2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
The ordinary star / Lotus corniculatus L. / is a perennial herbaceous plant of the legume family. The common starfish is also known as starfish, horned starfish, flakes and yellow wilderness.
The plant has a highly developed root system, with a main spindle-shaped root, penetrating up to 2 m into the soil and with many lateral branches. The main mass of root branches is located in the upper layer of the soil. Numerous tubers form on its root system.
The stems of ordinary stellar are reclining or rising, reaching up to 80 cm in height. The leaves of the herb are triple, caught with short stalks for the stem nodes, arranged in a spiral. All three leaflets protrude from the top of the leaf stalk, the middle leaf has a symmetrical device and the two lateral ones are asymmetrical.
The stipules are located at the base of the petiole, resembling real leaflets in shape and size, which is why at first glance it seems that the complex leaflet is composed of 5 leaflets.
The flowers are yellow, sometimes with a reddish tinge, gathered in almost globular inflorescences. The fruit of the common starfish is a linear cylindrical bean, which after ripening turns brown.
The ordinary star is distributed in the Mediterranean, throughout Europe, North Africa and Asia. It has been transferred to North and Central America and to Australia. In Bulgaria it grows in wet meadows and sandy places, on dry and stony slopes, in forests, bushes and elsewhere throughout the country. It blooms and bears fruit from May to October.
Composition of ordinary star
Quercetagetine and its 7-methyl ester were found in the yellow pigment of the flowers. Galactomannan, a cyanogenic glucoside that secretes hydrocyanic acid, has also been isolated from the common starfish. The presence of a bitter substance and saponins, from which soysapogenin is released after hydrolysis, was also found. The plant also contains proteins, fats, nitrogen-free extractives and more.
Types of common starfish
The genus of ordinary stellar includes about 150 species, some of which are ornamental plants. One of the most common ornamental species is the bertelot starling.
Lotus bertheloti has drooping twigs and flowers covered with white moss, decorated with thin feathers. The colors of this species are bright red. Bertelot star blooms in the spring months and is very suitable for hanging pots.
Unlike the common starfish, this species requires a little more care. It needs a lot of sun and abundant watering. However, in the growing season there is a need for a colder place. Winters at a temperature of about 12 degrees.
Growing an ordinary starling
The common starfish is one of the most valuable perennial leguminous forage crops in Bulgaria. This plant provides high yields of green mass in areas whose conditions are not favorable for growing alfalfa.
In general, the common starling is not difficult to grow. It tolerates lighter and poorer soils, located on hilly places, in the plains and mountains, develops favorably in areas with richer soils, but with prolonged droughts. This is confirmed by the natural habitats in which it occurs.
The results of growing ordinary star and acidic soils are satisfactory. Sowing of the crop is usually done in the spring. Autumn sowing gives good results if carried out in late August - early September in the presence of moisture for germination and rooting of plants.
The ordinary star can be successfully grown in field, mountain and foothill conditions. For one growing season provides two, and under favorable conditions - 3-4 mowings.1.5-2 kg of seeds for sowing are used for 1 decare.
Another important technological point is that the common starling does not tolerate cover sowing. A minimum temperature of 2-4 ° C is required for seed germination. Under favorable sowing conditions and good care, the seeds germinate in 12-15 days.
Collection and storage of common starfish
Fructus Corniculati and Herba Corniculati are used from May to September. The entire leafy flowering part of the plant is cut off, and dry, non-rainy, sunny weather is chosen for picking.
During picking, the herb should not be mixed with other species of the same genus. After cleaning from possible impurities, the collected material can be dried as hay with frequent turning or in ventilated rooms, spread on frames. From 4-5 kg of fresh stalks 1 kg of dry herb is obtained.
Benefits of a simple star
The ordinary star is a pasture plant. It tolerates trampling and tearing well. For herbivores, the young plants of the common starling turn out to be a favorite food - their stems are soft and the whole plant is rich in protein and fat. During flowering, however, poisonous glycosides accumulate, which become harmless once the plants are mowed or ensiled.
Grown together with suitable cereal meadow grasses such as red fescue, hedgehog's head and meadow broom, the common starling is most suitable for sheep grazing. Of course, this does not exclude the possibility of its use in mixtures for larger ruminants.
Except for grazing mixtures with ordinary stellar are also suitable for haymaking. Unlike alfalfa, the leaves of the common starling do not fall off after drying at a later stage. When grown in hay mixes, a good grain component is the hedgehog head.
The climate and the soil in Bulgaria strengthen the common star as a species, without which the development of economically and technologically profitable grassland, especially in private farms with mixed or specialized livestock, is practically impossible. This applies not only to certain climatic zones in the country, but to all areas where there are conditions for agricultural production.
Aries is a high-yielding crop, the common starfish is rich in nutrients. With the aging of the plants, the green mass does not decrease its quality as much as with other perennial legumes (alfalfa, clover, sainfoin). The high content of protein and carotene in the aboveground mass make ordinary starfish a suitable raw material for the production of vitamin flour.
The ordinary star is used in our folk medicine for headaches, stomach and intestinal pains. It is assumed that the effect of the drug is due to hydrocyanic acid, which is part of it. The colors of the common star are also used for painting in yellow. The herb is also a good honey plant.
Folk medicine with an ordinary star
Bulgarian folk medicine offers the following recipe with common starfish for headaches: Prepare a decoction of one tablespoon of common starfish and 400 ml of water, which boils for 10-15 minutes. Strain and drink 2-3 times a day a cup of coffee.
Against hemorrhoids our folk medicine recommends a decoction of common star anise. Take 3-4 stalks of ordinary starburst. Wash them well, cut them into small pieces, place them in a bowl and pour boiling water over them. While the mixture is warm, the sore spot is applied - 3-4 times a day with the herb itself. Drink one cup of the strained decoction 3-4 times a day (maybe after a meal) for 5-6 days. After a break, the procedure can be repeated.
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