Mordovnik (Echinops) is a herbaceous perennial from the Asteraceae family. In everyday life, the plant is most often called "echinops", "tartar" and "shootout". Most of the wild plantings of mordovnik are concentrated in Siberia, Western Europe and the Caucasus.
Attracts with peculiar inflorescences in the shape of a ball. Leaves with cut ends and the original shape of the flowers are the main advantages of the herb. In addition, the fragrant honey smell attracts beneficial insects. Mordovnik is also used in folk medicine. Breeding a culture will not take much time and effort, but the result will exceed all expectations.
Description of the plant
Mordovnik stands out against the background of other vegetation with high erect stems. There are one- and two-year cultivated varieties of grass. The root of the rod type is directed deep into the ground. The top of the shoots forks. The surface of the stems is covered with silvery hair.
The leaf lobes are dissected into lobes. Large leaves gather in groups at the bottom of the shoots. The first layer of the blades is petiolate. Above are rare green leaves without petioles. Their length ranges from 10 to 20 cm. Closer to the crown, the plates become smaller. Outside, the surface is glossy and wavy, and below it is densely covered with villi.
The flowering period falls at the end of May and lasts about 3-4 weeks. The tubular buds form a blooming ball that completes the end of the stem. One ball contains from 150 to 400 small buds. Each plant can bloom about 20-30 globular inflorescences. The maximum diameter of the ball is from 3 to 4 cm. The color of the petals is predominantly sky blue or white. The flower is surrounded by a transparent prickly wrapper.
The plant bears fruit with crested achenes covered with a hard glandular skin. The size of one fruit is approximately 0.6 cm.
Types and varieties of mordovnik with photo
190 different species of wild and cultural modifications of the grass belong to the genus Mordovnik. Only ten varieties are cultivated in Russia. Below are some of the most famous flower names.
Ball-headed muzzle (Echinops sphaerocephalus)
Quite a popular type of mordovnik in our area. Straight, hairless stems begin to branch at the top. At the peak of flowering, the bushes are crowned with blue inflorescences-balls, 5-7 cm in diameter. The foliage is presented in dark colors. The leaves are divided into lobes and have thorns at the ends. The species blooms in June or July.
Common Mordovan (Echinops ritro)
The height of the undergrowth barely reaches more than half a meter. The stems are deep green in color and the inner part of the plates contains a hard silvery bristle. The foliage is arranged in the next order. The formation of inflorescences of a blue tint occurs in August. A leg of a white ovary peeps out in the center of the head.
Broadleaf Mordovia (Echinops latifolius)
The length of the stems of the named species is 30-35 cm.Long pile protects the silvery strong shoots. The edges of the emerald leaves are sharp with thorny thorns. The length of the leaves does not exceed 20 cm. The inflorescences are colored in a delicate purple hue. Flowering is activated in May.
Cultivation of a muzzle
To grow a muzzle on the site, use the seed method. Ripe seeds should be well dried. Unripe grains will not sprout. The collected material is stored in a dry place. Seed germination lasts up to 3 years. Sowing is allowed in open ground. The optimal time for sowing is spring or autumn. In spring, seedling development will be slow. Before sowing seeds in the fall, it is necessary to undergo cold stratification. The procedure will protect the seeds from freezing.
Sawdust is added to the material before sowing. The resulting mixture is poured into dug grooves with a depth of 1.5 to 3 cm, observing an interval from one row to another of at least 0.6 m. The soil is carefully leveled from above. Under the snow, the sprouts will feel safe, so there is no need to make a shelter for the site.
Gardeners living in the north prefer to grow mordovia from seedlings. The goal is quite justified for small patches of land. Seedlings start breeding in March. The seeds are sown in containers with peat and sand and watered. The seedling heads break through the soil after a week or so. A transplant to fresh air is done in mid-May, when the frosts recede.
Planting the muzzle
For planting a muzzle, it is better to choose a nutrient soil with a neutral or slightly acidic medium and a loose structure. Dense loams interfere with root development. The plant does not survive the close occurrence of groundwater. At first, there is a build-up of roots and the formation of foliage. After two years, a long stem grows and flower ovaries are formed. The bushes gradually increase in size. Flowering from year to year becomes more dense.
Care of the mordovan
Mordovnik requires care and attention only at a young age. The danger is posed by aggressive weeds and frosty winters. Adult specimens grow independently, without the intervention of the owners. If you do not restrain the active growth of culture in time, it will quickly fill neighboring areas.
Tartar seedlings thrive in open areas, where the sun's rays gently warm the foliage. The shade has a detrimental effect on the grass and disrupts the productivity of vegetative processes.
The perennial is not afraid of severe drought and is able to withstand frosts down to -40 ° C. To protect the long stems from gusts of wind, they are tied to a support. Without support, heavy shoots droop, roll over to their side, or break.
Mordovnik can do without watering. The roots are resistant to heat even when the soil is completely dry. Fertilization is carried out a couple of times a year. In early spring, organic fertilizing is applied under the bushes: manure or rotted foliage. At the flowering stage, the shoot is fertilized with a nitrogen composition, for example, ammonium nitrate.
In order to prevent self-seeding, wilted inflorescences must be cut. At the end of the season, the stems are pruned. The following spring, the overwintered roots sprout green shoots again.
The susceptibility to diseases in the muzzle was not revealed. Except for conditions when there is an excess of moisture in the soil. Then the bushes will suffer from root rot and spotting. Infected plantings have virtually no chance of escape. Sick plants will have to be cut out, and the flowerbed will have to be treated with fungicidal preparations. Pests are not afraid of the muzzle.
Mordovnik honey plant
Echinopsa inflorescences contain a large amount of sugars. Many beekeepers planted cultivated types of grass, since bees from 1 hectare of healthy blooming plantings collect up to 1 ton of delicious fragrant honey. Every year it is possible to get more and more nectar, which is released in any weather.
Honey has a light yellow or amber color, depending on the type of culture, and high transparency.When sugared, a white tint appears. The smell of honey is delicate with a light hint of spices.
The healing properties of the mordovnik
Mordovnik is valued for its medicinal properties and is prescribed for use in case of nervous disorders and high blood pressure. The components of the plant strengthen the immune system. Leaves and roots are rich in the alkaloid echinopsin, which has a similar effect to strychnine. Earlier in official medicine, drugs with this substance were prescribed to patients with impaired motor functions. Now pharmaceutical companies have abandoned their use due to toxicity. However, traditional healers still use flowers and roots to treat a number of diseases. In addition to alkaloid, perennial tissues contain flavonoids, essential oils, ascorbic acid, saponins and steroids.
The collected inflorescences and leaves are dried. Seeds are harvested in the summer. When the plant goes into hibernation mode, extract roots from the soil. Dry raw materials are poured into breathable bags and stored in a dark place. Dried leaves and flowers are allowed to be used no longer than one year, and the roots for two years.
On the basis of the vegetative parts of the shoot, medicinal decoctions and tinctures are made with the addition of alcohol or water. They are taken orally for headaches, to restore reflex functions, relieve epileptic seizures and normalize blood pressure.
The fruit of the scabbard produces oil, which is an excellent remedy for the skin. The components of the oil successfully relieve various inflammations and rashes, stop bleeding, prevent the spread of infection and cure psoriasis. Echinops is used in the fight against multiple sclerosis. Plant preparations block the foci of the development of the disease.
Attention! Medicines with the addition of muzzle can be toxic if they exceed the permissible norm for the body.
Taking medications should always be agreed with your doctor and overdose should not be allowed. Otherwise, muscle cramps and breathing problems may occur. Herbal remedies are prohibited for people suffering from allergic diseases and asthma, as well as women who are expecting a child.
Mordovnik in the garden
The dense foliage and attractive ball-shaped flowers combine perfectly next to other vegetation in the garden. Blue and sky-blue inflorescences of the mordovna create a colorful picture and will not leave your guests indifferent. Since caring for a Tartar is not difficult, the culture is gaining more and more popularity among gardeners. Beekeepers have long been involved in the cultivation of this melliferous plant for honey production. Insects, having barely caught a pleasant aroma, flock from different sides to feast on juicy nectar.
Tall thorny grass species are planted on lawns, behind a flower bed or nearby with a fence. Lower plants are planted next to them. Poppies, lavender, flax, catnip and chamomile can be adjacent to the muzzle.
In the cut, blue inflorescences look spectacular in bouquet compositions. Dried flowers keep their shape well and have an intense color.
