Sedmichnik European: description and medical properties

Sedmichnik European - a perennial herb plant, characterized by graceful snow-white flowers, surprisingly reminiscent of stars. Distributed in the tundra and forest zones of North America, Europe, Asia, as well as in the European part of Russia and in Siberia. In its appearance, a flower with white flowers, having loose leaf plates with a relatively large surface without anti-evaporation devices, reflected the features of the plants of shady locations. Being weak in a competitive relationship, the week-old is able to grow in areas with a dilute grass cover and is mostly found in spruce forests. On felling, in parks and mixed forests, the "white star" should be well looked for.

Sedmichnik European: description

The plant, belonging to the family of primrose, is characterized by a straight, thin stem (about 15 cm in height). At its top are located in different directions and forming a kind of rosette (whorl) large lanceolate leaves. Small sheet plates are placed in the middle and lower parts.

Its name was taken by the European for seven petals and the same number of sepals and stamens, which is a huge rarity in the plant world. Rarely there are 5 and 9-petalled specimens. Flowers large (about 1.8 cm in diameter), single, grow on separate thin pedicels, placed in the sinuses of the upper leaves. In total, the plant can have up to 4 flowers, the white corolla of which is clearly visible in the twilight of spruce forests. By the way, bright colors in the coniferous forest - a rare phenomenon: sour, Linnaeus, monochrome, majnik, gudiera, some types of wintergreen also bloom in white.

When a week-old blossoms

In the early spring, the seventh European is hard to find, since the plant hibernates underground and is hidden from the eyes of the people. In the process of germination, it has a slightly different form: small oval leaves (not at all like those of an adult specimen) are located on a short stem. The latter is noticeably lengthened by the time of flowering (May-June), the leaves are stretched and increase in size.

The flowering process is rather short, only a few days. At its end, snow-white flowers-stars fall to the ground. By the end of the summer, the fetus ripens - a small globular box with small seeds. Fruit is tied up in small quantities, as pollinated mainly flower flies. And since insect pollinators in a coniferous forest are a rare phenomenon, and cross-pollination is infrequent-the percentage of fruit tied varies from 10 to 26.

Preparing for winter

In the autumn meeting, the European weekly is ahead of his forest neighbors in order. Long before its onset the leaves begin to turn yellow; At that time other plants are still green. By winter the above-ground part completely withers, and already nothing reminds that in the summer on this place the beautiful flower with seven petals blossomed. Wintering is carried only by underground organs - thin, white, filiform shoots with small tuber-like ends.

The flower with white flowers is unstable, and next year due to the rapidly developing creeping rhizomes, from the thickened ends of which shoots develop, the plant can be found already in another place. In other words, the week-old seems to creep from one place to another than it is similar to many forest grasses.

For normal growth, the week is required to have a fairly moist soil; With a lack of moisture, the plant dies. Sedmichnik shade-tolerant, but more actively grows and blossoms in conditions of good illumination. The soil is undemanding, sensitive to frost.

How does the weekly work?

By seeds, the plant multiplies infrequently: few flowers turn into fruits, most of them wither. After the opening of the capsule, the seeds remain on the stem and fall into the soil often after the complete dying off of the week. Seed material is characterized by poor germination, moreover, germination of weak young shoots is often impeded by the surface layer of forest litter. Mass germination begins a year later, in April-May. In natural conditions, the European seafarer for the most part propagates in a vegetative way - above-ground shoots.

Use of the Week in Traditional Medicine

Sedmichnik is a plant, all parts of which are endowed with medicinal properties, appreciated by popular medicine. Herbal infusion, which possesses anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, is recommended for taking with various panaritium and tumors. This is an effective emetic and diaphoretic remedy, for the preparation of which a teaspoon of chopped rootlets of the week is required to fill with a glass of boiling water. Then insist for an hour, strain and take 3-4 times a day, 3-4 tablespoons. Also, lotion-based lotions are recommended for wound healing.