Lakonosov is a genus of perennial herbs from the Lakonosov family. It includes about 30 species of plants, but in our country the only species is most prevalent - the American lakonos, also known as "phytolacchus." Herbaceous perennial is common in North America and is well established in the temperate climate of Europe and Asia. It forms large thickets with fleshy stems and large leaves. Inflorescences and fruits resemble dense cobs on the tops of shoots. Lakonos is famous for its high decorative characteristics, vitality, and also medicinal properties. You can meet him in parks and gardens.
Plant description
Lakonos is a perennial herb with fast-growing, highly branched shoots up to 3 m high. It has a thickened root system of the rod type. The roots are covered with a light brown rough skin. Shoots branch from the bottom. Erect thick processes are covered with bare dark green or reddish skin. Along the entire length of the shoots, large petiolate leaves of ovoid or oval shape are opposite. The length of the leathery sheet plate is 5-40 cm, and the width is 2-10 cm.
From June to September, large racemose inflorescences 10-30 cm long bloom on the tops of the stems and lateral processes. They are directed upwards and consist of small bisexual flowers. Flowers are painted white or pink. The diameter of the corolla is 5 mm. It has a simple shape and consists of rounded petals, a bundle of stamens and an ovary.
In August, the fruits begin to ripen - juicy dark purple berries with a ribbed surface. Inside each is a kidney-shaped seed up to 3 mm long. It is covered with shiny black skin.
Attention! Roots, the whole aerial part of the lacunosa and unripe berries are highly toxic. Fresh juice causes irritation on the skin, and ingestion leads to severe poisoning and seizures. Therefore, working in the garden with a laconia is necessary with gloves on. You also need to completely restrict access to animals and children. Ripe berries have less toxicity, but eating them is undesirable.
Growing laconic
Propagate the pokeweed seeds. They can be sown immediately in open ground, without even clearing the pulp. Simply distribute the ripe fruits in the fall on the surface of the soil and sprinkle with a small layer of soil. In spring, the grown seedlings thin out. Young plants develop rapidly, but only some of them bloom in the first year. Abundant and friendly flowering is expected after 2-3 years.
In the second year of life, young laconic plants can be transplanted to a new place. The root of the plant goes deep enough and can be easily damaged, so it is necessary to transplant with a large lump of earth for the first 2-3 years.
Planting and care for herbal tea
Lakonos is best planted in partial shade, in a cool place without strong drafts and gusts of wind. In the summer heat, in direct sunlight, the foliage quickly loses turgor and burns. In deep shade, the height of the bush will not be so large. The best place to plant is the area where the sun appears in the morning and evening.
The soil for planting should be light, well-drained and rich in humus. Neutral or weak acidity is optimal. The plant can let out many basal shoots, so it will not be so easy to remove it from the garden. This should be taken into account when selecting a place and placing nearby other plants.
Weed weeding is only necessary for phytoluca during the first 2-3 years. Then it becomes so lush that weeds do not grow under its shoots.
Lakonos loves water very much. It should be watered frequently and plentifully, especially during a drought. However, all the water must have time to seep into the soil, and not accumulate on the surface. Since in just a season, the lakonos grows a huge spreading bush, it needs fertilizers. In the fall, top dressing is performed with complex mineral compounds. In winter, the soil is mulched with fallen leaves, which overwhelms and enriches the earth. During the flowering period, one more fertilizing with mineral compounds is necessary.
Before wintering, all luxurious terrestrial vegetation is cut off. The soil above the roots is covered with pieces of peat, spruce branches and fallen leaves to a height of about 10 cm. The plant is able to withstand frosts down to -15 ° C.
Healing properties
All parts of the plant contain biologically active substances that are used in medicine and homeopathy. Rhizomes are richest in alkaloids; they are more often used to treat skin diseases. The roots and leaves also contain saponins. Fruits and seeds are saturated with ascorbic acid, vitamins PP and group B.
Preparations based on laconic have a lot of useful properties. They are taken with high blood pressure, headaches, kidney disease and radiculitis. Alcoholic infusions and decoctions have an expectorant, anthelmintic, laxative and diuretic effects. When a boil or irritation appears on the skin, compresses from the leaves help to heal faster. Rubbing alcohol tincture of the herb relieves pain and inflammation in arthritis.
They also practice ingestion of alcohol infusion of rhizomes. So treat otitis media, laryngitis and tonsillitis. It is necessary to drink 5-15 drops of tincture daily.
It is important to remember that high doses of laconia and drugs from it are very toxic. The plant causes intestinal upsets, cramps, headaches and dizziness, as well as respiratory arrest and palpitations. Start treatment only after consulting a doctor.
Using laconic
In addition to the medicinal properties, lakonos is widely used in other areas of human life. Its berries have long been used as a natural dye for wool and other types of fabric. From the Greek language the name translates as "varnish", "paint".
Several berries are added to preservation jars to give a tart taste and a pinkish color. For the same purpose, berries are added to wine. Heat treatment reduces the toxicity of the plant, so some people eat young foliage and shoots after cooking. In the flowering period, lakonos is a good honey plant. Honey from it is known for its healing properties. It is very useful and is used to strengthen immunity, as well as the treatment of colds.
Lakonos is beautiful in landscape design. Fast-growing sprawling shoots covered with large leaves do not go unnoticed. It is all the more surprising that the plant is grass. Dense erect inflorescences and ripening berries are also highly decorative. Bushes are planted individually in different parts of the garden, near paths or arbors.
