The dragonhead

Useful properties and applications of dragonhead

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Botanical characteristics of dragonhead

The dragonhead is a unique perennial plant that has erect branched stems up to 80 cm rod and a thin root. Its opposite leaves are oblong forms have scalloped edges. Beautiful purple flowers are arranged in false whorls on a few pieces and are uniformly arranged on racemose inflorescences.

Chetyrehochkovym the fruit splits into dark seeds that have no dormancy period: they easily germinate immediately after harvest. During the wind-ripened seeds fall out of the lower whorls. Some seeds can germinate in the fall, but in the cold they die. Others germinate in the spring. The dragonhead can be used in the form of seedlings, as this plant covers a land of gorgeous green carpet of seedlings.

The beneficial properties of dragonhead

Dragonhead has long been applied not only in Tibetan but also in Indian medicine as a sedative, astringent, antispasmodic and tonic. It is often used in neuralgia, with palpitations, migraines, toothache and also during colds. Infusion presented the herb increases the activity of all the digestive organs, exciting the appetite. In addition, this plant has beneficial effects on the human immune system, has anti-toxic and choleretic effect, reduces the content of glycogen in the blood and improves the functioning of the kidneys. In addition, the dragonhead is effective for bruises and sores, and also for rapid healing of festering wounds. It should be noted that the essential oil of dragonhead has antiseptic, mild laxative and spasmolytic effect, which allows to suppress the development of pathogenic fungi. And most importantly, all microorganisms do not develop resistance to it even if fairly prolonged contact. Moreover, was especially beneficial effect of dragonhead in some inflammatory gynecological diseases and dysfunctions.

The use of dragonhead

Often dragonhead herb used to flavor drinks in the confectionery and canning industry. Greens can be put in various summer salads and soups and fish broths. This plant will be a tangy addition to any meat dishes. The dragonhead retains its smell in dried form for a long time, allowing you year-round to add it to teas, fruit drinks, or whencanning vegetables.

It is believed that this herb is one of the best honey plants. If you want to put bees in a new hive, experienced beekeepers rubbed with dragonhead new homes for young women.

Seeds of dragonhead

In March or early April you can plant the seeds of dragonhead seedlings, they begin to bloom in mid-July, and in autumn the flowering process is completed. Sprouting seeds are able to survive short periods of cold, but not below +12 degrees. Or you can plant seeds in the ground in late may, the depth should not be greater than 1.5 cm, the Collection of seeds produced when full maturity is observed in the lower part of the inflorescence.

The cultivation of dragonhead

After sowing, the shoots of grass appear very quickly – in about a week. This plant is unpretentious, caring for them is simple and includes only the loosening of row spacing and weed control. To grow a seed must be in rows about 30 cm, and for the greens you can grow plant in thickened crops. The content of essential oil decreases and the crop of grass growing. The yield of dragonhead can be up to 2 kg.

The dragonhead as a honey plant

The dragonhead is an excellent honey plant. It gives the bees a large number of nectar and pollen. High nectar flowers dragonhead is allocated, starting from the disclosure of the stamens and to maturation of the pistil. In a period when there is no wind, the flowering shoots dragonhead exude incredible honey aroma, attracting many Bumble bees. It is known that bees can easily gather from one hectare of crops of at least 200 kg of a colorless honey is quite high quality. This honey has a fine lemon scent. In dry summers the nectar production of plants may be reduced in 2 times.

The Moldavian dragonhead

The Moldavian dragonhead is a hardy and undemanding plant, which can also be described as undemanding to the soil and are quite drought-resistant. To accelerate growth in the initial period of the growing season this grass requires frequent soil moisture, otherwise it will be noticeable lag in the growth and will quickly wither. Moldavian dragonhead blooms for a very long time, starting with July and until the end of September.

The dragonhead grandiflorum

The dragonhead grandiflorum is a perennial, but sometimes grown as an annual. Usually, this herb is excellent for increasingopen areas and in the shade and in the sun. Such a variety requires loose and oily soils. Bush height is about 40 cm Propagation of this plant is by sowing seeds. The flowers of this species of dragonhead, usually dark blue. This herb is used in medicine and in cooking, and just as an ornamental plant. Oil is represented by the herbs is reminiscent of the smell of Earl grey, which allows for use in perfumery manufacture.

The dragonhead alien

The foreign dragonhead grows in Siberia, northwestern Mongolia, and northwestern China. This species prefers gravelly and rocky southern slopes, and occasionally settles in the Alpine zone. The rhizome of the plant is thick and stiffening, and the height of the stems varies from 15 to 65 cm Leaves of this herb top, sessile or short, with rough edges. The flowers form a terminal inflorescence size about 10 cm

The Dragonhead, Ruisa

The dragonhead, Ruisa distributed as Siberia and Kazakhstan, and in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It is also found in the far East. Often it can be found in dry pine forests, steppes, forest edges, or in the mountains. Thick rhizome, supplemented by high stems up to 50 cm a dragonhead often surprised by the second summer-autumn generation of shoots. This unassuming herb has a period of rest.

Contraindications to the use of dragonhead

Contraindications for this plant is its and individual intolerance.