2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Lardizabala (lat. Lardizabala) - monotypic culture from the Lardizabalov family.
Description
Lardizabala is an evergreen perennial cultivated for its wonderful edible fruits. This is a liana, the length of which can reach three and a half meters. The leaves of this plant are leathery, incredibly glossy and bright green.
The stalks of young shoots are herbaceous and very soft, but after some time they become woody and harden.
The flowers of lardizabala are characterized by a dark purple, almost black color. By the way, they can be not only monoecious, but also dioecious. The size of female flowers ranges from ten to sixteen millimeters, and male flowers - from seven to eight. And the fruits of this plant are sausage-like dark purple berries with fleshy and extremely sweet pulp, growing in length from five to eight centimeters. Inside each fruit can be found irregularly shaped seeds. As a rule, their size is about one centimeter.
Where grows
Lardizabala is a luxurious vine native to Chile and Peru. At the moment, the distribution area of this culture covers the subtropical and tropical zones. She found recognition in the countries of South America and Asia. And outside of all the above countries, this fruit is still practically unknown.
Application
The edible berries of lardizabala have long been eaten not only raw, but also boiled. Some hostesses also dry her. In addition, compotes or jam are made from it, as well as all kinds of sauces are prepared and fresh fruits are added to a wide variety of fruit salads.
For a long time, these healthy berries have enjoyed unprecedented popularity among South American peoples. Due to the fact that they are very rich in minerals and vital vitamins, they are recommended to be used as a general tonic for the prevention of a great variety of various ailments. In addition, the fruits of lardizabala are rich in beneficial organic acids that have a beneficial effect on intestinal motility. Moreover, these acids help to regulate and normalize the acidity of the stomach.
Nowadays, this culture has become very popular in medicine in some Asian countries. True, due to its relatively low prevalence, the full chemical composition of the beauty of lardizabala has not yet been sufficiently studied.
Contraindications
There are currently no specific contraindications to the use of lardizabal. Nevertheless, it is necessary to introduce this product into the diet with a certain degree of caution - sometimes extremely unpleasant allergic reactions are possible with this exotic fruit.
Growing
Lardizabala grows best on loamy and sandy soils, well-drained and sufficiently moist. By the way, she is absolutely intolerant of waterlogging. And this tropical beauty is also able to withstand a short drop in temperature to minus ten degrees.
Lardizabala is quite light-requiring, however, too long exposure to direct sunlight often leads to the discharge of individual leaves of this plant. Lardizabal will grow quite well in partial shade.
This culture propagates both vegetatively (by young layering or cuttings) and by seeds. Most often, lardizabala is planted as a greenhouse plant, because in open ground this vine will grow only in subtropical and tropical conditions. True, sometimes the planting of this plant can be found in the Crimea and in the very south of Russia. There, lardizabala is kept in a greenhouse for two to three years before being put out on the street.
