The clergyman, or common nyvyanik, is a perennial herbaceous plant from the Astrov family, the largest of all families of dicotyledonous plants, which includes about 33 thousand species distributed throughout the planet. In the article we will tell in detail about wildflowers similar to chamomile.
Etymology of the name. Synonyms
The Latin name of the flower is Leucanthemum vulgare . Comes from two Greek words:
- leukos - translated into Russian as "white";
- anthemon - means "flower".
Thus, the scientific name is closely related to the appearance of a flower similar to a white daisy.
Leucanthemum is the Russian name for the plant. Derived from the word "cornfield", which means a broad treeless space. Given that the nyvyanik grows in open areas of land, it can be assumed that the Russian name of the flower characterizes its distribution.
In the people, this daisy (nyvyanik) is called differently: a whitehead, a navel, a companion, a whitebird, a meadow nivyanka, a romance grass, and whiteflower.
Biological description
A perennial plant grows to a height of 30-80 cm, has a stem root with well-developed lateral processes. On a sturdy stalk on top, there is one flower basket with a diameter of 7-10 cm. Tubular flowers (the so-called center) are always yellow, and marginal (petals) are white.
Depending on the variety, the common cousin may have basal leaves with a rugged edge or elongated stem with a serrated edge.
The fruit of the plant is a cylindrical achene, ripening in September-October after the summer flowering of the leucanthemum.
This species propagates vegetatively or by seed. Differs in frost resistance. Favorable vegetation conditions are good humidity and light.
Chamomile or not?
Amateur gardeners often call the leucanthemum garden chamomile. Of course, the flowers have an external resemblance, but from a botanical point of view, they are only distant relatives, representing different genera.
You can distinguish an ordinary clerk from chamomile by the following characteristic signs:
- the leucanthemum flower is several times larger than the chamomile flower;
- leaves of the companion are predominantly whole, while in chamomile they are cirrus separately;
- the stem of the whitehead is smooth and tall, always with one flower basket, and in the chamomile, the stem is branched and low, with several inflorescences.
Where does the ordinary cousin grow
The species is widespread in Europe, the temperate zones of Asia, is found in North America, has taken root well in Australia and New Zealand. It grows in the European part of Russia, in Siberia and Crimea, as well as in the Caucasus.
The common clerk, described in the article, prefers open sunny meadows, wide forest glades and light forests, gentle slopes and fields. The flower reaches for the sun and does not take root in shaded places.
How to use Leucanthemum
Chamomile-nivyanik is a beautiful plant that gardeners gladly grow on flower beds and personal plots. With its help, landscape designers create bright spots in flower beds, effectively combining white heads with golden lilies, pink chrysanthemums, blue cornflowers and bells, purple petunias.
Artists from nyvnyak make delicate bouquets; they decorate wedding arches, motorcades and halls.
In addition to decorativeness, the common clerk has other advantages. It is widely used in folk medicine and cosmetology, as well as in cooking (exotic salads and seasonings from the stems and leaves of the plant have a characteristic pungent taste that gourmets really like).
Landing and care
Those who want to grow a whitehead in their garden should know some rules:
- the plant prefers non-acidic fertile soils moistened and well-drained;
- responsive to organic fertilizers, which are recommended to be applied before planting at the rate of 15 kg per 1 square meter of area: at the time when the common bud blooms, it can be fed with compost or bone meal;
- does not tolerate shaded areas, needs bright sunlight;
- in a dry summer you need to water the nyvyanik abundantly, preferably in the evening.
The flower propagates by seeds, cuttings or division of the rhizome.
Seeds are sown in early March to obtain seedlings or in September in open ground. The main disadvantage of this method is the lack of guarantees for maintaining the varietal properties of the plant.
For successful cuttings using small basal rosettes. It is noted that cuttings cut in August are rooted best, and plants grow from them strong, with large inflorescences.
The flower is dug up in the spring or in the first 2 weeks of autumn. With a sharp knife, divide the rhizome into parts - delenki. These delenki are instilled into shallow pits with an interval of 30-40 cm and watered. Soon you can expect a whole glade of whiteheads.
Chemical composition and properties
Until now, the composition of the plant has not been fully studied. Scientists have found that the priest is rich in many biologically active substances: flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, tannins, coumarins, inulin and alkaloids. The stems, leaves and petals of the flowers of the whitehead are rich in carotene and ascorbic acid. Fatty oils were found in the seeds.
Application in traditional medicine
We continue the story about the Leucanthemum plant . The photo shows his tenderness and beauty. In addition to decorativeness, the flower has useful properties that healers have long used for the preparation of medicinal potions.
The common cousin has an antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antioxidant, diuretic and anthelmintic effect on the body. Normalizes blood circulation and metabolism. Cleanses the body of toxins, promotes the withdrawal of "bad" cholesterol.
Leucanthemum flowers infusion is used for bronchitis as an expectorant; it is also recommended for douching with such gynecological problems as thrush, irregular menstruation and infertility. Ointment ointments do well with eczema of various etiologies. Sedentary baths from a decoction of leaves and stems of a whitehead help to get rid of hemorrhoids.
It is interesting that the harmless flower has no contraindications, although doctors nevertheless advise caution to use it for pregnant and lactating women, children under three years of age. It must be remembered that the nyvnyak has a mild laxative effect, so it should not be drunk on the road or at work.
How to prepare a medicine from a companion
Preparing the potion is simple:
- Infusion for drinking - 2 large spoons of dried grass with flowers pour a liter of boiling water, boil for 3-5 minutes over low heat, cool. Then strain through a double layer of gauze. Drink 20 g 3 times a day.
- For douching - 2.5 tablespoons pour two cups of boiling water, boil for no more than 5 minutes, cool. Strain very carefully. Use warmly overnight.
- For lotions - a strong decoction is prepared at the rate of 1 tablespoon (without top) of dry raw materials for half a glass of boiling water.
- Alcoholic medicinal tincture - take fresh leaves of a nyvyanik and nettle in equal parts, wash, dry. Grind on a blender or through a meat grinder. Pour the green mass with an equal volume of medical alcohol. Insist 15 days in a dark place. Filter the tincture ready. Take 20 drops twice daily.
- Ointment - Pour 2-2.5 tablespoons of dry grass and meadow chamomile flowers into a saucepan, squeeze out a small tube (50 ml) of baby cream. Put in a water bath for 30-40 minutes, while the drug must be constantly mixed with a wooden spatula. After cooling, apply a thin layer to the affected area three times a day. Store the ointment in the refrigerator.
Harvesting a medicinal plant
Traditional medicine for medicinal purposes uses the terrestrial parts of the plant: stems, leaves and flowers. Raw materials are procured from June to the end of August.
Garden shears cut the stem at a distance of 10-12 cm from the ground. The greens are first crushed, and then dried in the open air under a canopy to protect the raw materials from direct sunlight. Store in glass containers or paper bags for up to two years.
Varieties
More than 20 species include the genus nyvyanik. The most famous of them is the common cousin (L. vulgare Lam). Slightly lesser than it, the marsh nimbus (L. paludosum), the large nimbus (L. Maximum), the Kuril nimbus (L. kurilense) are widespread.
Leucanthemum (flower photo is in the article) is distinguished by a variety of varieties. Hybrids have different heights, diameters and inflorescences.
The most common is May Queen. On a stem 50-60 cm high from the end of spring until the very autumn, a large flower flaunts a diameter of at least 10 cm and two rows of snow-white petals.
Lacrosse is one of the most interesting hybrids. On a low stalk (30-40 cm) is a compact inflorescence, decorated with twisted into a tube petals with dissected tips.
Snegurka, Aglaya and others belong to terry varieties. They have a small flower basket with very short petals.
A low-grade Snow Kep variety is used to design borders.
The Old Kurt variety is particularly decorative: the yellow center of the inflorescence is surrounded by a double row of narrow curly petals.
The original variety of Banana Cream pleases the eye with yellow reed flowers. Gardeners love it for its compact bushes and abundant flowering.
Crazy Daisy's hybrid is also popular. On a high stalk (1.0-1.2 meters), a large flower basket proudly sits. In the flower garden, it goes well with ornamental shrubs.