Ferns are among the oldest inhabitants of our planet's vegetation.Their history goes back many millions of years, they have seen even the dinosaurs.But today ferns do not lose their significance for the Earth's ecosystem and for human economic activity.It is in this ancient and elegant ostrich fern is a plant belonging to the family of long-term ferns onokleevyh.
This plant is found in great abundance in the European part of Russia, on the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains, Siberia, the forests of the Far East and Trans-Baikal.In the north border of the area of its distribution extends from 61o.w.Of course, ostrich fern, which grows in such difficult climatic conditions, characterized by a high degree of hardiness and unpretentious.
This fern, also called black Saran and "ostrich feather," due to the shape of its leaves, prefers to dwell in damp places in the woods, often found along the shoreline of the Siberian rivers and streams, in thickets of coastal scrub, at the bottom of the ravine, aboutswamps and marshes, wet edges and stone placers.In Europe, the ostrich fern can be found on the Scandinavian Peninsula in the north to Croatia and the mountainous regions of the Apennines in the south.In the twentieth century it was discovered on the slopes of Mount Etna - majestic Sicilian volcano.Also, ostrich fern is widespread in Asia and the Americas.
the Japanese botanists Kato and Iwatsuki Domain carefully study the modern area of habitat of this fern and analyze the morphological similarity of all its varieties, concluded that probably the birthplace strausnika is North America, where it took its origin from the ancient ancestors, thenspread all over the Northern Hemisphere.An indirect confirmation of this is: spore-forming method of its reproduction, the ability to quickly adapt to the toughest weather conditions and unpretentiousness.
ostrich fern - fern having photosynthetic vegetative leaves dimorphic type up to one and a half meters in Europe and up to four - in the Asiatic species.Propagated this ancient plant spores and stolons.His arguments - a sufficiently large size, with a high content of chloroplast, and this is due to their light green color.Strausnik hardly susceptible to disease.But sometimes it marsupials are found infesting fungi taphrina that cause the appearance of dark spots on the leaves.
Unfortunately, the chemical composition of the ancient inhabitants of the planet today is too little understood.So far, nobody in the world seriously this issue is not dealt.It is only known of the contents in its leaves a certain amount of vitamin P, tannins (4.5%), coumarin derivatives (less than 0.35%).The rhizomes detected flavonoids, ascorbic acid and derivatives of phloroglucinol.
ostrich fern (this photo illustrates) has great decorative qualities, which led to its immense popularity among gardeners and designers park complexes.It looks great when you make shorelines of ponds and ornamental ponds.But in the preparation of corresponding compositions should take into account the aggressive nature strausnika which raspolzayas and conquering territory, suppresses other plants.
This fern is also often used as animal feed.The peoples of Siberia in ancient times used it for food and beer brewed from strausnika.Furthermore, it has medicinal value.In the past it was used as a wound-healing agent.It helps with burns, frostbite and various skin lesions.Rhizomes strausnika used in folk medicine in Siberia for the normalization of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, as an antipyretic, soothing and antitussive.
