Kukushkin flax: structure and reproduction

Kukushkin flax is a plant that is most common in the Russian Federation in the forests of the northern and middle lanes. Favorable conditions for it are observed in taiga swamped forests-dolmoshnicheskikh, in marshes and on wet meadows. The plant belongs to the genus of leafy mosses, to the moss-like section. On the planet there are more than a hundred of its varieties. Kukushkin flax, which forms podushkoobraznye turf, is often found in the tundra and in the highlands. The most widespread in the territory of the CIS countries was the polytrichum common (the second name of the plant).

Great value of the sun

Kukushkin flax loves the light very much. That is why in dark spruce forests, even if the soil there is damp and fertile, it will be limited in growth and development. With enough sunlight, the plant is rapidly stretched, actively capturing new areas and covering the soil with a dense carpet. The earth under the cuckoo flax dries much slower, which is why its growth gradually leads to swamping of the terrain.

Description

Moss Kukushkin flax is distinguished by rather high stems (their length is 10-15 centimeters, but there are also forty-centimeters plants). The conductive system ensures the movement of water and nutrients along the stem.

origin of name

The described plant has direct stems brownish color. They have small leaves of a dark green hue that resemble flax in miniature. But the boxes that appear on female plants, cause associations with the cuckoo, located on a peculiar pole.

The structure of the cuckoo's flax

The considered plant is referred to as leaf-stalks perennial mosses. Its size is large, in the lower part of the stem there are rhizoids - primitive analogues of the roots. There are no leaves on the primary horizontal stem. The secondary stem can be either simple or branched. It is erect, the average length is within fifteen centimeters. Each leaf has a major major vein. Kukushkin flax, the structure of which is quite simple, has scaly lower leaves.

Functions of the stem

The main role of this part of the plant is supporting. No less important is the conductive ability of the stem. It acts as a link between the leaves and the root system. The stem also performs some secondary functions. Among them is the preservation of the supply of nutrients.

Reproduction and development

The plant reproduces in the following ways: sexual (gametes) and asexual (spores, shoots). They alternate.

How exactly does the kukushkin flax grow? The spores that form the plant are in sporangia (a box) on the stem. After maturing, they get enough sleep from this natural storehouse. Under favorable conditions, spores form a multicellular filament, and from it, in turn, several gametophytes appear (this occurs by budding). A gametophyte is a green long-term shoot that has leaflets and rhizoids (root-like formations). The latter take salt and iodine from the soil. Leaf cells provide the synthesis of all other necessary substances. Based on this, it can be argued that the gametophyte is an independent organism.

After a while, the gametophyte stops growing. Then the cuckoo's reproduction begins. In the center of the rosette of leaves (the arrangement is on the top of the stem), male and female genital organs develop. The first are antheridium (the name comes from the Greek word "anteros", which means "blooming"), in which the mobile gamete - spermatozoa develop, and archegonia - the female genital organs responsible for the formation of the immobile female gamete - the egg.

Male plants are characterized by the presence of larger leaves, painted in a yellowish-brown color. Female specimens do not have such leaves.

At the onset of a rainy period or a flood, spermatozoa (male cells) are able to swim to the egg. As a result, they merge. Upon completion of the fertilization process, a zygote appears (this word originated from the Greek "zygotos", which translates as "connected"). This is the first stage of embryo development. The next year, from the fertilized zygote, a box (sporogon) develops, located on a rather long stem without leaves. In the future, the box becomes the place of development of the dispute. This natural storage is very fragile. It is swinging even from a light breeze. After the dropping of the cap and the fall of spores, sprouting of a green branched filament - a pregrowth - is observed. Note that for a successful result, it is necessary that the spores are in a favorable environment for them, in which case the cuckoo's flax will multiply.

On the pre-matured buds are formed, from which appear female and male plant specimens. Thus, it can be seen that the life cycle of the development of mosses includes a consecutive alternation of asexual and genital generations. In the course of evolution, this feature was developed in many plants, including kukushkin flax.

Reproduction of this type of moss vegetatively makes it easy to get a thick green carpet on the plot. It is enough just to place a small piece of moss in a damp area. However, the ability of this plant to swamp the area of its habitat should be taken into account.

Use for different purposes

If you remove the leaves from the cuckoo's flax, you can get flexible rigid threads formed by the central stems. Our ancestors used this natural material for making brushes and brooms. After soaking and combing, the stems became an excellent base for mats, rugs, baskets and thick curtains. It is noteworthy that during the excavations of the early Roman fort in England, remains were found of baskets made from flax cuckoo. The products date back to 86 AD.

Earlier, Kukushkin flax was widely used in the manufacture of cloaks of warriors and travelers. The garments received were very strong. In addition, they were of decorative value.

Wizards are advised to use this kind of moss to activate the digestive system, eliminate stomach colic and dissolve stones in the kidneys and gall bladder.

Kukushkin flax, whose structure allows you to use it in gardening for decorative purposes, positively affects the soil. So, this plant is able to normalize the acidity of soil for a maximum of two seasons. After that, on the restored soil, you can successfully grow any garden plants. The dead parts of the moss will serve as an excellent fertilizer.

The most unusual version of the use of kukushkinna flax - as malt in the manufacture of whiskey.

Natural insulation

Kukushkin flax is able to effectively protect the structure from the penetration of cold and moisture. Very appreciated is the fact that moss does not rot. Its placement between the log logs makes it possible to provide natural ventilation. For this purpose, the moss is used fresh. Before laying a natural insulation, it must be thoroughly cleaned of twigs, sticks, cones, grass and other inclusions.

Moss sphagnum

This plant belongs to the genus of white (peat) mosses. 320 of its species are identified. Sphagnum is predominantly represented by marsh mosses, which form dense clusters forming either large cushions or thick carpets on sphagnum marshes. But in sparse forests sphagnum is much less common. Kukushkin flax this plant resembles its erect stalk, reaching ten to twenty centimeters in height. The leaves of the sphagnum are single-layered, located on the bundle-shaped branches. The leaves contain many aquifers with pores that actively absorb water. This fact causes a large moisture capacity of the plant. On sites where these mosses appear, swamp bogs develop rapidly.

Every year the stems die in the lower part of the plant. They form peat. Further growth of the stem is provided by the apical branches.

It should be noted that sphagnums play an important role in the formation and existence of bogs. As indicated above, dead moss areas form peat deposits. Peat formation is possible due to stagnant overmoistening, providing moss with acidic medium and lack of oxygen. Under these conditions, rotting processes do not occur, sphagnum does not decompose. Peat is a valuable product, from which wax, ammonia, paraffin, alcohol, etc. are obtained. It is widely used in medical practice, in construction. Moss acts as biofuel and effective fertilizer.

What is useful for sphagnum?

Many recipes for folk and official medicine include this component. And all because moss sphagnum is a wonderful antiseptic and reliable dressing material. It helps to heal purulent wounds due to its ability to absorb a large amount of moisture. According to this index, sphagnum surpasses the best varieties of hygroscopic cotton wool. This moss is capable of producing a bactericidal effect due to the presence of sphagnol, a special phenol-like substance that inhibits the development and vital activity of Escherichia coli, cholera vibrio, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and some other pathogenic microorganisms.

Florists actively use sphagnum for the purpose of growing indoor plants. It is a constituent of the substrate, a mulching layer or performs drainage functions. Moss is not rich in nutrients, but it gives the soil the required looseness. The excellent hygroscopicity of sphagnum is due to its ability to distribute moisture evenly. The presence of sphagnum causes the bactericidal properties of the described moss species, which makes it possible to effectively care for the roots of the main plant, preventing the development of diseases and decay.