Chastuha: description of the grass
Chastuha is an aquatic plant that is found near lakes and swamps. It is unpretentious and well suited for decorating a garden pond.
This is a perennial plant that belongs to the family of oysters. It grows almost all over the planet, but more often in the northern hemisphere. Outwardly, it resembles a plantain: on the leaves there are characteristic veins. For this, it is sometimes called the water plantain.
Chastukha can be recognized by its characteristic three-petal inflorescences
The height of the water plantain is 40-50 cm, it has a thick fleshy rhizome. Peduncles are at a height of 80-90 cm. Inflorescences are white or pink – three-petal. The diameter of the flowers is about 1 cm.
This herb has medicinal properties. It was used in Russia in folk medicine for hemorrhoids and urolithiasis. The succulent roots were boiled and used for food. In modern medicine, it is used in dietary supplements for weight loss.
With such beneficial properties, this plant is poisonous. Animals can poison them, people also cannot eat the plant in its raw form.
Planting and propagation of chastuha grass
The wild plant settles in swamps, ditches and lakes. It is undemanding to the soil, the main thing is to be damp. It can grow both in the sun and in shaded areas. Frost is not afraid of him, it practically does not get sick and does not interest flower pests. Ideal for decorating a decorative pond. It goes well with sedge, water lily and calla.
This herb can be dug up in the forest and brought to your site. It can be propagated in three ways:
- seeds;
- rhizome;
- division of the bush.
The second and third methods are more convenient, the water plantain will begin to grow in early spring, and it may take 3 years for seeds.
It is necessary to plant roots and bushes to a depth of 10-30 cm or make an underwater planting – up to 50 cm. Emerging and underwater plants differ in leaves. Their combination will add variety to the landing. Only plants that rise above the water bloom. After flowering, which occurs in July-August, it is necessary to cut the flower stalks. Otherwise, the plantain will sow the entire pond.
Swamp grass will fit well into the composition of a wild pond at a summer cottage. Pruning of dead plants will protect the water surface from the shameless seizure of the territory by the aquatic plantain. You cannot use the herb uncontrollably even as a medicine: it is poisonous. At the same time, muskrats and ducks happily eat juicy roots.