Feather grass feather grass - steppe grass

Grass feather grass (Stipa pennatal L.) is a genus of perennial plants from the family of cereals. In the world of them there are more than 300 species, in our country - more than 80. These plants are widely distributed in the temperate zone in both hemispheres. In this article, we will consider in more detail one representative of this genus, namely feather feather grass.

This plant grows in Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and Kazakhstan. In our country feather feather feather was originally spread only in the territory of steppes or terrain with stony slopes. However, about 20 years ago, its seeds were brought to other regions of Russia, and now this plant can be found almost everywhere, mostly on the roadside, in glades and fields.

Feather feather feather (photo shows what this plant looks like) - long-term grass growing to 1 m in height. Its characteristic feature is long narrow rough leaves and fluffy nets-panicles that depart from the grains that are in the ear. When the plant is still young and the seeds in it are not ripe, the core hairs are very soft. If you touch them, you immediately get the impression that you are ironing some fluffy animal. But everything changes after the grains ripen. The edema of the ear becomes tough, and it can be injured. These hairs are needed in order for heavy seeds to spread through the air - so a plant can sow large territory.

Cultivation for decorative purposes

Feather feather grass is a beautiful plant. When the wind blows, it wavers and falls to the ground, forming silvery-gray waves. It seems that the earth is covered with a silk veil. Although this is very conditional - for many such a picture casts a longing. Be that as it may, the feather grass is a rare visitor in the gardens and parks. It's all about hard hairs - they are very prickly, and therefore gardeners do not like to grow this plant. However, feather-grass feather-grass is occasionally planted as a supplement to other flowers and shrubs, in order to make some garden composition.

In other cases, it is referred to weeds, as it causes considerable damage to farming. It is not suitable for eating cattle, and if it is cooked with hay, the animal may suffer - stiff hairs can damage its mouth or esophagus. Young plants cattle, on the contrary, eat very well.

Feather feather grass is listed in the Red Book of Russia. This is due to the fact that its traditional habitats - the steppes - are increasingly plowed into useful crops or given up for grazing. And although in small quantities this kind of plant is found quite often, the real feather grass steppes are already considered a valuable relic.

Application

Pinnate feather feather is sometimes used in folk medicine. The chemical composition of this plant has not been studied, so it is not known what substances have an effect on the human body. However, herbalists and healers for many years use a decoction of feather grass on milk for the treatment of thyroid diseases and poultices from leaves during paralysis. However, there is no evidence that such alternative methods will be effective or at least safe.