European Cyclophagus is a perennial herbaceous plant, characterized by elegant snow-white flowers, surprisingly reminiscent of stars. Distributed in the tundra and forest zones of North America, Europe, Asia, as well as in the European part of Russia and Siberia.
In its appearance, a
flower with white flowers, having loose leaf plates with a relatively large surface without anti-evaporation devices, reflected the characteristics of plants in shady locations. Being competitively weak, the weekly tree is able to grow in areas with sparse grass cover and is mostly found in spruce forests. At the clearings, in parks and mixed forests, the "white star" should be well looked for.
Weekly European: description
The plant, belonging to the family of primroses, is characterized by a straight thin stalk (about 15 cm in height). On its top are large lanceolate leaves directed in different directions and forming a kind of rosette (whorl). Small sheet plates are placed in the middle and bottom.
The European weeklies received its name for 7 petals and the same number of sepals and stamens, which is a huge rarity in the plant world. 5- and 9-lobed specimens are rare. The flowers are large (about 1.8 cm in diameter), solitary, grow on separate thin pedicels, located in the axils of the upper leaves. In total, a plant can have up to 4 flowers, whose white corollas are clearly visible in the twilight of spruce forests. By the way, bright colors in the coniferous forest are a rare occurrence: sour, linnaea, monotone, minnik, goodyear, some types of wintergreen also bloom white.
When the weeklies blooms
In early spring, the European weeklies is hard to find, since the plant hibernates underground and is hidden from human eyes. In the process of germination, it has a slightly different look: small oval leaves (not at all like those of an adult) are located on a short stem. The latter at the time of flowering (May-June) is noticeably lengthened, the leaves are extended and increase in size.
The flowering process is short enough, only a few days. At its end, snow-white star flowers fall to the ground. By the end of summer, the fruit ripens - a small spherical capsule with small seeds. A small number of fruits are tied, as they are pollinated mainly by flower flies. And since pollinating insects in the coniferous forest are a rather rare phenomenon, and cross-pollination does not occur often - the percentage of fruit that has set is varied from 10 to 26.
Winter preparations
In the autumn meeting, the European weeklies is an order of magnitude ahead of its forest neighbors. Long before its onset, the leaves begin to turn yellow; other plants are still green at this time. By winter, the aboveground part completely dries up, and already does not remind us that in the summer a beautiful flower with seven petals blossomed at this place. Wintering is carried only by underground organs - thin, white, filiform shoots with small tuber-like ends.
The flower with white flowers is unstable, and the next year, thanks to rapidly developing creeping rhizomes, from the thickened ends of which shoots develop, the plant can be found in another place. In other words, the week-end crawls from one place to another, which is similar to many forest herbs.
For normal growth, the weekly cluster needs a fairly moist soil; with a lack of moisture, the plant dies. The octopus is shade tolerant, but grows more actively and blooms in good light conditions. It is undemanding to soil, sensitive to frost.
How is the weekly breeding season propagated?
The plant propagates infrequently by seeds: few flowers turn into fruits, most of them dry out. After opening the capsule, the seeds remain on the peduncle and fall into the soil often after the dead tree has died completely. The seed is characterized by poor germination, and the germination of weak young shoots is often prevented by the surface layer of forest litter. Mass germination begins a year later, in April-May. In natural conditions, the European weekly for the most part reproduces vegetatively - above-ground shoots.
Use of weeklies in folk medicine
Weekly - a plant, all parts of which are endowed with healing properties, appreciated by traditional medicine.
Herbal infusion, which has anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties, is recommended for use in various panaritiums and tumors. This is an effective vomiting and
diaphoretic, for the preparation of which a teaspoon of shredded rootlets of the weekly tree is required to pour a glass of boiling water. Then insist for an hour, strain and take 3-4 tablespoons once a day. Also week-lotion lotions are recommended for wound healing.