin stem and flowers in the form of a funnel or bell.

And thanks to the tales of the Brothers Grimm, it was called “Glasses of the Mother of God”, according to the legend of the same name, which states that the cabman, without having containers for drinking, was nevertheless able to water the Mother of God, using the opened buds of bindweed.

Botanical Description

Almond grass is a perennial plant with a creeping stalk that can have hairs or be completely bare. In length, the stem can reach 1.2 meters.

The leaves are triangular in shape with long petioles. The flowers of a plant with respect to a thin stem seem very large, up to 3 flowers can be on one peduncle, but, as a rule, one at a time. The color of the buds: white, blue, purple or pink. Flowering occurs during the entire warm season, from April to the onset of cold.

The formula for field bindweed flower is Ch5L (5) T5P (2).

The bindweed has a powerful root system, which very often becomes a problem for gardeners, since it is very difficult to get rid of it. The average root length is 3 meters, sometimes reaching 6.

Breeding

Reproduction of the field bindweed plant occurs by root offspring and seed method. One plant can produce up to 600 seeds. Birch bark prefers loamy and loamy soils, although it can grow in almost any conditions. Flowering begins only in the 2nd year of life.

Due to the fact that almond grass multiplies in all possible ways, it surpasses almost all root-weed weeds. In addition, the plant is a carrier of pests, especially winter worm, which is the first enemy of winter crops.

Habitat

Due to its unpretentiousness, the plant is found in almost the entire south of Russia and the former USSR countries, starting from the 60th parallel. The bindweed does not grow in the north.

It is found on almost all continents, in Asia, America and Africa.

Weed Benefits

Despite the fact that toffee is a weed, the plant prevents mold. Crops that grow nearby are less likely to suffer from fungal diseases. And birch bark stalks can be used as mulch, which in a sense will even have a disinfecting effect and preserve soil moisture.

Control measures, description

Field bindweed is an insensitive weed, which is very difficult to get rid of. All activities are mainly reduced to the depletion of the plant, by constantly cutting underground parts. However, such a technique can only be used in a small area, because if at least a small piece of the root remains, everything will start all over again.

Biological methods include planting of green manure, that is, planting plants that will improve soil quality and suppress weeds.

Naturally, you can use systemic post-emergence herbicides, for example, “Formula”. Field bindweed has a weak sensitivity to this drug, even in comparison with ragweed and knotweed. Therefore, it is wise to use herbicides in cases where the problem is not only with toffee.

You can plant oatmeal or other perennial meadow plants. The main thing is that they have a powerful root system and a thick aerial part.

Benefit

Despite the dislike of gardeners in relation to almond grass, the plant has medicinal properties. Use it as:

• a diuretic;
• painkillers;
• anti-febrile;
• laxative.

Field bindweed will help with enterocolitis and gastritis.

The simplest recipe is when fresh grass is insisted on 70% alcohol. Then use as a diuretic and laxative, consuming 1 teaspoon daily.

Vitamin composition of the plant

Field bindweed is rich in vitamins:

The plant contains convolvulin glucoside, which gives a laxative effect. Birch bark also contains cardiac glycosides and psychotropic alkaloids.

Contraindications

Despite the presence of vitamins, some authors on traditional medicine claim that the plant is poisonous, especially if it is used fresh. Therefore, any treatment with toffee should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

In no case should you use almond grass for pregnant and lactating women. The plant is not recommended for use by children under 12 years of age. Naturally, it is necessary to abandon such treatment if there is an individual intolerance to the plant.

Harvesting for medicinal purposes

For medicinal use use all parts of the plant. Collect field bindweed along with the procedure of weeding crops. Dry the plant in a dry and dark place, which should be well ventilated. If possible, the raw materials can be dried in special machines for these purposes, at a temperature of 45 degrees. Stems and flowers, leaves are collected from June to August, and the roots - in autumn or early spring.

As part of landscape decoration

Almond grass has been widely used in the design of gardens and balconies. Often a bindweed is planted near the fences to create a hedge, especially since the plant grows very quickly, and blooms already in the 1-2 year of life. In this case, the young antennae of the plant are directed along the surface that the plant stem should wrap around.

Decorative views

In our country, most often for the design of balconies and planting in the garden, two varieties are used:

According to the field bindweed, it will be determined how soon the weather will be, if the rain "ripens", then the flowers of the plant close, and open - by a sunny day.