In our article, we will talk about such an interesting plant as the spotted palmate root. Surely you have repeatedly met such a flower in the forest. This indigestible name has one of the most common orchids in our forests.
Locations of the spotted dwarf root
Spotted Rootfoot, or Cuckoo's Tears, is an amazing plant belonging to the orchid family. Currently, it is distributed in the forest zones of Europe, some parts of Asia. As for Russia, such a flower grows in the northwest and north, as well as in the central non-chernozem regions, in the east of Siberia. A favorite habitat is deciduous and coniferous forests with good moisture.
This genus includes about thirty species. Only twenty of them are found in our latitudes. Previously, the spotted palmatocarp was unjustifiably related to orchids. And only in the seventies botanists were able to isolate the plant in a completely separate genus.
Spotted Rootfoot: Description
The ground part of the plant is represented by ordinary lanceolate leaves with parallel leaves and dark purple spots. The stem has a height of fifteen to twenty centimeters, on it is an inflorescence in the form of a brush with a large number of lilac flowers. Externally, the plant resembles a flowering spike.
The root system consists of two nodules, one of which is wrinkled and old, and the second is light and young. Every year a new tuber grows in the plant, and the old gradually dies, giving up nutrients to its peduncle. Spotted rosacea propagates by seeds that ripen from August to September. However, for successful reproduction, the presence of a certain fungus in the soil is required. Then the seeds germinate, but this does not happen immediately, as in other flowers. Small sprouts sit underground for two to three years, and only on the fourth sprout out.
Flowering plants
The spotted dwarf root blooms no earlier than in the sixth or eighth year after germination. Flowering occurs for many years in a row, but sometimes a break for one to two years can be observed. The plant is pollinated by beetles, bumblebees, bees, flies. Most of the flowers form fruits.
In general, the plant loves moist forest soils. Flowering can be observed from June to July. Dark spots on the leaves are better visible at the beginning of the season. Presumably they serve to more accurately capture the sun's rays, which contributes to better evaporation of moisture. This mechanism is extremely important for wet soils.
It was these spots that were once considered cuckoo tears. People believed that the bird grieved over their abandoned children. But why are people so interested in these tears? But the fact is that the ancestors considered the cuckoo of things a bird. Hence the halo of mystery around the mysterious bird.
The fact is that in the distant days of the Little Mermaid week, girls necessarily went to the forest, wove wreaths, and danced. They also turned their songs to the cuckoo. It is no secret that the bird is very secretive, and it is difficult to see it, unless you hear it, so the girls turned to the grass, marked with tears of the bird.
Spotted Rootfoot: Red Book
In principle, palmatocore is quite common, but there are regions where it is on the verge of extinction. In such regions as the Vladimir region, Kaluga, Yaroslavl, Smolensk and Ryazan, the plant is listed in the Red Book.
Perhaps this situation has arisen due to the fact that the spotted palmate (photo is given in the article) is of particular interest in medicine.
Harvesting of spotted rootwort
What is the interest for spotted palmwort? Its medicinal use began a long time ago, ever since people discovered that it was a medicinal plant.
For medical purposes, as a rule, roots-tubers are used. They are harvested precisely after flowering, when a young tuber has already formed. The dug roots must be strung on a thread and lowered for a couple of minutes in boiling water. This is done so that the nodules in the future could not germinate. Next, the threads are hung for drying under awnings, so that direct sunlight does not fall on the roots.
Dry tubers are called salep. Most of them are polysaccharide mann, which forms beneficial mucus. In addition, the roots contain starch, dextrin and other substances.
Healing properties
Salep mucus has anti-inflammatory and enveloping effects. It positively affects the body with intestinal and gastric diseases: ulcers, gastritis, dysentery. Also, mucus can be used to treat pulmonary and bronchial problems, and even with poisoning.
Biologically active substances that have a stimulating effect on the body are located in the tubers of the palmate. Therefore, such a medicinal plant can help restore a person’s strength after operations and diseases. It is for this reason that the spotted palmate root is used in folk medicine.
There is even a legend regarding this interesting plant. And perhaps this is a historical fact ... Persians always took dried orchid tubers on their conquests. So, one such root, eaten with milk or water, is enough for a warrior to be full and energetic all day. True or false, it’s not known for sure. But the fact that tubers are very valuable is an indisputable fact.
To get mucus, it must be isolated from salep. This is done just before use. Salep is crushed and crushed. Then two grams of powder is poured into a glass of boiling water, the mixture is stirred for ten minutes. The result is a homogeneous substance that resembles jelly or jelly. That is why the root in the people is also called the jelly tuber.
Jelly substance is completely tasteless. It is drunk with water or milk before meals. The dose is one teaspoon three times a day.
As for contraindications, they are not. However, it should be remembered that orchids are rare plants, and therefore you should be careful with them.
Palmwort as a garden crop
Spotted Rootfoot is a fairly hardy plant. It tolerates transplantation well. Therefore, such a flower can become a real decoration of your garden. He will not require any special care from you. The plant calmly tolerates even winter frosts. The only thing that palmate root does not like is dry sandy soil. But a shady flowerbed or too wet area is quite suitable for the plant.
As for reproduction, it is not so simple, since the plant blooms only after six to eight years. Orchids generally grow extremely slowly. Nevertheless, the palmtree is a beautiful flower worthy to grow in the garden.
Recipes
Here are a few medical recipes:
- In case of gastric ulcer, salep is prepared as follows: one gram of powder should be poured with a tablespoon of water (only cold), and then boil without stopping stirring. It is constantly necessary to add water in small portions until one hundred milliliters of solution is obtained. Salep is taken one tablespoon up to five to six times a day (always before meals).
- As a stimulant, as well as in the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract or poisoning: five grams of powder is poured into a glass of cold water. The mixture is constantly stirred and added to the liquid. Ten minutes later, mucus should form. It is taken three to four times a day before meals.
- With dysentery and diarrhea: the powder is diluted 1:10 with water, gradually add boiling water and do not stop stirring. Then the mixture is shaken well until a homogeneous mucus is obtained. To this emulsion, you can add a decoction of flax seed. The mixture is used for enemas.
- For potency, the tincture of tubers is taken in a spoon (teaspoonful) twice a day before meals.
Instead of an afterword
Spotted Rootfoot is a beautiful and unusually useful plant. Its valuable healing properties are used in many countries. For example, in Austria, pharmacies are preparing drugs based on Salep for the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract. In Poland and Armenia, the plant is also used for the treatment of respiratory organs, in case of female diseases, chest pains, and intestinal disorders.
Over the centuries, palmatocorne has established itself as a very medicinal plant. And there are good reasons for this. Not every flower has so many useful substances that can restore a weakened body.