2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Mordovnik ordinary (lat. Echinops ritro) - a herbaceous perennial plant of the genus Mordovnik (lat. Echinops), referred by botanists to the family Astrovye (lat. Asteraceae). Its funny ruffy inflorescences are used in decorative floriculture. Mordovnik ordinary has healing abilities that help the better functioning of the human cardiovascular system, as well as beneficially affecting the nervous system. In addition, traditional healers are trying to fight baldness of male heads with an infusion of seeds.
What's in your name
The spherical heads of the inflorescences are so picturesque that they certainly give rise to different associations.
Botanists who were looking for a Latin name for a genus of morphologically similar plants associated the inflorescences with the appearance of bristly hedgehogs, and therefore the name of the genus was based on two Greek words meaning in Russian: “hedgehog” and “appearance”. Thus, the Latin name of the genus "Echinops" was born, which is the first word in the name of any plant species included in this genus.
For Russian people, the inflorescence caused a completely different association. The combat appearance of the inflorescence reminded of the ancient weapon of Russian warriors - a valiant mace, which more than once passed over the muzzles of any wickedness who tried to seize Russian lands. Hence the verb "to muzzle", and the name of the genus of plants - Mordovnik.
The specific Latin epithet "ritro" comes from the depths of centuries of European peoples, who since ancient times have called various types of plants of this genus with just such a word. Although the meaning of the word was lost over the centuries, botanists did not bother and assigned the name, which has long been familiar to people, as a specific epithet for a plant widely represented in Europe. The Russian specific epithet is not a translation from one language to another, but rather speaks of the ubiquity of the plant in the vastness of our country.
The people, as often happens, came up with their own names for the plant. But, since a number of them have something in common with the name of other plants, firmly fixed by botanists for them, it is more logical not to resort to such names, so as not to create confusion and groundless disputes.
Description
Mordovnik loves straightforwardness, which is expressed in its low-branched taproot and thick root that goes deep in order to more efficiently provide food for powerful erect stems, branching only slightly in its upper part. The height of the stem, depending on the living conditions of the plant, ranges from 0.3 to 1.5 meters, and the surface is protected by a white felt coating.
The cirrus-dissected leaves are very picturesque and give the bush a decorative look even when the time for flowering has not yet come. The dark green surface of the leaf plate can be bare, or covered with a light cobweb mesh, which becomes thicker on the back side, turning into a white felt covering. Petioles are supplied with basal leaves, as well as stem leaves located in the lower part of the stem. Above the stem, the leaves lose their size and roots, turning into sessile ones right on the stem.
The picturesque leaves are also given by the prickly toothed-serrated edge of the leaf plate, which adds to the plant's belligerence. In addition, such an edge of the leaf was the reason for the popular names "Black sow thistle", as well as "Black sedge", which belong to completely different plants.
The common Mordovnik acquires a special decorative effect during the flowering period, when the ends of its stems are armed with capitate spherical white-bluish-blue inflorescences characteristic of Astrov, but only from some tubular flowers, defiantly sticking out in all directions.
The culmination of the growing season is cylindrical achenes.
Healing abilities
Mordovnik ordinary is an officially recognized doctor. Medical scientists have discovered in its seeds a low-toxic alkaloid called echinopsin, which can help injured human nerves.
Preparations from the plant help to normalize the work of the heart, tone skeletal muscles, and help with low blood pressure.
A decoction is prepared from the seeds to stimulate hair growth.
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