2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Telcarka / Polygala / is a genus of angiosperms of the family Polygalaceae. The genus includes annuals, perennials or semi-shrubs and shrubs. The stems at the base often have basal or laterally developed rosettes and complete, consecutive or bundled stem leaves. The inflorescence is a top or lateral cluster. The flowers are bisexual, irregular, bilaterally symmetrical, with 3 bracts at the base.
The calyx is composed of 5 non-drooping leaves - 3 outer, shorter and narrower, often corolla-colored, the upper sometimes basically swollen and 2 longer, corolla-shaped, inner (wings) with 1-6 anastomotic or branched veins. The petals are 3, more or less fused at the base in a tube, and to the top with free lobes. The lower petals at the top have a tuft of dichotomous (forked) branched or simple, often gathered in bundles of threads, or shallowly separated comb-shaped plates. The stamens are 8, their stalks are more or less fused with the gingival tube.
Anthers are single-celled, opening to the top, with a groove. The ovary has an upper double-nested ovary. The fruit is a flattened dorsal, two - nested, at the end more or less winged box, seated or carpophore, in each nest with one fibrous seed, provided with a three - part appendage.
Types of heifers
About 15 species are naturally distributed in Bulgaria. Great heifer or Polygala major Jacq. is a perennial herbaceous plant. Its stems are erect or ascending, 20 -35 cm high, often woody, few to numerous, with or without sterile shoots, short curly fibrous. The leaves are 10 - 25 mm long, 1.5 - 2.5 mm wide, narrowing to the base and top, lanceolate, linear - lanceolate or linear, with 1 unbranched vein, bare on the surface, short curly fibrous on the vein. Inflorescences are apical, loose or dense, 30-40 - colored. The wings of the flowers are 9 - 13 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, the fruit 11-14 mm long, 3 - 5 - 5 mm wide. Corolla longer than the wings, curved upwards, blue, pink, pale violet, dove or white. This species blooms June - July. It is distributed in all floristic areas. Apart from Bulgaria, it is also found in Central and Southern Europe, the Caucasus, Western Siberia, and Southwest Asia.
Bitter telcarka / Polygala amara L. / is a perennial herbaceous plant, up to 20 cm tall, with a branched stem at the base. The leaves are inverted wedge-shaped, rounded, lanceolate or inverted ovate, the basal ones form a rosette and the stems are consecutive. The flowers are gathered in clustered inflorescences with three bracts. The calyx is petal-shaped, with the two lateral leaflets, called wings, larger and similar to the corolla leaves in blue-violet, less often in white or pink. The petals are three, fused both with each other and with the stamens, which are 8 and are located opposite in two groups of 4. The fruit is heart-shaped, two-nested, with two seeds in each nest. The bitter heifer blooms in July-August.
Polygala alpestris is a perennial herbaceous plant. The stems of this species are 7 - 15 cm high, ascending, single or several, without sterile shoots at the base. The leaves are lanceolate - elliptical with one unbranched vein. The inflorescences are apical, dense, with 5 - 20 flowers. The sepals are uniform, straight, membranous at the edge. The wings are longer than the box, narrower or equal to it, with 3-4 weakly branched veins, pink. Corolla equal to the wings, pink to purple, the tube at the base slightly swollen, the petals at the base with ears. The box is heart-shaped, the wings are concave at the top. The seeds are fibrous, up to 2.5 mm long. It blooms from May to July. Propagated by seeds. It grows in grassy places, exclusively on calcareous terrain, but the populations are small.
Polygala sibirica or Siberian telcarka is a perennial herbaceous plant. Stems up to 30 cm tall, erect, fibrous. The leaves are consecutive, linear to narrowly elliptical, pointed. The inflorescences are racemose, laterally located. Two of the sepals, much larger than the other 3, envelop the corolla on the side. The corolla is blue-violet, with tubular fused leaves, one of which is strongly cut at the top and the cilia form a dense tuft. The fruit is a flattened heart-shaped box. The Siberian telcarka blooms from May to June. Propagated vegetatively and by seeds. It grows on shallow humus-carbonate soils and on the cracks of limestone rocks on a slope facing south.
The species is found in northeastern Bulgaria (north of the village of Koshov, Rusensk. Apart from Bulgaria, it also grows in Eastern Europe (Central and Eastern Romania, Southern Russia and Ukraine), Asia.
Growing a heifer
P. calcarea is very suitable for planting in rock gardens. This species originates from Europe. The plants reach no more than 8 cm in height, but branch out, reaching a diameter of 30 cm. Planted at this distance, they soon form a dense green carpet with their numerous stems dotted with small petals. From May to August, this carpet shines with small blue flowers that cover it abundantly. They are collected from 6 to 12 in inflorescences up to 5 cm long.
P. chamaebuxus also grows well in rock gardens. The species originates from the mountainous regions of Europe. The plants reach 15 cm in height and also spread to about 30 cm. The branches, with their numerous oval elongated, dark green leaves, form a wonderful carpet. It is distinguished by ornaments composed of creamy yellow flowers, which are sometimes purple on the outside.
Both species grow on different types of soil, but require equal attention and care. The heifer will enjoy a sunny place, P. chamaebuxus can tolerate light partial shade. Plants are propagated by seeds. They are sown in autumn or spring in boxes with a light soil mixture consisting of leaf and sand. It is very important to be indoors. They are exported to a permanent place only when the plants become stronger. In summer they are taken out on the balconies and watered regularly. It is fed every 15 days. When imported for the winter, the plants are watered sparingly.
Composition of a heifer
The heifer contains triterpene saponins, phytosterols, ammonium bases, essential oil, fatty oil, free sugars, mucous substances.
Collection and storage of a heifer
The roots of the bitter are collected for medical purposes telcarka. The roots are taken out in autumn - September - October. Then they are cleaned of soil and dried in the shade or in an oven at a temperature of up to 45 degrees. The dried roots are brownish, odorless and have a bitter taste. From 5 kg of extracted roots 1 kg of dried ones is obtained.
Benefits of a heifer
Due to the content of saponins, the roots of the feverfew have a secretolytic and expectorant effect, they increase the secretion of the bronchial glands and facilitate the expulsion of thick bronchial secretions. The herb also helps with acute and chronic bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. It is also used for catarrh of the gastrointestinal tract. For external use, water extracts are recommended for the treatment of boils, abscesses and others.
Folk medicine with a heifer
Our folk medicine offers the following recipe for a decoction of heather: Make a decoction of 2 teaspoons of herb and 400 ml of boiling water. After cooling, the decoction is filtered and taken 1 cup of coffee 3-4 times a day.
