Common loafers
Verbeynik is a perennial herb for open ground, has a straight stem and creeping roots. It got its name from the leaves that look like pussy willow leaves. Many gardeners unreasonably ignore this plant because of its rustic appearance, but if you pay a little attention to it, you get a very decent decoration for a flower bed.
The peculiarity of the plant is that it has 2 types of flowers. On individuals growing in open areas, bright yellow flowers bloom, attracting pollinating insects. On those that are located in dense thickets, flowers grow, in appearance resembling unopened buds and capable of self-pollination.
Verbeinik prefers wet meadows, marshes and coastal waters
On a powerful tetrahedral stem are lanceolate, pointed leaves, which have a smooth surface on top, and pubescent below. The flowering period is from June to the end of summer. At the tops of the shoots, flowers with 5 petals appear, collected in spike-shaped panicles. At the beginning of autumn, fruits ripen, resembling boxes in appearance.
Thanks to double pollination, the loosestrife plant can survive in any conditions. If the weather does not allow insects to pollinate the plant, it will do it on its own.
The plant is widespread throughout the Eurasian continent, except for the northern regions. The common weasel loves an abundance of moisture and can grow right in the water, so it can often be found near water bodies and in swampy meadows. Usually it grows up to 50 cm, but there are specimens 1 m high. It is unpretentious in care, therefore it will become a real find for novice gardeners who have little experience for growing capricious crops. In one place it can live up to 10 years, it easily takes root in any place, so there are no problems with planting.
Useful properties of loosestrife
In official medicine, the plant has not found recognition, but among the people it is successfully used as a wound healing, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic agent. Verbeinik contains such useful trace elements as:
- arginine;
- ascorbic acid;
- tannins;
- flavonoids and saponins.
All parts of the plant are used as raw materials for the tincture, except for the roots. The harvest is made during the flowering period, dried and stored in a cool place.
You can stop the bleeding by simply applying a piece of grass to the wound. Poultices from the plant help with rheumatism, hernias and inflammation of the joints
It is very simple to prepare a medicinal infusion – just take 1 tbsp. l. chopped herbs and insist 3 hours in a glass of boiling water. Taking the drug inside for 2 tbsp. l. 3 times a day, you can get rid of diarrhea, thrush, stomatitis and jaundice. As an external remedy, the infusion can be used to treat burns.
To decorate the garden, loosestrife is usually used in group plantings. It looks equally beautiful near ponds and a shady flower garden in the company of ferns, bells and other cultures that prefer shade.