Platanthera bifolia (Latin name Platanthera bifolia) is called the type of perennial tuberous herbaceous plants belonging to the genus Platanthera orchid family (Orchidaceae).The second of its name - night violet.
name
The scientific name of this genus comes from the Greek words "a» (platis) and "pollen bag» (antera).The explanation is a special form of the boot at the representatives of this type.Bifolia epithet comes from the Latin language and consists of two words - "two» (bi) and "leaf» (folius).It is due to the characteristic of this plant two large leaves at the base of the trunk.Russian name of this species, "Lyuba", associated with ancient traditions that the roots, tubers of plants (meaning widespread Platanthera bifolia) have special magical properties.We are willing to love potions and love potions.
Distribution
Platanthera bifolia (wild orchid) extended to a fairly large area of Eurasia, its temperate zone.It is found in Asia Minor and Western Europe.In Russia, Platanthera bifolia grows in the European part, the Caucasus and South Siberia.It grows in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, especially on the edges, glades, bushes, sometimes on the meadows.It can be found on subalpine meadows in the mountains of Altai, Caucasus, Sayan.The ecological amplitude of this kind is quite wide.Platanthera bifolia completely indifferent to soil moisture, grows on waterlogged (even with stagnant moisture), and the dry land.Not really demanding it to the acidity and richness of the soil, but is more common on acid.It can carry a substantial shading, though it prefers bright places because here it is better to bloom and bear fruit.
Description
Platanthera bifolia (photo given in the article) is a perennial herbaceous plant, whose height is 20-50 centimeters, with two unshared roots-tubers.There are instances of up to 60 centimeters.Every year, replacing the tuber grows.Basal leaves of the plant (two, rarely three or one) are arranged oppositely on the stem at the base of the stalk, they narrowed that goes into the vagina.Leaf shape blunt oblong-obovate.Leaves reach a length of 22 centimeters, a width - 6 centimeters.Color gray-green, glossy.Stem leaves - one-three, rather small, lanceolate, sessile.
Night Violet: the color
inflorescence of this plant is a rare ear of a cylindrical shape.It reaches 20 centimeters in length, composed of florets (about 8-40 units).The flower has a very strong pleasant fragrance (especially at night or in cloudy weather), he perianth white, slightly greenish at the ends, a corolla simple.All six leaves of different size and shape.The largest of them forms a lip with a thin, slightly curved or straight spur, pointed at the end, obliquely upward or horizontal direction.Its length does not exceed three centimeters.The very narrow lip, a length of 12 millimeters at the base without hillocks.Three leaves perianth close together, they form a helmet, and the remaining two are free.Stamen in the flower is only one, its pollen in the anthers glued together into a ball, called Pollin.Pestle - with a three-bladed snout and lower unilocular ovary.Platanthera bifolia blooms in June and July.It is pollinated by insects.It ripens in July and August.The fruit of the plant is a box that opens six longitudinal slits.The seeds are very small, dustable.
Care Tips
place for this plant should be selected shade to protect it from the scorching sun.For the soil is quite demanding, growing by the poor and the well-fertilized soils.However, the fertilizer will not be superfluous, since, timely dressing promotes better blooming and development.The heatwave require additional watering.Platanthera bifolia well tolerated in the winter and did not need shelter.
Reproduction
this plant is propagated by seeds only.In one fruit contains more than 20 thousand seeds.At one plant, average fruit ripens to 11.Seeds germinate only in the presence of fungi.During the first two to four years seedling is solely an underground lifestyle, and only the third to fifth year, appears on the surface the first sheet.Violet blooms white night about 11 years after germination in favorable conditions, it can happen in the sixth year.This plant can bloom for five or six years without a break, but after a particularly abundant flowering can occur a little break.On average, the plant lives 20-27 years, under favorable conditions, can be longer.Flower buds are laid in the two years before flowering.Pollination is usually carried moths (revelers and shovels), then perianth soon fade.Ripening seeds through half-dvamesyatsa after pollination.Because the seeds are very small and light, propagation occurs even with a slight movement of air masses.Platanthera bifolia is a wonderful decorative plant with a strong flavor.It is very popular among amateur gardeners.However, it is very difficult to breed.Formally night violet is a protected plant, but in fact it is virtually impossible to organize.Flowers Liubka bulk harvested to create bouquets, and this leads to a reduction of its range.
medicinal value Platanthera bifolia
root tubers night violets have medicinal properties.They dug out immediately after flowering or at the end.Select only the young, juicy and meaty.Tubers are usually immersed in boiling water for two to three minutes (so that they do not germinate), and then dried in the shade.The result is a so-called salep.Long since it is used in the preparation of medicines and restorative tonic action.The main reason for causing such popularity salep, is its ability to increase sexual activity.Since ancient times, it has been developed hundreds of recipes for the treatment of impotence with the help of Platanthera bifolia.However, limited resource base of the plant product is not to create a single reliable system of these medicinal plants.Salep has antitoxic and enveloping effect, so it is prescribed for the purpose of detoxification in cases of poisoning by certain toxins, which cause gastrointestinal disorders, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, chronic gastritis, colitis, as well as various intestinal diseases in children.There may also assign and chronic and acute bronchitis.
Traditional medicine
In folk medicine, Platanthera bifolia used as a diuretic, for fever and toothache.Also, this plant is considered a good way to improve people's strength, depleted serious illness, and the elderly.In addition, salep recommended as a means of nourishing broth or grape wine.Traditional medicine uses Liubka for the treatment of female sexual disorders and diseases.Powder from maternal tubers are used as an effective contraceptive.However, Russian healers claimed that long-term use of this tool can cause infertility in women.Tibetan doctors use it to increase the strength of the body.
