Kupena is a grassy perennial from the Asparagus family. You can meet her in the meadows and hillsides of the subtropical and temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Although miniature flowers, similar to the usual lily of the valley, are hidden under the foliage, the purchase impresses with the large size of the shoots. Bright shoots well take root in the shade of trees and are indispensable for landscaping a shady area. In addition, purchased is an effective drug. Legends say that King Solomon himself appreciated its properties and set the seal, which the roots of the plant still today. Therefore, the kupen is also called the Solomon Seal.
Botanical Description
The genus purchased includes a very diverse plant. Their height can vary from 10 cm to 1.5 m. A multi-tree lignified root is located mainly horizontally in the upper layers of the soil. Of the numerous growth points, long ribbed stems develop. They are covered with smooth skin of green or reddish color. Shoots are preserved throughout the season, and die in the fall. At the root there is a rounded trace with a depressed core. It resembles the very seal of King Solomon. By these marks, you can determine the age of the purchased.
Along the entire length of the arcuate shoot, large sessile leaves are again located. They have an oval or ovoid leaf plate with a smooth edge and a pointed end. Embossed veins are arranged vertically throughout the sheet. The ends of leaf plates are often marked with white stains.
Flowering occurs in May-June and is accompanied by a rich pleasant aroma. The buds are arranged in whorls in the axils of the leaves along the lower edge of the stem. White long bells with greenish edges hang on flexible peduncles. In July-August, after pollination, juicy rounded berries with blue-black skin ripen. Each contains 1-9 small seeds.
Popular views
In the genus bought, there are about 50 varieties. In addition to the main species, decorative variegated varieties with beautiful stains along the veins are bred. They attract attention even after flowering.
Purchased pharmacy (drug). The plant forms sprawling bushes with a height of not more than 50 cm. Large oval leaves are located on the sides of the ribbed stem. Under them on thin flexible pedicels, white bells open. The flowering period begins in late May and lasts 4-5 weeks. After pollination, dark blue berries ripen.
Bought whorled. The plant has a thin, green stem that grows vertically 30-60 cm tall. The lower sessile leaves are attached to the stem again, and the upper ones are collected in whorls of 4-8 pieces. Lanceolate leaves with a length of 7-17 cm and a width of 1-2.5 cm have pointed edges. They are painted in a light green color. In June-July, white elongated flowers bloom on hanging peduncles.
Fragrant bought. The bush up to 80 cm tall consists of flexible stems covered with raspberry skin. The bluish-green foliage also has raspberry streaks. In mid-May, white-green flowers bloom, which last up to 5 weeks.
Purchased multi-flowered. The species forms slender thickets up to 1 m high. Large oval leaves are located in the upper half of the stem. In leaf sinuses are whorls of 5-6 whitish buds that hang on thin pedicels. Flowering begins in June, and by August the berries ripen.
Breeding methods
Reproduction purchased bought using seeds or segments of rhizomes. In August, you can dig out the root and cut into several parts so that in each division there was a growth point. The resulting segments are immediately planted in a new place and moderately watered. The rooting process usually takes place painlessly and already in the new season young shoots will appear.
Seed propagation is difficult, but allows you to grow several plants at once. Ripe berries collect and release the seeds from the pulp. They need to be sown in the same year after a long stratification. Seeds are sown in a shallow container with sand and peat soil. For 3-4 months, crops are stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of 2-5 ° C. Then the pot is placed in a warm room for 3 months, after which it is returned to the refrigerator for 3-4 months. At the last stage, the seeds begin to germinate. After stratification, the plants are kept at a temperature of + 20 ... + 22 ° C in the light. Seedlings develop slowly, but do not require special care. In spring, a grown kupen can be planted in open ground. Flowering occurs in 3-5 years.
Seat selection and landing
Best bought develops in a humid place. It will become a real find for a shady garden. High varieties can be planted in the sunny area, but they will not develop so actively. The landing site must be chosen responsibly, because the purchased will grow on it for 12-15 years. An additional advantage is that weeds under its branches almost do not settle.
Before planting, you should dig a plot and add mineral fertilizers, compost and ash to the soil. After this, the need for regular feeding disappears. In dense, heavy soils add sand and gravel. It is important to remember that purchased does not respond well to stagnation of water in the soil. It should be planted where underground water lies deep. Seedlings are buried 8-15 cm at a distance of 20 cm from each other.
Care Secrets
Kupena is good in that it requires minimal care. With the right choice of a place for planting, only periodic watering will be necessary, however, it is also necessary only with prolonged drought. So that after irrigation, a dense crust does not form on the surface of the earth, it is mulched. Weeding the ground is not worth it so as not to damage the rhizome. Weeds just pull out.
In autumn, the shoots are almost completely cut off, leaving only hemp up to 5 cm high. Winters bought in the open ground without additional shelter. The plant is resistant even to severe frosts. In the spring, during the period of snowmelt, the roots may suffer from excess moisture in the soil. In the first warm days, juicy greens will appear, which will grow rapidly.
They bought excellent immunity and good resistance to parasites. Sometimes slugs settle in a dense crown. They can be assembled manually. A thin layer of ash or a sharp egg shell on the surface of the earth also helps.
Purchased in the garden
An adult bush bought forms a beautiful green cascade with delicate hanging flowers. It will look spectacular on a green lawn or in a flower garden. When planting under trees, it was bought not only hides the unsightly land, but also makes it better for the trees themselves.
Even after flowering is complete, curved shoots look very decorative. They will be an excellent background for flowering plants such as irises, lilies, tulips, daisies, pansies and asters. Neighbors should be placed next to the bought, but not under its crown, otherwise they will start to hurt.
Healing properties
Rhizomes and shoots purchased purchased contain alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and other active substances. Thanks to them, the plant is used as a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, expectorant, enveloping agent. Fresh juice is used externally to remove freckles, treat ulcers and heal wounds. With the help of a decoction, they fight a stomach ulcer, bronchitis or pneumonia. Alcohol tinctures from the roots are used for headaches, heart failure, osteochondrosis, gout.
It should be remembered that drugs based on purchased are good only at a moderate dosage. Otherwise, they turn into poison. Before use, be sure to consult your doctor.
