Hohlatka: a description of the flower. Hohlatka: reproduction, care

The description of the flower of the crib can begin with the fact that it is one of perennial plants that have a very short vegetation period. It is the representative of numerous herbaceous plants of the family Dymyanka. Sprouting in the bare April forest, in the middle of June the crested dog no longer occurs. More than 200 species grow in the Himalayas and China. In general, the range covers the vast temperate latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and the most common, including in our forests, consider three varieties: dense, hollow and crested Marshall.

General characteristic of the species

The plant is a tuberous ephemeroid, therefore it is characterized by rapid germination, early ripening of fruits and complete dying off of the aboveground parts. A vital supply of nutrients accumulates in the tubers, so that the vegetation resumes in the next favorable period of the year.

And now a general description of the flower. The Khokhlatka differs both in its external features and in its structure. The plant is characterized by a low fleshy stem length of 15 to 25 centimeters and twice or thrice cut leaflets. The foliage is rich, and the inflorescences are located on top of it with bright, loose brushes. Sepals are almost imperceptible. Each individual flower of the crimson has an elongated shape of the base and consists of four small petals, with the tips of the upper and lower petals slightly folded outward. Each flower has one or two small leaves - a bract. In different places you can find yellow, pink, purple, blue, white criminals.

The flower of the crib and varieties of this plant are excellent honey-plants, in the spurs of which a lot of sweet nectar accumulates. True, it can be obtained only by insects with long proboscis, such as bumblebees. Mature fruit of a plant is a dry capsule, in shape resembling a pod in which seeds are formed. They are large enough, black, with a shiny surface and a luscious white saint, a real treat for forest ants that collect seeds and play an important role in the propagation of the species.

So what is so interesting about the crib? Description, useful properties, application of this perennial plant, we will consider further.

Description of the plant

Khokhlatki form lush bushes with numerous foliage, and during flowering bright inflorescences, like candles, rise above the green veil. Tubers are a rounded, enlarged root, in which, with age, a kind of hole-hollows are formed. Every year a young tuber is formed inside the old tuber, which turns into its shell.

External description of the flower: the crust has a short stalk with several light scaly leaves at the base; Dense green or bluish foliage; Brushes of flowers are located on the very tops of the stems; An irregular, but elegant four-petalled flower, elongated in length.

If you look closely, you can see that the two intergrown inner petals protrude slightly forward, like a spout, thrusting between the wrapped outer ones. The flowering period of the crested fish falls at the end of April and the beginning of May, and by mid-June the flowers, stem and leaves completely die.

Habitat habitat

The favorite habitats of this plant are semi-shady areas of deciduous forest, without a thick canopy of grass and shrubs. The plant needs sunlight to start and undergo a full cycle of vegetation, so the critters make the most of the spring period, when the grass has not yet risen high, and the forest trees have not dissolved their dense green foliage.

Vegetation features

The tuberous ephemeroid crustacean (description of the plant, caring for it so interested in many) is developing quite rapidly. It is the spectacular decorative appearance of the plant that attracts the attention of gardeners. Therefore, it is necessary to know the main features of its vegetation: after dispersing the seeds and dying off the aerial part, only the tuber of the crimson, hidden deep in the earth, remains alive and awaits the next spring; A new life will emerge from a large bud of renewal, which is formed on the top of the tuber and by March will approach the surface of the soil in order to immediately give a young shoot with the first heat.

origin of name

Everyone knows that the hohlatka is a flower. The description for children, as for adults, is based on associations: an unusual form of flowers resembles a crest of a bird, where the name of the plant came from. Close in meaning and national names, inherent in different nations.

It is generally believed that the scientific name of this genus originated from the ancient Greek word "corybalos", after the name of the crested lark. According to one of the old legends, the spring larks have strongly quarreled among themselves and made a big fight. And the birds fought so fiercely that the forelock and the spurs were torn to each other, which, falling on the forest land, exploded with beautiful flowers of the crimson.

Here's to you and a fabulous hohlatka-flower. The description of why he was so named is also in German culture. There the plant is called "lark spur". There is also the Old Slavic legend of the origin of the name of the flower. According to her, every night an old witch flew around the countryside riding a broomstick, and at dawn she returned to her forest hut to sleep and rest. But as soon as she was dozed off, the cock crowed the dawn crying, not letting the old woman sleep. Then the angry witch turned him into a silent flower of a crimson. Because of this, there are other names of plants in the people: "cockerels" or "chickens".

Caring for the cribs

Very unpretentious for breeding the plant is a crib. Description, reproduction, care for spectacular flowers, let's look at the examples of those varieties that grow well in the middle zone of Russia: hollow, smoky, Caucasian, Magadan, low, narrow-leaved, Marshall, Bush, Kuznetsov, etc. They are decorated with gardens, flower beds and flower beds.

Forest and Caucasian species, including the dense hohlatka, whose description has much in common, are planted in the shade and half-shade of deciduous trees. Large tubers are usually buried at a depth of 10-15 centimeters, and small - 5-7 centimeters. Khokhlatki like rich humus, friable sandy loam (for forest species) and heavy clay (for Asian species) soils.

Asian species prefer well-lit hills, and in the case of damp summer the tubers during the rest period (from mid-June) can be dried for a month.

Reproduction of the hood

The description of the flower of the cormorant assumes acquaintance with the peculiarities of the reproduction of this plant. All transplant operations are carried out both during the rest period and at the peak of flowering (the stalk along with the clod of earth): in one case it is absolutely safe, although it is difficult to find small tubers in the ground, and in another case it is convenient, since shoots are clearly visible .

Khokhlatka propagates by seeds, although some species, such as Bush and Kashmir, can form small secondary tubers. Seeds are not stored for a long time, so they should be sown immediately after harvesting. Flowering will come only in 3-4 years.

Application of the hood

Bright colorful cribs look great on alpine slides, laid out by a stone, surrounded by crocuses, tulips, snowdrops, a host. They are also an integral part of the variegated compositions of flower beds, park lawns and decorative flower beds.

Due to the high content of alkaloids, the plants are used in medicine and pharmacology. Preparations on its basis relieve muscle tone, have a sedative effect on the nervous system, dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure. And yet the most interesting types of hoods are represented as a decorative garden and park culture.