Syrian cottonweed (asclepius, lastoven) application and medicinal properties. How does a perennial plant reproduce? Syrian cottonweed planting and care in open ground

Syrian cottonweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) - perennial Lastivnev family (Asclepiadaceae). The plant feels good in the sun, but does not grow or is very depressed in the shade, for example, under trees or bushes. The flowers of the cottonweed are large, which makes the plant decorative (which is why it is grown in flower beds), and very fragrant. The plant produces a large number of clear, very sweet nectar. When plants are photographed, they are covered in bumblebees, bees and other insects. This feature makes the plant promising for growing in apiaries. It is believed that it is flower growers and beekeepers who contribute to the uncontrolled spread of Syrian cottonweed. Obviously, the plant can also spread by seeds and “migrate” along with agricultural machinery.

In the postcard fruits of the cottonweed, many red seeds ripen, which have a tuft of long white hairs. One of the ways to use the plant, and since ancient times, is to make cotton wool from these hairs (hence, finally, the name). They also used cotton wool as a hemp crop, since its stems consist of strong fibers. Instead of ropes and twine, you can use rhizomes. In Ukraine, back in the 30s of the last century, cotton wool was used as a rubber plant, because it accumulates a lot of latex in the aboveground part.

If a plant is broken, even a leaf, a large amount of white juice, reminiscent of thick and sticky milk, is released at the break. The juice is poisonous, and if it comes into contact with the skin (especially in sunny weather), it can cause burns. The rhizomes of the plant are long, cable-shaped, with numerous adventitious buds that have high viability. For example, one centimeter of rhizome with a bud located in the ground does not lose its ability to reproduce even in the absence of rain for more than three months. And when favorable conditions within a year or two, real thickets, the so-called “colonies,” are formed, with rhizome growth up to 15 m.

Measures to combat cottonweed

Previously, when all the fields were dug deep, it was possible to pacify the plant, but now the situation has changed radically. A lot of corn is sown in the fields, which the cotton plant “endures”. It is believed that there are no proven and effective measures control of this weed. The stems break badly and are mowed. The first thing that may come to mind for specialists, as well as in our time for gardeners and summer residents who are forced to know “chemistry”, is treatment with Roundup (which is “for everything”), or other preparations based on glyphosate.

However, even after treatment with these preparations, the plants either do not die, or the above-ground part dies and partially root system. And after two weeks, new plants grow from the remains of the rhizomes. How to overcome this “green enemy” if he persistently wants to settle in a certain territory? First, you need to conduct a survey of the territory, especially carefully along the edges of fields or other plantings. It is better to carry out such an examination at the beginning of the growing season (in May).

When Syrian cotton grass is detected, spray with the following mixture of herbicides: “Chistopol” (10 l/ha) + “Hlebodar” (0.5 l/ha) + “Osotin” (0.4 l/ha) + “Syaivo” (200 ml/ha). It is better if the plants are in the phase of 2-9 pairs of leaves during treatment. The working mixture of preparations should be evenly applied to the surface of the plants. Be sure to record the date of treatment and avoid mowing or other mechanical destruction of plants for three weeks (due to the toxicity of the drugs). You can also carry out edge processing of the field (subject to the rules indicated above).

Mechanical destruction of weeds (mowing or cutting) only leads to a greater spread of plants. A month after treatment, to destroy plants that had grown out of their roots or at the time of the first treatment did not have time to grow or were overgrown, carry out a second treatment. If detected rare plants cottonweed in already treated areas, it is advisable to treat them with a mixture of herbicides using a hand sprayer (a month after the second treatment). IN next year preventive spraying of Syrian cottonweed cells grown from seeds should be carried out.

As we can see, growing Syrian milkweed is not difficult, but getting rid of it is a complex and exclusively “chemical” matter.

Today, many specialists do not yet know these species, since they have not encountered them in their fields. However, these plants can very quickly become a serious problem for land users at all levels. This is evidenced by the reaction of specialists to these species in neighboring countries. The presence of Syrian cottonweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) in crops, even in small quantities, leads to yield loss of all crops, for example, in sorghum - 720 kg/ha, or 2-10%; in oats - 26%, in soybeans - 12-19%.

Syrian cottonweed.
Under Stalin it was a strategic plant.
Now it's a nasty weed

History of appearance

This ancient and beautiful-looking plant is named after ancient Greek god healing by Asclepius (Aesculapius) because of its medicinal properties. The homeland of the Syrian cottonweed is North America. There it can be found on railway embankments, along roads, in fields, etc. But why is the cotton wool called Syrian? After all, in fact, it has nothing to do with Syria. The Italian traveler and naturalist Cornuta mistook the cottonweed for another plant - kendir, growing in the Middle East, in particular in Syria. Carl Linnaeus established that these are different, although close, plants, and assigned it to the genus Asklepias, but reserved the definition “Syrian” for it. Sometimes in memory of Cornuta he is called Asklepias Cornuta.
The Syrian cottonweed first came to Europe in the 17th century. as a technical culture and quickly spread to France, Germany and other European countries. It can be assumed that it was soon brought to Russia. At first, fibers for coarse fabrics, ropes, and material for stuffing furniture and soft toys were made from the stems of the cottonweed. Later, the tufts of the cottontail were used to make film and various life-saving means, since they are almost not wetted by water. Tuft hairs were added when making silk, cotton, wool and other yarns. These mixtures produced amazingly beautiful and shiny fabrics, but, unfortunately, short-lived. In some cases, tuft hairs were used instead of cotton wool.
They tried to obtain rubber from Syrian cottonweed, since rubber and resin components were found in its juice. For this purpose, it was cultivated in the botanical gardens of St. Petersburg, and later in the Kiev botanical garden and in Bila Tserkva. But rubber production turned out to be labor-intensive and expensive, and the rubber was of poor quality. As time passed, the development of industrial technologies led to the emergence of high-quality rubber. And they lost interest in cotton wool as a raw material. It was also grown as an ornamental plant. After repeated attempts at industrial cultivation this type spread freely into natural plant groups.

Botanical description

Syrian cottonweed belongs to the swallowweed family (Asclepiadaceae). People call it Aesculapian, Lastovneva, Chumatsky grass. Today, Syrian cottonweed is widespread in Northern and South America, Africa, the Baltic states, Belarus, Ukraine and the Caucasus. Syrian cottonweed is a herbaceous perennial plant up to 2 m high.

The stem is thick, straight, mostly simple. At the slightest damage to the stem or leaves, a thick milky sap is released, hence the popular name of the species - “Chumak grass”, “swallow grass”. According to legend, swallows moisten the eyes of their chicks with the juice of this plant so that they open faster. Sometimes the juice flows out in such large quantities that its drops even fall to the ground.

The leaves are large, oblong-elliptical in shape, 13-20 cm long, 4-12 cm wide, arranged oppositely, less often in an alternate order, dense, with a thick midrib, whitish below with a thick felt edge. Lower leaves they always fall in midsummer.

The flowers are pink-red, small, similar to small stars, fragrant, collected in clusters.
this is an umbrella. The petals of the flower calyx are protruding, ovoid in shape, 3-4 mm long, pointed towards the apex. The corolla is notched, its blades are oval, 6-7 mm long, slightly narrowed towards the apex, curly-fluffy on the outside. The crown of the stamens consists of five cap-like lobes with two teeth and a horn-like flat appendage that extend from the inner plane of the cap.

The fruit is a swollen crescent-shaped green capsule with a corrugated surface, 10-12 cm long, which opens on the sides when ripe. Seeds dark brown egg-shaped, flattened, with long white silky hairs, similar to cotton wool (hence the name - cotton wool). The wind carries the seeds over long distances, but they ripen only in those years when there is a dry, long, warm autumn. The plant blooms in the second or third year of the growing season in the second half of summer, flowering lasts 3-4 weeks.

The root system is taprooted with thickened horizontal rhizomes that extend far to the sides. As ornamental plant The other two species of the genus are grown - meat-red cottonweed and tuberous cottonweed.
Flesh-red milkweed, or incarnata, - Asclepias incarnata L - a perennial plant up to 100-120 cm tall. The stems are branched. The leaves are opposite, slightly pubescent, elongated, broadly lanceolate in shape. The flowers are red or pink-purple with a pleasant aroma, collected in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. It blooms in July-August, flowering lasts 30-35 days. In culture since 1635. Winter-hardy, but it is advisable to carry out preventive mulching and covering with dry leaves.
Tuberose tuberose - Asclepias tuberosa - is a low (50-70 cm) plant with bright orange flowers, which can serve as a successful addition to a floral composition decorated in red or dark green tones. Large inflorescences adorn the shoots from mid-summer and throughout almost the entire fall. Despite the fact that this type of cotton grass is quite frost-resistant, it still requires shelter for the winter and does not always overwinter in the forest-steppe zone even if winter shelter is available.

Developmental biology

Syrian cottonweed attracts with its appearance both people and insects. Blooms in July - August. The scent of its flowers is reminiscent of chocolate cake.
The plant forms a powerful rosette, which has a fairly high growth energy, so already in June-July it can significantly exceed such agricultural crops as sunflower, sugar beets, corn, wheat, soybeans, and rapeseed.
The root system of the species is very powerful, capable of penetrating 4-5 m into the ground to search for water and nutrients. According to the biological classification, cottonweed belongs to root-parous plants.

The cottonweed reproduces by both roots and seeds. When dropped into the ground, the seeds quickly germinate and during the growing season form a colony of plants, as the bushes grow quickly. The white silky hairs on the seeds help them to be dispersed by the wind over long distances. New plants begin to form from the buds of the root system in July - August, but they reach the soil surface only next spring. The growth of roots and root shoots stops in mid-August - early September. Young plant Syrian cottonweed, sprouted from root shoots, begins to form new root shoots already 18-22 days after germination.
After ripening, cottonweed seeds (90% of all seeds formed) enter a state of primary dormancy. Also, seeds can enter a state of secondary dormancy if the low temperature air or an insufficient amount moisture.
In soil, seeds remain viable for three years. If a ground drought lasts five months, the Syrian cottonweed seeds die. The milky juice found in the stem and leaves of the cottonweed repels pests.

Ecology

Syrian cottonweed grows well in open areas. It is unpretentious to soils, but grows better on cultivated lands.
It is drought resistant and frost-resistant plant, it overwinters without damage, without requiring shelter. True, its first wintering is delayed, and its seedlings restore vegetation only at the beginning of summer, in subsequent years - in April-May.
The cottonweed is unpretentious to light and moisture. Withstands direct exposure sun rays over a long period. A comfortable growth zone for cottonweed is areas with dry, cold or warm conditions, as well as a forest area. This species is also tolerant of precipitation; it needs from 400 to 1200 mm per year, the optimal average annual temperature is 8-14 ° C, soil pH is from 5.5 to 7.3.

Usage

The milky juice of the Syrian cottonweed contains resin and rubber components, and the seeds contain oil, which is used for technical purposes. The stems yield a strong fiber suitable for making coarse fabrics and ropes. Syrian milkweed is used in pharmacology because it has bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also used in folk medicine: an aqueous extract from cottonweed seeds - for rinsing, dressings, compresses, treating various skin diseases, healing wounds and stopping inflammatory processes. An aqueous extract from cottonweed inflorescences is used to treat ulcers, purulent wounds and insect bites. The inflorescences of the cottonweed are prepared when they are in full bloom; seeds - after full ripening. Essential oil is contained throughout the plant. In inflorescences it is in glycosidic form, therefore, during hydrolysis (during the fermentation process), its content increases. For this purpose, the inflorescences are stored for some time without aeration in gauze bags, then the oil yield increases to 0.3-0.7%. The essential oil of the flowers of this plant is successfully used by the French perfume company Coty.
Syrian cottonweed is a good honey plant. The honey collected by bees from its flowers is fragrant. Cottonweed nectar is not harmful to bees, but if a person eats a spoonful of such honey, he will become ill. Many authors point to the high honey productivity of cotton grass - from 110 to 200 kg per hectare. According to traveler Calmy, the young stems of this plant have long been eaten, like asparagus in the USA. Its flowers give a brown color to sugar, and the seed fluff is still used in many places in Canada to fill pillows and make candle holders.
There is also information that cottonweed seeds contain strophanthus, a very valuable and scarce heart remedy. IN different parts The plant contains furfural, a substance widely used in the production of plastics, and asclepiadine, a strong insecticide.

Harm

Syrian cottonweed has brought many new problems not only to the fields of Ukraine. Large tall bushes Syrian cottonweed (up to 2 m) is greatly suppressed cultivated plants and make harvesting difficult. The presence of Syrian cottonweed in crops, even in small quantities, leads to yield loss of all crops, for example, in sorghum - 720 kg/ha, or 2-10%; in oats - 26%, in soybeans - 12-19%. In total, annual losses in the United States from the Syrian cottonweed are about $3.2 million. They say this weed is smart. It organizes itself - it grows as if someone had planted it in rows.

The cottonweed tries to cover as much area as possible. And over time, where it appears, all crops and weeds disappear. Based on their harmfulness to agricultural land, at the state level, weeds are divided into quarantine and harmful. Syrian cottonweed in Ukraine is classified as a harmful weed, but this is for now... Agronomists are concerned about the spread of this plant, since it is difficult to chemically and mechanically destroy, multiplies quickly and turns, as experts say, into a serious threat to Ukrainian fields.

Control measures for Syrian cottonweed

Cutting down or cutting (mechanical removal) of plants only stimulates further development of the root system, which, in turn, leads to an increase in the colony. If no measures are taken to destroy this plant, then within 3-5 years the field will turn into a solid colony. It is extremely difficult to control Syrian cottonweed; this problem has not been studied enough. Only a few scientific institutions and farms search for the most effective herbicide compositions and determine optimal timing their applications. Specialists from the State Plant Protection Inspectorate of the Cherkasy region, together with the heads of district farms, have launched production experiments and are analyzing the effectiveness of herbicides with various active ingredients. Positive results were obtained in the Kamensky district, where Syrian cottonweed seedlings were treated with a mixture of preparations on corn crops: Titus ( active substance- rimsulfuron) - 50 g/ha + Musket (active iodsulfuron - sodium methyl) - 60 g/ha + Prilipach TREND - 90 g/ha.
In the Gorodishchensky district, the application of herbicides Banvel, Compass (a.v. dicamba) and Roundup (a.v. glyphosate) was carried out in the phase of 6-8 leaves in the Syrian cottonweed. Plant death was 68-94%. According to the results obtained by Presens LLC, the best mixtures were:
1. Chistopol (active isopropylamine salt of glyphosate) - 10 l/ha + Khlebodar (active 2,4-dichlorophenoxic acid 2-ethylhexyl ether) - 0.5 l/ha + Osotin (active. clopyralid) - 0.4 kg/ha + Shine (sticky) - 200 ml/ha;
2. Chistopol (d. isopropylamine salt of glyphosate) - 10 l/ha + Chistets (d. fluroxypyr) + Osotin (d. clopyralid) - 0.4 kg/ha + Shining (sticky) - 200 ml /ha.
The favorable phase for the destruction of Syrian cottonweed with herbicides is the period from 2 to 9 pairs of leaves. Considering that after spraying, under favorable conditions, plant regrowth can be observed within three weeks, it is not advisable to destroy these plants by mechanical tillage measures, so as not to stimulate the development of the root system. If necessary, it is better to repeat the application of herbicides.
It should be remembered that Syrian cottonweed is a perennial, highly competitive root-parous plant, and not a single extermination action, even with 100% efficiency in destroying the ground part, will ensure complete eradication of cottongrass from the field. This will require a targeted 2-5 year fight against this species.

Nikolay Kosolap, Boris Gorbunov National University of Bioresources and Nature Management of Ukraine
Department of Agriculture and Herbology

There are about 80 species of cottonweed growing in North and South America and Africa. One more official name- asklepias - the cotton grass was named after the ancient Greek god of healing Aesculapius (Asclepius) for its healing qualities. When the seeds of this plant ripen, they are covered with a fibrous, cotton-like fluff, giving them a rather distinctive appearance.

Vatochnik types and varieties

Syrian cottontail can be found wild in the eastern states of North America. It is a perennial, reaching a height of 1.5 meters, with erect leafy shoots and leaves elongated 10-15 cm in length (5-7 cm wide). The color of the foliage is dark green; in the middle part of summer it often falls off on the lower tiers.

The diameter of the flowers is 1 cm, the color is light pink, they form large umbrella inflorescences. During the flowering period, which begins in July and lasts for about a month, the garden is saturated with the delicious aroma of chocolate cake. The smell of the Syrian cottonweed is somewhat more intense than that of some other species (for example, in comparison with the meat-red cottonweed described below).

The silky seeds of this species can be carried long distances by the wind, but to germinate they need a dry and warm autumn, at least in the middle zone. In addition, it is characterized by frost resistance, implying the complete absence of any shelter for the winter.

(incarnate ) also grows in the central regions of North America. Slightly lower in height (1-1.2 meters), it has branched leafy shoots and opposite leaves with a light hairy cover, oblong or broadly lanceolate.

The flower color is either red or pink-purple, they also form umbrellas and exude pleasant aroma. The flowering period falls in July-August and lasts about the same as that of the Syrian cottonweed. Unlike the latter, the species in question is not so resistant to frost, so using a shelter, for example, from dry foliage, will not hurt it.

In terms of the number of varieties bred, it is significantly ahead of others. Among them it is necessary to highlight the variety Asklepias meat-red ballet on ice with white flowers, cottonweed incarnate cinderella And milkweed meat-red soul mate (soulmate ) - with pink ones. The smell emitted by the flowers of this species is more delicate compared to the Syrian one and is more like chocolate butter.

Tuberose cottonweed (tuberiferous)

It is a low (50-70 cm), but very pretty plant. Lush bright red and dark orange inflorescences make garden composition especially colorful already in the middle of summer. This continues almost all autumn, and, like its “brothers,” this cottonweed has a subtle, spicy aroma. It is not frost-resistant, and does not always overwinter in mid-latitudes even with winter shelter.

Variety tuberous milkweed Maharaja characterized by fast growth, erect shoots, elongated oval foliage and bright orange flowers that attract countless butterflies.

Native to South America, it has a short growing season and is a perennial plant grown as an annual in cooler climates. The inflorescences of the species are highly decorative; they are used for cutting, taking into account important feature All cottontails are poisonous.

In case of contact with skin surface vegetable juice causes serious irritation, and in certain people this effect is also observed from pollen. Red and orange flowers Butterflies also really like them.

Syrian cottonweed planting and care in open ground

Planting a cottontail first of all involves choosing a suitable location on open area. The fact is that new copies Syrian species appear at a distance of up to 1 meter from the parent plant, and meat-red, although not so aggressive and mainly increases the number of stems, is still able to displace its “neighbors”.

When watering, regardless of the variety/type, you should stick to the golden mean. There is no need to allow the soil to dry out and, at the same time, not to over-moisten it. In the case of the more drought-resistant Syrian cottonweed, a deviation towards less abundant and frequent watering, while the moisture-loving meat-red milkweed can be watered more intensively.

The plant is not picky about soil. Literally any soil will suit it, except that slightly acidic loams are the most preferred. It is worth weeding and loosening the soil only periodically, when the plant is still young.

Oleander is also a member of the Kutrovaceae family and is grown with care at home as a houseplant. It blooms very beautifully if you follow everything the necessary conditions content. All necessary recommendations You can find it in this article.

Replanting the cottontail

Replanting is absolutely not important for the cottonweed plant itself for 15 years from the moment of planting. He is okay with this procedure, so if you want, move him to a new place.

First, watering is carried out, promoting the accumulation of soil on the roots, and they are calmly tolerated. After transplanting asklepias, intensive watering is carried out for a short time.

Fertilizer for cottonweed

The first feeding is carried out before flowering, during the formation of buds. It consists of potassium sulfate and urea.

After flowering ends, nitrophoska is added, and in the spring, after removing the cover, mineral compounds are added.

Trimming the fleece

Pruning, despite the fact that the weed grower does not like it, must be done, of course, if a perennial species is grown.

Sanitary pruning is sometimes carried out before winter, cutting off the above-ground parts of plants, but it is recommended to leave shoots with leaves for this period, postponing cutting off old shoots until spring.

When flowering comes depends on the chosen species - it is either autumn or spring. After wilting, the flowers are cut off immediately, which prevents self-sowing. Eradicating cottonweed that has grown next to another plant in a flowerbed is not an easy task.

Preparing the cotton wool for winter

The winter hardiness of fleece plants varies, as mentioned above. If you need to cover them, then use insulation materials such as dry leaves, spruce branches, and agrofibre. Additionally, the soil is mulched using peat and compost.

In the spring, after the cover is removed, the perennial cotton grass will produce new shoots, but the species grown by annuals ( tuberous , Curasawa ) simply will not survive the winter in open ground. Species that are highly dependent on heat can be successfully grown at home, naturally (as perennial plants).

Growing cottonweed from seeds

Reproduction by seed in our climatic conditions is made difficult by weak seed setting, but if planting material a lot, most likely will not result in difficulties.

Seed germination lasts approximately 3 years, they do not need stratification, sowing in open ground is carried out in May. The seedlings will sprout after 2-3 weeks and bloom in 3-4 years.

Milkweed propagation by rhizomatous segments

Often, cottonweed is propagated by rhizome cuttings, due to the good survival rates of planted plants and the opportunity to see flowering already in the 2nd year.

The propagation procedure by this method is carried out in early spring or in August.

Diseases and pests

A good preventative measure in this case is simply spraying with water from a spray bottle; it’s even better to use infused onion skins(100 grams of husk per 5 liters of water, leave for 4-5 days, strain and use for spraying).

From chemicals Acaricides such as Neoron are highly effective in controlling these pests. The drug destroys both the mites themselves and the eggs they lay. Typically 2 treatments with neoron eliminate the entire population.

Syrian milkweed medicinal properties

The medicinal properties endowed with Syrian cottonweed include bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties. Traditional healers make water infusions and decoctions from it.

The resulting medicines help in the treatment of skin diseases, for example, abscesses and long-lasting wounds, and serve as an excellent disinfectant of mosquito bites, gadflies and other insects.

G. MARTYNYUK (Odintsovo, Moscow region)

Many years ago I lived with my parents at their dacha, near Kiev. Mom loved plants very much, and there were many unusual flowers in the garden. Nevertheless, my attention was attracted by unfamiliar flowers growing behind the gate. One glance was enough to determine that these were “foreigners.” There were a lot of bees around: the “foreigners” were apparently honey plants.

A lot of time passed, and in the plant guide I finally found an unfamiliar plant I had seen before.

It was Syrian cottonweed, Syrian asclepias; he is also Aesculapian grass, he is also milky and swallow grass.

Wattleweed - tall, up to 1.5 meters, perennial, powerful herbaceous plant, with oblong-oval dark green leaves 10-15 centimeters long and 5-7 centimeters wide. The lower leaves always fall off in midsummer for some reason.

Grayish-purple or pink-purple flowers, similar to small stars, are collected in hemispherical umbrella-shaped inflorescences. The plant blooms in the second or third year in the second half of summer for 3-4 weeks.

The fruit, a swollen crescent-shaped green capsule with a corrugated surface, 10-12 centimeters long, opens on the sides when ripe. Numerous dark brown seeds are equipped with long snow-white silky hairs (hence the name - cotton wool). The wind carries the seeds over long distances, but, unfortunately, they are middle lane They ripen only in those years when there is a dry, long, warm autumn.

The homeland of cottonweed is North America, where it can be found on railway embankments, along roads, in fields, in urban wastelands, etc.

But why is the cotton wool called “Syrian”? It has nothing to do with Syria. The Italian traveler and naturalist Cornuti mistook the cottonweed for another plant - "kendyr", growing in the Middle East, in particular in Syria. Carl Linnaeus established that these are different, although close, plants, and assigned it to the genus “Asclepias”, but reserved the definition “Syrian” for it.

Sometimes in memory of Cornuti it is called "Asclepias Cornuti".

I tried to find out why the plant bears the name of the ancient Greek god of healing Asclepius (Latinized - Aesculapius), but I was unable to find out anything. Perhaps it was used in ancient times, and is still used somewhere as a medicinal plant.

At the slightest damage to the stem or leaves, a thick milky sap is released, hence the names “milky grass” and “swallow grass”. According to popular belief, swallows moisten the eyes of their chicks with this juice so that they open them as quickly as possible. Sometimes the juice flows out in such large quantities that its drops even fall to the ground.

The cottonweed first came to Europe in the 17th century as a technical crop and quickly spread to France, Germany and other European countries. It can be assumed that the cotton wool plant was soon brought to Russia.

At first, the stems were used to make fibers for coarse fabrics, ropes, and stuffing for furniture and soft toys. Later, the tufts of the cottonweed were used to make film and various life-saving equipment, since the tufts are practically not wetted by water. Tuft hairs were added when making silk, cotton, wool and other yarns, and from these “mixtures” amazingly beautiful, shiny fabrics were obtained, but, alas, fragile. In some cases, tuft hairs were used instead of cotton wool.

We tried to obtain rubber from cotton wool, since rubber and resin components were found in its juice. For this purpose, it was cultivated in the botanical gardens of St. Petersburg, and later in the Kiev Botanical Garden and in Bila Tserkva, near Kyiv. But rubber production turned out to be labor-intensive and expensive; In addition, the rubber was of low quality.

As time passed, the development of industrial technologies led to the emergence of high-quality rubber. And they lost interest in cotton wool as a raw material. But he remained basically like wild plant in the flora of the countries that cultivated it.

The cottonweed is a good honey plant. The honey collected by bees from its flowers is fragrant and tasty. Young plants are used as food instead of asparagus. In addition, you can make sweet juice from them, and sugar from the flowers. Cottonweed seeds contain up to 20-25 percent fatty oil.

I decided to grow Aesculapian grass on my site. The seeds sown at home in late March - early April sprouted quickly and quickly, in about 10-15 days. At the beginning of June, with the arrival of real warmth, I gave the plant permanent place, dropping off at sunny side plot. However, when planting, one must take into account that the cotton grass grows, not forming a group, but “lining up” in a fairly regular row. In the future, he did not give me any worries. For growth and flowering, it was enough for him to have moderately nutritious soil with the addition of sand, watering in dry times, feeding with full mineral fertilizer once or twice a summer.

Milkweed is a drought-resistant and frost-resistant plant; winters without damage, without requiring shelter. True, his first “wintering” was prolonged, and he was born only at the beginning of summer; in subsequent years - much earlier.

Vatochnik is interesting as original plant with an unusual, albeit discreet coloring of inflorescences that have a unique delicate aroma - that is why people call them “fragrant bouquets”.

Swallowweed, asclepias, milkweed or Syrian cottonweed belongs to the family Kutrov from North America. The plant was brought to Russia in the nineteenth century, both for decoration and for industrial purposes.

By botanical description, Syrian cottonweed is represented by a bush that grows up to two meters in height. Inside the biological structure of the plant, there is a presence of white liquid, which is popularly called milky juice. The lanceolate leaves of Asclepias are green, with pronounced veins of beige and reddish tones. They are located oppositely, have an oblong appearance, a wavy edge, and a size of up to thirty centimeters in length and twelve centimeters in width. At the top of the shoots there are umbrella-shaped inflorescences, on which sit fragrant flowers of pink, red and purple tones. The flowering phase is observed in the summer and autumn seasons. After the flowering period, a seed box in the form of a green shell (8-10 centimeters) is formed, as it has a beautiful surface and similarity when opening. The ripening of brown seeds, which cover the capsule in clusters and have white pubescence, can occur in warm climates. Aroma flowering bush Reminds me of the smell of a candy store, particularly chocolate. Due to the presence of white fluff on the seeds, the plant received the name - cottonweed.

Asclepias Cornuti is another name for the cottonweed, which appeared in honor of the Italian botanist. Cornuti, seeing the cotton grass, mistook it for another culture.

The root system of the plant is represented by shoots that take root vertically and horizontally in the soil. It is difficult to call them powerful, so it is better not to propagate by root division, since when digging up a bush, the roots are damaged.

The genus of cottonweed has several species that differ in botanical structure, climatic conditions of growth and care. The most adapted to our climate are Syrian milkweed and Asclepias meat - red (incarnate color).

Meat - red milkweed is slightly smaller in size than the Syrian one, and grows up to one and a half meters in height. The shape of bushes, leaves, stems and inflorescences is similar to Syrian cotton wool, only the color of the umbrellas differs in purple, red or burgundy tone. The smell when flowering is not too intense.

Syrian milkweed and red meatweed are perennial plants that withstand frost well. In harsher winters, both species, like others garden plants, need shelter and mulching of the soil.

The flowering phase is observed from mid-June, as well as in July, August and September. The duration of this phase can reach more than a month. After the end of this period, the next one begins - fruit ripening, which occurs especially actively during warm autumn weather.

Properties and application

Seminal hairs white and tender to the touch, quite abundantly cover the ripened seeds inside the fruit. When you open the fruit, a decent wad of cotton wool is placed in your hand, which prompted the biological industry to use the plant as an analogue of cotton. Such material can be used in the manufacture of fabric by adding fibers to silk, cotton and wool. The beauty and naturalness of the resulting material created great popularity for some time. It was propagated, grown and provided with appropriate care on many land plots, both private and public. Over time, the woven fabric ceased to be in demand in the spinning industry, since the woven hairs were not strong enough, which negatively affected the quality of the resulting material.

IN modern times, the cotton raw material of the plant is well used in the furniture industry, but emerging synthetic alternative materials are pushing cotton wool into the past.

For medicinal purposes, some healers use the milky sap secreted by the plant. According to its ability to cleanse and heal the skin, it can remove some growths, warts and papillomas. When large areas of the epidermis are affected, as in psoriasis, cottonweed juice can be added to bath water. To prepare infusions and decoctions of the plant, flowers, leaves and roots are collected. IN chemical composition cottonweed contains amino acids and other organic compounds, which can strengthen the immune system, maintain cardiotonicity, that is, stabilize cardiovascular disorders. Some herbal mixtures for the treatment of arrhythmia and angina pectoris include Syrian milkweed. The cosmetology industry also uses cotton wool raw materials for the production of regenerating and anti-aging creams. Some recipes traditional medicine It is recommended to add plant leaves to salad in the spring.

In ancient times, the milky juice of Asclepias was used as rubber, since its components are elastomers. To obtain plant materials, cottonweed plantations occupied large areas of land, and workers were hired to provide care. During the juice processing process, the elastic properties of the pulp did not match high quality in products, so the plant could not be compared with other rubber plants. In the process of producing latex synthetically, the need for cotton wool disappeared.

The umbrella-shaped inflorescences of the cottonweed contain a large amount essential oil. The remaining amount is accumulated in other parts of the plant. It is the aroma of this oil that spreads over long distances during the flowering period of the cotton grass. The smell has been compared to chocolate, floral, vanilla, and does not leave people with different tastes indifferent. For this reason, cotton wool is widely used in cosmetology for the manufacture of perfumes. To do this, the inflorescences, which have the largest number of cavities and secretory glands of essential oil, are grown, collected and properly cared for.

If you plant a milkweed and it grows over an area of ​​a hectare, you can collect a considerable amount of honey. Bees and other insects love to collect nectar during the flowering period of cottonweed. Under conditions of proper care when growing the plant, its flower will be large and honey-bearing. The resulting bee product is considered especially beneficial for the human body if it contains cotton wool. It acquires a certain color, taste, smell and usefulness.

Growing and care

You can plant cotton wool in the garden near the fence, as well as on an empty plot of land, which is located on garden territory. Close to garden and annual plants ornamental crops, it is not worth planting, as it can survive neighboring plants. Some perennials combine well and create a decorative picture, of which we can highlight: bells, meadows, pearl barley, reed grass, pikeweed, miscanthus, physostegia, echinocea and aconites.

To ensure that its root system does not shoot out over long distances, the planting of cotton grass is carried out with spatial restrictions. This technique is done to prevent the growth of horizontal roots and the formation of a bush. You can use a large container, tire or other material that will provide walls in the ground. In this case, the cotton grass grows into a large, lush and fragrant bush that does not affect neighboring plants. To grow cottonweed, you need to know that it propagates by seeds and cuttings. You can also divide the root, but this is difficult since it is quite fragile. Like many plants, cottonweed loves light, loose and fertilized soil, but if such qualities are not at the highest level, then the survival of the crop does not suffer. Cottonweed seeds are collected in September or October and, provided they are sufficiently ripe, planted in the substrate. At the same time, you can cut off the shoots and propagate the milkweed by cuttings. Planting of cuttings is also carried out in the spring. In this propagation practice, it is difficult to remember a case when the milkweed did not grow. The bush blooms after three years.

The main thing for a cotton wool grower is sun, water and Fresh air. sunlight participates in plant photosynthesis and even scorching rays do not cause burns on the leaves and do not dry out the soil. Planting shrubs in open sunny areas will not violate the rules of plant care.

Watering for cotton wool is needed not abundantly and not too often. According to observations, heavy rains and groundwater sufficiently moisturize the bush, and it can survive drought for a long time in beautiful in bloom. You can water the milkweed once a week, or even every ten days, it depends on the type of crop.

It tolerates cotton wool and pruning well. This procedure is carried out in the fall, while cutting off internal branches and overgrown shoots to form the crown of the plant, add decorativeness and ensure breathability.

The climate of our region is quite suitable for the milkweed, both sultry summers and frosty winters. The plant can withstand all weather conditions for several years. Some gardeners remain unchanged in their schedule for caring for the plants of their garden, so they mulch the soil of all crops, and also protect them from frost and heat, which does not interfere with the milkweed plant.

Of the eighty species of Asclepias, which are recorded in both Africa and South America, we can distinguish:

• Tuberose;
• Kurasavsky;
• Fruticose;
• Tuberous.

These species can sometimes be grown in our latitudes, but the plants may not be as unpretentious as their relatives and cannot withstand winter. Such species require certain care in planting, providing temperature regime, watering, pruning, fertilizing and other techniques. By external signs, varieties have different size bush, the shape of branches, leaves, flowers, as well as their color. Orange, yellow and pink cottonweed inflorescences are observed.