The Legume family has presented a person a huge number of useful plants. Some of them are used for food (beans, beans, peas), others are excellent honey plants (acacia, clover), others delight the eye with their decorative appearance. But the tuberous rank is a little-known culture in our country, but in New Zealand and the Netherlands it has food status.
This perennial herb has a fairly wide range of growth: Europe, Siberia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Altai, China. It prefers steppe meadows, forest edges and shrubs.
China tuberous: description
The species belongs to the category of apophytes. In other words, this is a plant characteristic of the local flora, but which has switched from the natural environment to agricultural pastures developed by man, arable land as a weed. In height, it easily reaches 30-120 cm. The thin rhizome has large densities of spindle-shaped or spherical shape. The leaves are small (2-2.5 cm long and 0.7-1.5 cm wide), the shape is characteristic oblong-ellipsoid, with semi-arrow-shaped stipules. The rhizome tuberous stem has an ascending, ribbed, prostrate, with characteristic leafy tendrils that help it cling to a support.
The flowers are gathered in loose brushes, a large corolla is painted in a bright purple-red color. Fruits - beans up to 4 cm long, oblong-linear shape, not pubescent.
Chemical composition and properties
The chemical composition of the plant is not fully understood. It is known that the aerial part contains carotene, vitamin C (moreover, its leaves are slightly higher than in the flowers), alkaloids, flavonoids, and organic acids.
It has been clinically proven that the tuberous rank has good expectorant properties. However, it is not used in traditional medicine, only in alternative methods of treatment. The aerial part of the plant is used. The collection time depends on what exactly you want to receive. So, flowers, stems and leaves - July-August, and the roots - September-October. The grass is dried in a cool place, without sunlight, stored in bags made of canvas or paper.
The tuberous rank is actively used in folk medicine of Western Siberia, the Volga region and the Caucasus. As a matter of fact, in those places where it grows in large quantities. Herbal infusion is used as an effective soothing expectorant for bronchitis, inflammation, abscess and pulmonary tuberculosis. It is also known for its use in heart disease.
In addition to the aerial parts of the plant, tubers are also harvested for medicinal purposes. Their decoction is used for colitis, diarrhea, dysentery, in other words, for disorders in the digestive system, intestinal neurosis, belching and cramping.
In Altai, the plant has long been known as a remedy for headaches, helminthiases and the so-called "parent", that is, childbirth injuries.
Food use
As already mentioned, in some countries, along with other legumes, a tuberous rank is grown as a food plant. The root system of the plant forms edible tubers of medium size, reaching a diameter of 3 to 8 cm, and harvest in the fall. Tubers are rich in starch and sugar. They are consumed raw (reminiscent of the taste of radishes), boiled and fried. Many compare their taste with chestnuts. Young leaves of the plant are also used, from which you can make a salad. In Germany, the plant is known as pork bread, earthen almonds or nuts.
Garden cultivation
The proof that the tuberous rank is a universal plant is another aspect of its use - in the garden. Weed, medicinal grass and tuberous plant can become a decoration of the territory. China has characteristic for all bean moth large flowers of a beautiful shade. Spectacular whips can be used for vertical gardening, because they reach 1.2 m in height, or as a background for woody species. In addition to aesthetic beauty, you will also enrich the soil with nitrogen. With all this, care for the rank is minimal. Enough regular watering and support, for which it will cling to the antennae. And if you look at the photo, you will surely be surprised at how the rank harmoniously looks in summer bouquets.