Palmwort is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Orchidaceae family. It is named for the structure of the root system, which consists of a palmate fleshy tuber. It is distinguished by beautiful inflorescences and is known to many gardeners as a forest orchid.
Description
Representatives of this genus are listed in the Red Book. They have spread in the temperate and cold climates of Eurasia, North America and Africa. The plant is perennial, has a tuberous root system. By autumn, the tuber stores a large amount of fluid and nutrients. It becomes elastic, dense and has a light brown color. During the resting phase, nutrients are consumed and the tuber surface becomes sluggish, more loose.
The leaves of a forest orchid are bright green, lanceolate, sometimes covered with dark spots. The leaves located above are smaller than the basal ones. The inflorescence is located on a thick upright stalk with a rounded section. The stalk is slightly leafy; in total, there are 2-7 sessile leaves on the plant. The height depends on the variety, there are dwarf varieties 10 cm tall and taller (up to 70 cm).
The upper part of the spike peduncle is densely covered with small flowers. Their length is 1-2.5 cm. Plants with pink, lilac, violet and purple flowers are common. On the lower lip, a pattern of darker tones is often found. Small flowers in shape resemble an orchid, like all representatives of this family. Flowering occurs in June and July, and in mid-August the fruits ripen.
Fallen petals expose green dense boxes. The seeds are dusty, very small. In one season, up to 50 thousand seeds are formed on each plant.
Popular varieties
From the Baltic States to Altai, from Scandinavia to the center of Europe in the meadows palmtree Baltic. On a large, deeply divided tuber, 2-4 finger processes are formed. The height of the plant varies from 30 to 60 cm. Thick erect stems have a circular cross section and a cavity in the middle. On the plant, 4-6 wide, lanceolate leaves are formed, which sit tightly on the stem. They are 9-20 cm long and only 2-3 cm wide. The upper part of the stem is densely covered with light, violet-purple flowers. It blooms from early June for two months, then the fruits appear.
Elderberry grows in rare deciduous forests of Belarus, Ukraine and occasionally in the Baltic. The plants are low, the maximum length of the stem is 30 cm. It is covered with 3-4 lanceolate leaves, evenly distributed along the entire length. A short cylindrical inflorescence is very densely covered with buds. Each has from 10 to 25 large flowers. In May, during the flowering period, a weakly expressed elderberry aroma exudes. The flowers are purple or yellow with a purple pattern on the lip. Plants with red flowers also have a purple color of the stem and border on the leaves.
Palmwort May found in wet and swampy meadows of Europe. Plant height does not exceed 40 cm. Wide lanceolate leaves are evenly spaced on a straight thick stem. Their surface is covered with dark spots. On a short peduncle, there are 20-35 purple-pink flowers. Flowering occurs in May-June.
Blood Root Bloody found among shrubs, or in swampy meadows of Western Siberia, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. Prefers clay or peaty, highly compacted soils. A miniature plant 11-35 cm tall is crowned with a small dense inflorescence with violet and purple small flowers. Flowering occurs in June-July.
Palmatokorennik Spotted prefers moist forests with acidic soil or wetlands, also found at an altitude of up to 2 km. A dense stem, 25-50 cm high, covered with rare leaves. They have an ovoid shape with a blunt outer edge. The foliage is dotted with small dark spots. A dense inflorescence up to 9 cm long is covered with pale pink flowers. On the central part of the lip, a whitish strip with pink dots is visible. The flowering period is July.
Fuchsia Rootfoot - a very beautiful plant. Its height is 30-50 cm. The leaves are oval, covered with small brown spots. In the inflorescence at the top of the wide stem there are about 20-25 flowers. They are painted in light pink or light purple. Petals are dotted with many purple dots. The lower lip consists of three fused petals of equal size, which forms a serrated lower edge. It blooms from mid-June to early July.
Traunshteiner palatine differs in a thin, straight or winding stem of brown or burgundy color. The height of the shoot reaches 50 cm. Dark green narrow leaves are located on it. Light pink-purple flowers are collected in a small ear.
Palatine root meat red reaches a height of 50 cm. Distributed in the Caucasus, in Western Europe and Iran. Named for pale pink with purple dots petals coloring. The stem is covered with widely linear pointed leaves up to 25 cm long. The egg-shaped short inflorescence is densely covered with buds. It blooms throughout June.
Breeding methods
Palmatokorennik propagates in two ways:
- The seeds. The method is quite complex and ineffective due to the small supply of nutrients in the seed. They are sown in pots with peat substrate and regularly watered abundantly.
- Dividing the tuber. In spring, a small scratch is applied to the tuber with a sharp object. Small nodules begin to form at the site of damage. The grown specimens are separated and planted as an independent plant. So for the season you can get up to 18 young plants.
Features of cultivation and care
Palmatokorenniki prefer shady areas with well-moistened soils. Most varieties require moist, fertile soil. This orchid can grow on peat, loamy or clay soils. Wetland cultivation is allowed. As a top dressing, deciduous humus is used.
The plant normally hibernates in temperate climates and northern regions; there are even arctic species. The root system does not need shelter.
It is important to mark the landing site to prevent trampling. This leads to the death of the plant. The transplant also does not tolerate well, so you should not get involved in the procedure. Transplanted with a large lump of land.
Using
Palmworm is grown as a highly decorative plant in a room or in a garden. Suitable for decorating flower beds in the shade of trees or in areas near ponds. They grow near swamps, where other flowers do not take root. It looks good in group plantings with other low, bright flowering plants or with green ground cover specimens.
Previously, dried tuber powder was used to prepare a medicinal decoction. The product has general strengthening, stimulating and enveloping properties.
