Fingerbreads spotted: description, photo

In this article, we will tell you about such an interesting plant as the spotted spotted finger. Surely you have repeatedly met in the forest such a flower. This indigestible name has one of the most common orchids in our forests.

Places of growth of finger-spotted patchy

Fingerbreads spotted, or cuckoo tears - this is an amazing plant belonging to the family of orchids. Currently, it is widespread in the forest zones of Europe, some parts of Asia. As for Russia, this flower grows in the north-west and north, as well as in the central non-chernozem regions, in the east of Siberia. A favorite habitat is the deciduous and coniferous forests with good moisture.

This genus includes about thirty species. In our latitudes there are only twenty of them. Earlier, the spotted finger was unjustifiably related to orchis. And only in the seventies botanists were able to distinguish the plant in a completely separate genus.

Fingerbread spot: 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 lot of lilac flowers. Externally, the plant resembles a blossoming ear.

The root system consists of two nodules, one of which is wrinkled and old, and the second - light and young. Every year a new tuber grows in the plant, and the old one gradually dies off, giving off useful substances to its peduncle. The finger-root seedlings multiply, which ripen from August to September. However, successful reproduction requires the presence of a specific fungus in the soil. Then the seeds germinate, but this does not happen immediately, as with other flowers. Little bunches sit under the ground for two or three years, and only on the fourth sprout outward.

Flowering plants

Blossomed palmate buds are spotted not earlier than in the sixth-eighth year after germination. Blossoming occurs many years in a row, but sometimes there may be a break for one or two years. The plant is pollinated by beetles, bumblebees, bees, flies. Most of the flowers form fruit.

In general, the plant likes 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 closely capture the sun's rays, which contributes to better evaporation of moisture. Such a mechanism is extremely important for moist soils.

It was these spots that were once considered cuckoo tears. People believed that the bird grieved over its abandoned children. But why were people so interested in these tears? And the fact is that the ancestors considered the cuckoo to be a bird. Hence the halo of mystery about the mysterious bird.

The fact is that in distant times on the Little Mermaid week, the girls necessarily went to the forest, wove wreaths, drove roundels. They also directed their songs to the cuckoo. It's no secret that the bird is very secretive, and it's difficult to see it, except to hear, so the girls turned to the grass marked with tears of a bird.

Fingerbreadth spotted: Red Book

In principle, the palmary root is quite common, but there are regions where it is located 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 is due to the fact that the spotted spotted finger (photo is given in the article) represents a certain interest in medicine.

Harvesting of the spotted finger

What is interesting for people palchatocorennik spotted? Its use for medicinal purposes began long ago, ever since people discovered that this medicinal plant.

For medical purposes, as a rule, root-tubers are used. They are collected after flowering, when a young tuber has already formed. Dug roots should be strung on the thread and lowered for a couple of minutes in boiling water. This is done to ensure that the nodules can not subsequently germinate. Then the threads are hung to dry under the awnings, so that the roots do not get direct sunlight.

Dry tubers are called a salep. In them, a large part is the polysaccharide of mann, which forms useful mucus. In addition, the roots contain starch, dextrin and other substances.

Healing properties

Slime of the salepa has an anti-inflammatory and enveloping effect. 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 when poisoning.

In the tubers of the palmy root patchy are biologically active substances that have a stimulating effect on the body. Therefore, such a medicinal plant can help restore a person's strength after surgery and disease. It is for this reason that the spotted finger is used in folk medicine.

There is even a legend about this interesting plant. And perhaps this is a historical fact ... The Persians always took dried orchid tubers in their aggressive campaigns. So, one such root, eaten with milk or water, is enough for the warrior to be full and energetic all day long. True or just a legend, it is not known. But the fact that the tubers are very valuable is an indisputable fact.

To get mucus, it must be isolated from the slele. This is done before the very use. Salem is crushed and pounded. 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 kissel. That's why the root in the people is also called the kiselnym tuber.

The jelly is completely tasteless. It is drunk with water or milk before meals. The dose is one teaspoon three times a day.

As for the contraindications to the application, there are none. However, it should be remembered that orchids are rare plants, and therefore they should be neat with them.

Fingerbread as a garden crop

Palchocotensis spotted is a fairly hardy plant. It tolerates transplant well. Therefore, such a flower can become a real decoration of your garden. He will not ask you for any special care. The plant calmly endures even winter frosts. The only thing that does not like the palatine root is dry sandy soils. But a shady flower bed or a too wet plot will be suitable for a plant.

As for reproduction, it's not so simple here, as the plant blooms only after six to eight years. Orchids generally grow extremely slowly. And yet, the palmary root is a beautiful flower, worthy to grow in the garden.

Recipes

Here are some medicinal recipes:

1. With peptic ulcer of stomach, 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 always necessary to add water in small portions until one hundred milliliters of solution is obtained. Salep take one tablespoon to five to six times a day (always before meals).
2. As a stimulant, as well as in the treatment of 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.
3. With dysentery and diarrhea: the powder is diluted 1:10 with water, gradually add the boiling water and do not stop stirring. The mixture is then shaken well until a uniform mucus is obtained. To this emulsion can be added decoction of flax seed. The mixture is used for enemas.
4. For potency tincture of the tubers take a spoonful (tea) twice a day before eating.

Instead of an afterword

The spotted patch is a beautiful and unusually useful plant. Its valuable medicinal properties are used in many countries. For example, in Austria pharmacies are preparing preparations based on the salep for the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract. In Poland and Armenia, the plant is also used for the treatment of respiratory organs, with female diseases, chest pain, intestinal disorders.

For many centuries, the palmary root has established itself as a very healing plant. And to that there are good reasons. Not every flower has so many useful substances that can restore a weakened organism.