Borago

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Borago (Latin Borago) - herbaceous annual from the Borage family. People call borago cucumber grass or borage.

Description

Borago is a coarse-haired annual that can grow in length from sixty centimeters to a meter. The roots of the borago are pivotal, and the hollow, ribbed and rather thick stems branching upwards can be either ascending or straight.

The lower stem and basal leaves are distinguished by an oval or elliptical shape. Closer to the bases, they gradually taper into short petioles, and their tops are rather blunt. As for the stem leaves, they are characterized by an oblong-ovoid shape. All of them are stalk-embracing and sessile and, like the stalks themselves, are abundantly covered with whitish and rather stiff hairs.

Sitting on long legs, borago flowers gather in bizarre curls. Their densely stiff-haired calyces are divided almost to the very bases into several linear-lanceolate lobes. Each flower has five stamens, and their corollas, the length of which exceeds the length of the cups, are equipped with short tubes and are painted either in whitish or dark blue tones. You can admire the flowering of this plant from June to August.

Borago fruits are small lumpy and oblong-ovate nuts, ripening from July to September.

Where grows

The homeland of Borago is Southwestern Europe and Syria. In the wild, this herb can be found in a number of countries in South America, North Africa and Southern Europe. Borago is also found in Asia Minor. Quite often, this useful herb grows like a weed, but in countries with well-developed beekeeping (France, England, etc.), it is also grown as a honey plant.

Application

With the addition of borago, they prepare okroshka, salads and excellent side dishes for fish and meat dishes. In addition, this herb is an excellent pergonos and melliferous plants - honey from it turns out to be very light and tasty. Borage leaves are eaten fresh, and flowers are either candied or fresh.

And if you plant borago at the same time as potatoes, this plant will help reduce the activity of the Colorado potato beetle, which will save up to 95% of the harvest.

The aerial parts of borago are sometimes used for dyeing wool fabrics - they acquire a rich blue color.

Borago is considered an excellent laxative and diuretic. The leaves of this herb (both fresh and dried) are an excellent remedy for skin diseases, gout and rheumatism. In addition, they are endowed with an enveloping, diaphoretic and soothing effect. And vitamin salads with the addition of borago help prevent inflammatory processes in the intestines and kidneys, and also have a beneficial effect on metabolism.

The minerals contained in borago help to strengthen the cardiovascular system and have a positive effect on the composition of the blood. And the potassium and calcium contained in the leaves of this plant are vital for maintaining the health of the nervous system.

Borage is also used in cosmetology - on its basis, excellent products are prepared for the care of sensitive and problem skin.

Growing

Borago is planted mainly in sunny areas on light calcareous and sandy soils, and this can be done several times throughout the year. As a rule, valuable grass is planted in autumn and spring. Winter crops will be no less successful.

When planting, borage seeds are planted to a depth of about three to four centimeters, while the distance between the rows should not be less than sixty centimeters.

Borago does not require special care: this crop must be weeded, fed and broken in a timely manner. And in case of drought, borago is pampered with watering, pouring up to ten to fifteen buckets of water on each hundred square meters.