2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Raven (Latin Actaea) - a genus of herbaceous perennial plants, ranked in the Buttercup family (lat. Ranunculaceae). Picturesque leaves and delicious bright berries of plants of the genus are fraught with a mortal threat to rabbits and humans, but absolutely safe for birds. This is how the living world of the planet is arranged in an interesting way. But, any poison in reasonable doses turns into a healer, and therefore some species of plants of the genus are used by medicine for the manufacture of medicines that help the heart to work rhythmically and efficiently. Gardens are decorated with spectacular plants, although one should be careful, especially if little children live in the country.
What's in your name
The Latin name of the genus "Actaea" is borrowed from the Greek language, in which it was one of the names of the plant "Elderberry".
The reason for the Russian name of the genus "Voronets" is, most likely, black berries that resemble a horse's eye.
In addition, the plants of the genus have many popular names, among which the most common are: "Crow berries", "Stinker", "Wolf berries", "Christopher's grass". In English-speaking countries, the common name is "Baneberry" ("Poison berry").
Description
Plants of the Voronets genus prefer wet places, and therefore choose swampy places for their life, or forests that retain moisture in their thickets, although they can also be found on dry slopes formed by clay or stony-clay deposits. They grow on the territory of the Northern Hemisphere of our planet, capturing the northern lands of America and Europe, as well as Western Siberia, China, Mongolia and Japan.
The basis of perenniality is a branched network of underground roots, from which herbaceous erect branching stems, covered with spectacular leaves, appear on the surface.
Large compound leaves of leaves dissected into sharp-nosed lobes are arranged in the next order on the stems, creating a very picturesque bush. Distinct central veins with a network of numerous lateral veins extending from them give a special charm to the leaf plate.
Peduncles are crowned with racemose inflorescences formed by hermaphroditic (bisexual) small flowers. The perianth of miniature flowers consists of four sepals, colored whitish and falling early, and small petals in quantities from zero (that is, they may not be at all) and up to six pieces. The tone and beauty of the inflorescence is set by the numerous stamens, the length of which exceeds the length of the other components of the flower, and the upper part of the filaments can be expanded. There are pistils among the stamens. The number of which varies from one to eight. The ovary is superior, ovoid, and the stigma is wide and sessile.
The fruits of the plants are fleshy or dry berries (nuts), shiny, the color of which is white, red or black. Fruits have the highest concentration of toxic glycosides
Healing abilities
The plant's cardiogenic toxins have the ability to quickly calm the human heart muscle. However, the use of a plant for treatment requires a clear dosage of the drug, since when the dose is exceeded, it turns from a doctor into a killer.
History keeps many cases of poisoning of children who decided to feast on the cute red or white berries of plants of the Voronets genus. Swallowing berries can lead to cardiac arrest followed by death.
The plant is toxic to rabbits, but it is surprising that birds feast on berries without bad consequences for their lives.
The roots of the "Red crow" (Latin Actaea rubra), containing? -Sitosterol, were used by the natives of America to eliminate menopausal discomfort and menstrual cramps.
