Lupine

Useful properties and application of lupine

Useful properties of lupine

Lupine is an interesting photophilous and moisture-loving plant. It is distinguished by large leaves, which are always turned towards the sun. Lupine is not picky about soil fertility. From this wonderful plant, the most valuable oil is obtained, which is a natural antioxidant. It is often used for cosmetic purposes.

For people with diseases of the cardiovascular system, such a healthy oil is a kind of medicine. Lupine is rich in proteins. In crop rotation, this excellent plant is considered an important source of biological nitrogen. Lupine seeds contain protein, which, in combination with green mass, can be used as feed for farm animals.

The use of lupine

Lupine is great for ulcers and tumors, and it also fights acne on the face. If you make a medicinal bandage from such a plant, then it will quickly help with such an ailment as inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Treatment of gangrene with lupine decoction prevents decay. The flour from this plant will help get rid of wet sores on the head. If you boil lupine in vinegar and add pepper with honey, then such a remedy helps to open clogged passages in the spleen. It should also be noted that this plant is able to soothe nausea and increase appetite.

Lupine seeds

After the flowering of lupine, beans are formed, they dry out unevenly and twist into interesting spirals. The leaves open and the seeds are scattered. The seeds of this plant are quite large. From them you can easily grow excellent perennials. To do this, it is necessary to sow swollen lupine seeds in April in the ground on shaded beds, and in May the resulting seedlings can already be planted in the garden. Particularly beautiful specimens can be propagated vegetatively.

Lupine angustifolia

The beautiful narrow-leaved lupine can easily be found growing wild in the Mediterranean. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, crops of this plant have appeared in Ukraine. It is resistant to cold and can withstand severe frosts. Such a moisture-loving plant prefers light sandy and loamy soils. The growing season ranges from 70 to 170 days, depending on the narrow-leaved lupine variety.

Such a self-pollinating plant can reach a height of 150 cm. At the same time, the root system can be 2 m long. The erect green stem has a slight pubescence. Large leaves consist of 8 lanceolate grooved elements. The inflorescence is presented in the form of an apical few-flowered brush, and the fruit is in the form of a swollen bean. Each bean contains about 5 rounded seeds.

Varieties of lupine

Annual lupins are considered hybrids of different species. Some miniature species are particularly popular. They reach a height of half a meter. Such varieties have white or milky flowers, which can be either one-color or two-color. The almost fleshy lupine boasts of its heavenly inflorescences. Many tall perennial lupins can be easily grown as annuals.

Lupine flowers

This original plant blooms in central Russia and in the warm regions of the CIS countries around the end of May. To form new shoots, lupine should be cut off flowering stems. Thanks to this procedure, the flowering of lupine will last until late autumn.

It should be noted that some varieties boast a large flower brush, the length of which can reach one meter. However, there are many varieties that are distinguished by wide short inflorescences. The color of flowers is the most diverse. In addition, varieties with a combination of two shades are also bred. The flower of this delightful plant consists of five graceful petals.

White lupine

White lupine is an annual plant that reaches a height of one meter. This species has a straight and slightly pubescent stem. Such a rhizomatous plant has palmate leaves on very long petioles. Large leaves are divided into five elements. Stem leaves are in regular order. Amazing white flowers are collected in thin straight inflorescences. The fruit is presented in the form of a small round bean. White lupine is native to the Mediterranean.

yellow lupine

Yellow lupine is an optional crosshair. During the flowering of yellow lupine, the flowers are willingly visited by bees, completely pollinating the plant. Two or more varieties of plants are recommended to be planted at least half a kilometer apart. Otherwise, over-pollination will occur, which in turn will lead to an increase in the yield of seeds with low resistance to Fusarium, as well as increased alkaloid content. The beans of the yellow lupine do not crack. However, they can fall off with untimely cleaning.

Lupine as a siderat

One-year-old lupine is considered the best green manure, because it accumulates the necessary biomass and accumulates a large amount of nutrients. Lupine is able to significantly improve soil structure by enriching them with nitrogen. It is proved that in terms of the content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, this particular plant is superior to manure.

It is no coincidence that blue lupine is preferred. Its several cultivars are characterized by high-speed growth, are able to develop a powerful root system, and are also insensitive to soil acidity and resistant to cold. Developed roots feed from the depth of the soil from about two meters, without impoverishing the soil itself. The depth of embedding the green mass of lupine directly depends on the humidity, looseness and type of soil, as well as on the state of the weather. The most optimal use of the biomass of such a plant is embedding to a depth of about 8 cm.

Lupine fodder

It is fodder lupine that surpasses all popular cultivated crops from the leguminous family in terms of protein content. Often two types are grown. These include narrow-leaved and yellow. Yellow lupine is designed to obtain a significant amount of protein green mass. From the narrow-leaved lupine, an excellent feed grain is obtained.

Both types of such a plant prefer light loamy soils, requiring soils that are slightly acidic and close to neutral. Lupine does not respond well to an excess of calcium. Under such a capricious culture, advance liming should be carried out. Sowing of fodder lupine is carried out at an early date using a wide-row method with row spacing of about 50 cm. This variety is practically not susceptible to damage by natural pests.

Lupine leaf

Delightfully beautiful large palm-shaped leaves make lupine bushes elegant and varied in color. The erect, rounded stem is covered with hairs and branches mainly only in the lower part. Palmate leaves consist of several leaf-like elements. They are located on pubescent and rather long petioles. On the upper side of the leaflets are covered with sparse hairs, while on the lower side there are thick hairs pressed against the plate.

Contraindications to the use of lupine

The only contraindication is individual intolerance to the product.