Among the most common cereal crops grown in Russia, all known since childhood bushy herb called by the people "arzhanets", "seedling", "raw vodka" or "living stick."This is nothing like the grass family mjatlikovyh - timothy.
Description
plant stalk timothy grows in height from 25 centimeters to half a meter.It is a cylindrical, hollow, upright, rough to the touch, elongated, pointed at the ends of leaf blades of green or gray-green color.The root system is crawling, with short rhizomes.Timothy, whose pictures are presented in the article is the inflorescence in the form of an ear (Sultan), which is very similar to the inflorescence foxtail, but more stringent.Are missing bristles and anthers, unlike anther yellow foxtail - purple.Timothy cross pollinated, using the wind.At the base of the escape of the plant it has another distinctive feature - a thickening in the form of bulbs.Timothy blooms in early summer.Seeds, showered quickly sprout again, forming a lush carpet under your feet, which is resistant to trampling and retains its green color throughout the summer and even after the cold winter.
origin of the name
Timothy has spread throughout nonchernozem Russia.About its use as a cultural plants seeded on burned areas, according to the documents of the Vologda province, dating from the end of the early XVII-XVIII century.Farmers noted the unique characteristics of cereals, does not require special care;light harvesting seeds, stored for long periods in the inflorescence;love timothy cattle who willingly eats not only fresh grass, and the prepared for winter hay.It is thanks to their properties agrokulturnogo the grass has spread in other areas, as well as was taken to another continent.According to one version, the enterprising American farmer Timothy Hanson brought the seeds of this plant to America, where it also has become widespread as a forage crop.By promoting its spread, he achieved commercial success and became officially imported seeds in Europe.Thus, it is returned to the territory of its original habitat, but under a new name - Timothy grass or timothy, immortalizing the name American.
Planting and care
Timothy is haying plant.It is durable, it can be grown in one place for 10 years.The seeds germinate at a temperature of 1-2 degrees Celsius, and at 5 germinated seedlings appear first.Timothy does not tolerate drought - a water-loving plant that can survive even flooding.Given that this herb can withstand bad shading, implanting it better to the plants during the active growth which is shorter.So, timothy perfectly coexists with legumes and clovers.
