Rdest floating: description, growing conditions

Rdest floating (otherwise - water cabbage or floating floating) is an aquatic perennial plant distributed in fresh water bodies (swamps, lakes, ditches, ponds) and has the property of rapidly expanding, especially in shallow water. The proverb of almost all water bodies prefers to grow in running water, so it often lives in rivers. Rdest floating (photo can be seen in the article) has the property of growing very much: the dense carpet made of leaves often hinders the movement of boats and small vessels. The lime of an aquatic inhabitant is practically impossible.

Rdest floating: description

Fixed in the ground branched tuberous roots, this herb produces long, to the surface of the water, low-branched shoots. When they die, they get to the bottom of the reservoirs, where they decompose and turn into fertile silt. Or they take root, giving life to a new plant. Individual stems can break off and exist independently. The surface part of the plant is represented by leaves and inflorescences.

The leaves of the swimming pool are the next, they have the most diverse form: from egg-shaped to wide-elliptical. Edges are whole, dentate or curly-wavy. On a shiny sheet-like leaf plate, which is 8-12 cm long and 4-6 cm wide, parallel or arched streaks can be clearly seen. Underwater leaves are narrow, sessile, characterized by rigidity and the beginning of flowering, occurring during the summer period, are not preserved.

The spicate inflorescences, consisting of unremarkable greenish or marshy flowers, are located on the leafless legs and rise 5 to 10 cm above the water. The fruits of the plant - nuts or drupes, ripen in August, float on the water surface and are carried by water over long distances.

Habitat

Rdest floating is able to grow further even when the reservoir is completely dry. The terrestrial form of the plant is characterized by heart-shaped leathery leaves, located on the petioles. In natural conditions occurs in Ukraine, in Belarus, on the European territory of Russia. They are rich in such long-term grass of the river and ponds of North America, Japan, Scandinavia, China, the Balkan Peninsula and Central Asia.

Traditional medicine: the application of pond pond

Rdest floating, containing in its composition a lot of useful substances, has anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, bactericidal properties and promotes immunity. The healing properties of the aquatic plant were appreciated by the ancient physicians. Traditional medicine of today uses all its parts for medicinal purposes, the preparation of which must be carried out from June to August.

Preparations based on pond swimming are used in the form of compresses and dressings in the treatment of skin diseases, ulcers, furunculosis, abscesses, itching rashes and cancer tumors. Infusion of leaves and stems is used inside and helps with diarrhea. For its preparation in 1 cup of boiling water for 2 hours you need to insist 1 tbsp. A spoonful of dried grass. The received medicine should be taken 3 times a day on a tablespoon.

A water plant is useful not only for humans; Its fruits and surface parts - an excellent food for insects, fish, shellfish and waterfowl. When cleaning ponds, the green mass of the plant is used as a fertilizer for fields and nutritious feed for domestic animals.

Water plant in house cultivation

Rdest floating in the aquarium is rare because of its own unattractiveness. Decorability of this kind is evident when viewed from above, and the aquarium cover does not always allow you to enjoy a beautiful spectacle. Nevertheless, the pond can be successfully grown in spawning aquariums; It is there that the plant will serve as an excellent substrate for the spawning of many species of fish. In addition, the water plant replenishes the water perfectly with oxygen, is able to grow at low temperatures and poor lighting, it can be planted as a landscape decor in household ponds. In order to avoid a strong growth, it is advisable to limit the growth of a floating fish in growth: planting in a container and placing it in a deep place. In winter, forming winter buds, it disappears and appears with the advent of spring as a new plant.

Rdest floating: growing conditions

The optimum conditions for the content of pond swimming pool is the water temperature + 23-30 ^o C, acidity - 7.0-8.0, rigidity - 7-15. The soil must be silted, with a high percentage of clay.

Rdest floating can be propagated by seeds and vegetatively: by cuttings and by dividing the bush. With the seed method, the seeds need to be rolled into clumps of clay and immersed in silty soil to a depth of 1 meter. In the vegetative method, the cut stem with the attached load must be lowered to the bottom of the reservoir. When dividing the rhizome, the latter should be cut into parts, placed in peat pots, which, in turn, should be placed at the required depth in a special container. Soil composition for the container:

• 15% clay;
• 15% of coarse-grained sand;
• 20% of the leaf land;
• 50% sludge.

Rdest in nature: varieties

In addition to the shining in nature, other varieties of aquatic plants are widespread:

• Redest pierced. Characterized by very long branched stems with hearts as if strung on them. Often the stems and leaves of such plants are wound on the propellers of boat motors and cling to the oars.
• Rdest comb. Has strongly branched stems, narrow as threads, leaves. It grows mainly in shallow water; Its flexible stems wiggle even at the very minimum flow and serve as a safe haven for flocks of fry.