2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Acmella (Latin Acmella) - a genus of herbaceous plants of the Asteraceae family, or Asteraceae. Earlier, some representatives of this genus were ranked as Spilantes. The most common species is Akmella orchard (the old name is Spilantes or Paracress). The birthplace of the culture is presumably Brazil, from where the plants came to the territory of Africa, Australia and some Asian countries. In Russia, it is considered an uncommon culture.
Characteristics of culture
Akmella is a perennial herb cultivated as an annual. Akmella is distinguished by its rapid growth, as the plants grow, they form a beautiful dark green carpet, which acquires a reddish tint in the sun. Leaves are oval or broadly ovate, with a truncated base, sitting on long petioles. Creeping stems. The flowers are small, yellow, collected in spherical-conical or conical inflorescences with a red-brown “cap”. The flowering of Acmella is long and abundant. Akmella is cold-resistant, withstands frosts down to -4C.
The subtleties of growing
Akmella prefers light, fertile soils with a pH of 6, 1-7, 5. The location is sunny. The shade is undesirable, in such areas the plants do not develop well and are affected by various pests and diseases. Sowing is carried out in late May - early June immediately in open ground. The seedling method is not prohibited, in this case the Acmella is sown in April. Acmella seeds are small, so they are sown on the soil surface, slightly dusting with soil.
With the appearance of two true leaves on the seedlings, thinning is carried out, the distance between plants in a row should be about 20 cm, between rows - 30-35 cm. Young plants need regular watering. Waterlogging and drying out should not be allowed. Top dressing is not necessary, but welcome, for which the acmella will thank it with fast growth and lush green mass.
Usage
Akmella is perfect for landscaping a garden / suburban area. It is used to create curbs, alpine slides, rockeries and other types of flower beds. Akmella looks great as an ampelous plant, it can be grown in hanging pots and decorative containers. It is not forbidden to grow a crop on the lawn in combination with other herbaceous and flowering plants.
In European countries, Acmella is used in cooking. It has a pungent taste and piquant aroma, therefore it is used for preparing vegetable salads, sauces for meat and fish, and seasonings.
Acmella leaves contain spilanthol, this substance has a strong analgesic effect. Various tinctures are prepared from the leaves, which are useful for toothaches, bruises, sprains, arthrosis, arthritis and rheumatism (as an external remedy). In India, acmella is added to chewing tobacco, in Asian countries it is widely used in homeopathy.
