2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Grebenshik (lat. Tamarix) - a light-loving winter-hardy woody plant from the Tamarix family. Its other name is tamarix.
Description
Grebenshik - these are low trees or shrubs, characterized by very spreading crowns. Moreover, these plants can be both evergreen and deciduous. As a rule, their height is about one to two meters, but sometimes it can reach three, and sometimes even twelve meters! As for the diameter of the trunks, it often reaches half a meter.
Many rod-shaped thin shoots of this plant are generously dotted with tiny bluish-greenish scaly leaves. With the onset of autumn, the comb turns yellow, while not individual leaves begin to fall off, but small twigs! And miniature purple, pink or white comb flowers form luxurious racemose inflorescences.
Live seeds in the overwhelming majority of species of comb are usually colored in light brown tones, and when they lose their germination, they gradually darken.
The name of the genus originates from the name of the Tamariz River located in the Pyrenees (now this river is called Timbra). In total, science knows more than sixty types of comb.
Where grows
The Grebenshik grows in very large areas, from Southern Europe to India. Most often it can be seen growing in steppes, semi-deserts or deserts. And in the Russian open spaces in nature, under natural conditions, you can meet only five types of comb.
Usage
In the southern regions, the comb is very often and quite actively used for landscaping - this is one of the best breeds both for decoration and for successfully solving such an equally important task as fixing loose sands. However, this handsome man is also found quite often in central Russia: unmatched constantly blooming thickets are created from him, in addition, excellent hedges are obtained from the comb, however, in this case, an appropriate planting and, of course, regular haircuts will be required. And the small branches of the comb, as well as its inflorescences, are excellent for cutting.
The wood of the comb is of particular interest - yellowish-gray or yellowish-white, ring-vascular, without division into sapwood and core, with clearly distinguishable growth rings, very dense and with surprisingly beautiful patterns. However, due to the fact that truly large trees are extremely rare, such wood is mainly used to create small crafts, and is also used for carving and turning work.
Also, the comb is considered a good pergonos. Its young twigs are eaten by cattle with great pleasure, and with the onset of autumn they can boast quite strong laxative properties.
Growing and caring
Grebenshik is a thermophilic and very light-loving plant, however, some of its varieties can also boast of very good winter hardiness. Best of all, this handsome man will feel on light and nutritious soils, although in general it is very undemanding to soils. And the comb is very salt-resistant!
The comber tolerates transplantation and haircuts very well, so you can safely perform these manipulations with him. As for wintering, it is not worth covering it for the winter - with the onset of spring, the frozen shoots of the plant are simply cut out.
And the comb is propagated by both coppice shoots and cuttings (green cuttings are especially well suited for these purposes). By the way, in winter, branch cuttings can also be rooted in the water right on the windowsill!
