Contents
Fern Orlyak is a beautiful perennial. The plant is not only an original decoration of the garden, it is used as a food product, in folk medicine. It got its name from the shape of the leaves. Many people see the wing of an eagle in triple fronds, located on the coat of arms of the country. And there are those who noticed the initials of Jesus Christ in a herbaceous plant.
What does the bracken fern look like
Orlyak fern is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Fern class, Dennstedtiev family. Height 30-100 cm. The trunk is smooth, without scales.
The root system is well developed, extending in all directions. Consists of vertical and horizontal underground sprouts of black color. Every year new shoots appear on the creeping rhizome.
The foliage is light green in color. The size in height is 70 cm, the shape is feather-like, triangular. The structure is dense and rigid. Stepchildren are located at a distance of 10-20 cm from each other. At first they have a twisted shape, similar to a snail. The leaves of Orlyak are located on the stem in pairs, only the upper shoot is single.
The leaves are lanceolate, obtuse at the ends, and lobed at the base. The dense edges of the segments are wrapped. Nectaries are located on the lower pair. They secrete a sweet liquid that attracts ants.
Types of fern Orlyak
Some botanists believe that the Orlyak fern is a monotypic species. The other part is inclined to believe that there are about 10 subspecies. All of them are quite similar to each other. However, the overwhelming majority grows in the natural environment.
Pteridium aquilinumvar. a little bit
Found in pastures in Ireland. Perennial grass has a main stem, which is 1 cm in diameter. The leaves are large triangular. In autumn, the green part dies off. It was discovered by the American botanist Merritt Lyndon Fernald, who specialized in ferns and seed plants.
Pteridium aquilinumvar. The fairies
The description of this subtype of fern Orlyak became known thanks to the American botanist-pteridologist William Ralph Maxson.
Pteridium aquilinumvar. Pseudocaudate
This herbaceous plant was isolated from the general view by a writer, botanist and naturalist from America – Willard Nelson Klute. The plant prefers to grow in sunny areas, open glades.
Pteridium aquilinumvar. latiusculum
Bracken is common in Mexico, China, Japan, Canada, USA, northern Europe. The first to describe the variety was a teacher of geology, botanist, mycologist – Lucien Marcus Underwood.
According to the encyclopedic portal for 2013, in addition to the four varieties already described, there are two subspecies of the Orlyak fern:
- Pteridium aquilinum subsp. Decompositum (Gaudich.) Lamoureux ex JA Thomson;
- Pinetrees
How to distinguish fern Orlyak from other species
It is believed that the bracken fern is an edible plant, in order not to be confused with other, poisonous varieties, it is important to know the differences.
- The size reaches 1,5 m, while the herbaceous plant does not form a bush.
- Fern sprouts make their way one by one from the ground. The distance between them is 10-15 cm. In an ostrich or shield bug, shoots come out simultaneously from one point.
- Fern stalks are smooth and clean. There are no villi, leaves, scales.
It is quite difficult to recognize an edible plant in the spring in the forest. Outwardly, the shoots are in many ways similar. An additional sign will be the old, overwintered leaves of the Orlyak fern. On them you can clearly see the geometric pattern, which is different for each species. In this variety, the edges of the leaves are more rounded.
Does the bracken fern bloom
There are many legends about the fern flower. They say that he appears on the night of Ivan Kupala. According to legend, this place hides a treasure. Protects from prying eyes and keeps the flower of evil spirits. Whoever finds it will be happy all his life. People still believe in giving, but no one has ever found a fiery flower.
Scientists, in turn, reject beliefs. They claim that the bracken fern does not bloom. The plant reproduces not by seeds, but by spores. On the underside of the leaf there are brown or green balls. These are sporangia in which spores mature.
How fern eagle breeds
By nature, the fern is asexual plant. Therefore, there are several ways to reproduce it: spores, division of roots, shoots.
The vegetative propagation method of the Orlyak fern involves the formation of rooted cuttings, which can later be separated from the mother and transplanted to a permanent place. First of all, long fluffy shoots are selected. Bend them to the surface of the earth and press down with a stone. This procedure should be carried out in the spring season, during the period of active vegetative growth. After a while, the arrow takes root.
In the natural environment, lichens reproduce precisely by spores. At home – this method is long and painstaking. In September, cut the leaf and dry it. Then scrape off the spores on a piece of paper. Dried seed in sealed packaging is stored until winter. In January-February, containers for seedlings are prepared. Fill with peat mixture. After carefully moisten, pour out spores and cover with glass. For germination, containers are placed in a warm, bright place, regularly ventilated and sprayed with warm water. After 2 months, green moss forms on the surface, then the glass must be removed. Grown seedlings can be planted in separate cups. In May, seedlings are ready for planting in the ground.
The easiest, but at the same time effective method of propagating the bracken fern is by dividing the rhizome. An adult bush with a developed root system is suitable for the procedure, which quickly recovers after pruning. In the spring, when warm weather sets in, you can dig up Orlyak. The rhizome is divided into sections with one or two buds. The cut sites are treated with crushed activated carbon. And immediately planted in moist soil.
Where does the bracken fern grow
Light forests are the favorite habitat of the bracken fern. The plant can be found on all continents except Antarctica. Does not grow in steppes and deserts. The herbaceous plant prefers sandy soils, like coniferous forests, also deciduous, where birches grow. Often culture chooses open hills, forest edges, thickets of shrubs.
The bracken clogs the grass at the edge, creating continuous thickets in a small area. Often the plant develops clearings, abandoned fields, plantations, pastures. On hayfields in some countries, fern is a weed that is difficult to remove. In the mountains, it can grow at a level no higher than the mid-mountain belt. In Our Country, Orlyak can be found on the territory of Siberia, the Urals, the Far East, in the European part.
When the bracken fern is harvested
The collection of fern Orlyak is carried out in the middle of spring. According to folk signs, this necessary period comes when lilies of the valley bloom or bird cherry blossoms fade. You need to collect young shoots that break easily. If the sprouts become denser, begin to bend – stop collecting.
The length of the stem is 15-25 cm, the thickness is 10 mm. Cut off at the base so that the plant can continue development. Shoots are tied in bundles. Fern sprouts quickly become hard, for this reason they should be cooked quickly.
Salt the collected shoots in clutches. Sprinkle each layer generously with table salt. Cover and set oppression from above. In this position, the sprouts should be 10-20 days.
After the tub is opened, the brine is drained. Now the upper layers are laid down, the lower ones – up. Again, pour brine, but the salt concentration is reduced by 5 times.
In the Leningrad region
Harvesting fern Orlyak in the Leningrad region begins around May 15 and lasts a month. Although the date may vary depending on the weather in the region. A signal of a suitable state of the plant is a kind of crunch.
The collection season of the herbaceous plant is short-lived. Therefore, the fern can be frozen in batches if it is not possible to process it immediately. Salting is needed for long-term storage of the product.
In outskirts of Moscow
In the Moscow region, the Orlyak fern is found everywhere: in parks, pine forests, and deciduous plantings. Only young shoots are suitable for harvesting. Therefore, it is necessary to collect at an early stage of the growing season. It is important to have time until the leaves have blossomed, and the shoots are still soft. The right time to harvest is mid-May or early June.
In Siberia
Collect fern Orlyak in Siberia begin at the end of May. It is necessary to monitor the sprouts in the spring forest, since there is no fixed date. Shoots make their way out of the ground at the same time as the first flowers. It is then that the sprouts reach their optimum size.
In the Urals
As already noted, a herbaceous plant is found throughout Our Country. Orlyak fern also grows in the Urals in forests, on light slopes. For food purposes, the collection begins in the second decade of May. The period lasts 20-25 days.
Is it possible to grow fern Orlyak on the site
Despite the fact that the Orlyak fern is considered a forest plant, many gardeners plant it in their backyard. When creating a landscape design, the plant just fits into any composition. Just be aware of the basic rules for care.
- When buying an adult, you need to pay attention to its appearance. The leaves should be green, whole, without dry or yellowed lobes. Before planting, it is better to leave the purchased Orlyak for 24 hours in a dark place. Thus, the plant will restore strength.
- The ideal place for a fern is a darkened part of the garden. There, the foliage acquires a richer, green color. In the sun, the color becomes pale.
- Requires light, moderately fertilized soil. A mixture of hardwood, sand, peat is suitable. Plant growth is well influenced by the presence of lime in the soil. It is not recommended to plant Orlyak in loam.
- In open ground, grassy culture can do without shelter for the winter. The leaves fall off, the root is so deep that the bracken fern does not care about frost.
- It is important to keep the soil moist. Water immediately after the soil dries out. Avoid standing water.
- Fertilizers must be applied in doses. The first feeding is carried out when the first young shoots appear. For this, special mineral complexes for ferns are used. Follow the dosage for the Orlyak variety indicated in the instructions.
Diseases and pests
Common bracken fern is resistant to diseases, but often suffers from attacks by harmful insects. The main enemies are:
- whitefly;
- thrips;
- scale shield.
You can get rid of these parasites by means of insecticides. Only you need to apply, not exceeding the specified amount, otherwise you can harm the plant.
Conclusion
Fern Orlyak is often called “Far Eastern”. Culture is highly valued in the Far East. It grows everywhere there, as well as in Siberia, the Central part of Our Country, in the Urals. Herbaceous plant is harvested and harvested for future use. However, in order not to go into the forest, you can grow it on your own plot. Care is required simple, the plant is able to grow on its own, without outside help. Spreading crown develops quickly enough.
