Orchis (Orchis) belongs to herbaceous perennials from the Orchid family, capable of ennobling the garden with its unique decorative effect. People can hear such names of the flower as "dog tongues", "core" or "wild orchid". The distribution area is concentrated in a temperate climatic zone. The orchis is able to grow even in cold regions. The plant is taken to forest edges or located near damp foothills.
In addition to the beautiful flowering, the yarp plant has many useful properties, therefore, for a long time, the wild plantings of the flower were destroyed and used for selfish purposes. Now the orchis is included in the list of endangered representatives of the flora. Some gardeners, trying to preserve such rare species in nature, prefer to grow cultivated varieties of orchis on their own plot.
Orchis: plant description
Perennial orchis is included in the list of names of the Orchid family. The nutrition of erect stems is provided by the nodule rhizome, which consists of paired cuttings. The height of the bush reaches from 10 to 50 cm. The lower part of the stem is hidden under the cap of leaf rosettes. Leaves are sessile, oval. At the top of the bush, the plates have a petiole bottom. The color of the foliage is presented in olive green tones, there is a barely noticeable spotting.
At the end of summer, the stems begin to elongate and become simple peduncles containing dense inflorescences-spikelets, the size of which does not exceed 9 cm. The flowering orchis resembles an orchid. The color of the flowers is pink or dark burgundy. The upper tier of leaves forms a "helmet". As for the lower plates, they are woven into a three-lobed lip, covered with black dots. The aroma of the plant during flowering is vanilla-honey, which attracts insects to feast on delicate pollen. Flowering of one bud lasts from 7 to 10 days. Further, the seed pods, filled with tiny dark grains, ripen.
Growing an orchis
Most of the orchis species are grown using seeds. If the local climate is stable and favorable, the plant reproduces by self-sowing. The only condition for successful self-seeding is the presence of special mushrooms in the soil. Gardeners recommend taking the soil from the place where the orchis used to grow. It's about wild plantings. Sowing is allowed throughout the year. The seeds are first sown in a container containing a nutritious moist substrate.
Then the container is wrapped in polyethylene and left in a bright room at room temperature. The emergence of seedlings takes a lot of time. Sometimes it will take 30-90 days for germination.
The pick is done in separate pots when the seedlings acquire a couple of leaves. It is important to preserve the earthen ball during transplantation, otherwise there is a possibility that the fragile nodules will be damaged.The seedlings are kept in greenhouse conditions, arranging for the seedlings daily hardening for several hours. It is recommended to plant orchis in open ground only at the end of May, after the spring frosts have passed. The transplant interval is observed from 10 to 15 cm.
Another method of reproduction is nodule breeding of orchis. At the end of the season, after the ground part of the bush wilts, the stems are cut off, and the tubers are carefully dug up and divided into parts. Delenki are seated in different pits along with an earthen clod from the previous place where the orchis was grown.
This breeding method is allowed during the summer months. For the first time, the tubers are separated during the formation of spikelets. The main thing is to carefully remove the roots of the plant. A damaged rhizome will not produce healthy seedlings. Subsequently, the separation is done again a month later. The separated tuber is transferred to another site. Blooming will not happen soon. First, for three to four years, the process of forming a leaf rosette and strengthening the rhizome will take place. Then, with proper care, you should expect flowering spikelets.
Orchis care
Caring for an orchis is not difficult for gardeners. As mentioned earlier, perennials are not afraid of the cold, but bushes from neighboring plants can be threatened. The nodule rhizome develops due to mycorrhiza. The area for growing orchis should be in partial shade, so that the plant feels comfortable especially in the midday heat.
The substrate is selected moist with a neutral or slightly acidic environment, which contains a lot of lime and nutrients. If dry weather sets in for a long time, the orchis goes into a state of "hibernation".
Active growth is observed in spring and autumn. The plant requires regular watering, drying out of the soil entails serious problems associated with developmental delay.
Orchis responds well to organic fertilizing, including compost and shredded needles. Mulching is carried out twice a year. The width of the mulch layer is from 5 to 7 cm. Mineral fertilizers have a negative effect on crop growth, the same can be said about fresh manure. These types of dressings only provoke foliage growth.
With the arrival of autumn, the vegetative parts will die off. Only tubers are preserved under the soil layer, where a supply of nutrients remains. It is better to cut off all the stems and leaves, as over time they will still turn yellow and dry completely. The pruning process will stimulate the nodule rhizome to go to sleep.
The orchis is not afraid to winter in the middle regions of Russia and does without any protective shelter. Swampiness and waterlogging can pose a threat to bushes. These factors lead to root decay.
Orchis is considered one of the most disease-resistant Orchids. A perennial is rarely attacked by pests and almost never becomes infected with rot and mold. However, slugs do harm to the ground part from time to time. For protection, ash, crushed eggshells or straw are used. These components are placed under the flowers, blocking the path of insects.
Orchis species and varieties with photos
There is a wide variety of orchis species. To date, botanists have managed to breed about 60 plant varieties. Certain species of orchis already belong to a different pedigree.
Male orchis (Orchis mascula)
We are talking about a herbaceous flower, consisting of two elongated nodule rhizomes. The length of the bushes is from 20 to 50 cm. The lower lobe of the stem is colored with purple spots. Leaves are wide, tend to curl along the longitudinal vein. The main tone of the leaves is green, but on the surface of the plates there are purple and purple dots that accumulate near the base. The spikelet inflorescence looks like a cylinder. Its structure consists of 15-50 closely interconnected buds.Lilac flowers are formed from the lip, spur and helmet. The opening of the buds is expected, as a rule, at the end of April.
Spotted orchis (Orchis maculata)
The popularity of this species of orchis is explained by the high decorative effect of the flower. The rhizome is also of the nodule type with finger-separated layers. The length of the shoots ranges from 15-60 cm. Below the plant is covered with dark green foliage, and the top of the crown is decorated with short spike-shaped purple inflorescences. The three-lobed lip is spotted near the base. The leaf blades are also covered with small dark specks. The flowering period is early or mid-May.
Monkey orchis (Orchis simia)
Perennial prefers lighted areas in the garden. First of all, a leaf rosette of wide plates with rounded edges is formed above the ground surface. When the short spikelet blooms, you can smell a pleasant honey aroma. The blades on the sides are rather narrow, but elongated in the center, which makes it possible to consider the image of a monkey in these plant outlines. This is where the name "monkey" came from.
Orchis (Orchis militaris)
The bushes of medium length are decorated with rich green leaves, the length of which in the lower part is from 8 to 18 cm, and the width is about 2.5 cm. Closer to the summer season, a lush pyramidal spikelet blooms about 5 cm in size. The toka lip is divided into several parts. At the top, the petals look much larger.
Purple orchis (Orchis purpurea)
One of the tallest species of orchis. The main stem grows 12 cm in diameter. At the bottom of the stem, a group of close broad-lanceolate leaves with sharp ends is formed. The spikelet appears at the end of May and is capable of reaching a length of 5 to 20 cm. It consists of small fragrant buds. The pinkish lip stands out against the black and purple helmet.
Orchis: properties and applications
Healing properties
Orchis occupies an important place in folk medicine as an effective medicinal plant used in the treatment of many diseases. The tubers and inflorescences contain essential oils, proteins, carbohydrates, glycosides, and mineral salts. On the basis of vegetable raw materials, decoctions, milk jelly, tinctures and infusions are made.
These drugs help to cope with the following ailments: inflammation of the larynx, diarrhea, alcohol intoxication, vomiting, cystitis and inflammation of the appendages.
The orchis is in special demand among the male population, since the perennial helps to solve a number of problems associated with sexual dysfunction, prostatitis, adenoma, or impaired potency.
Contraindications
Children, like adults, are also allowed to take orchis-based medications. Caution should be observed by the category of people prone to allergies. It is important to ensure the correct storage of raw materials. It is forbidden to prepare the medicine if there are signs of mold on dried leaves or tubers or the appearance of parasites.
