2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Anise lofant (lat. Lophanthus anisatus) - a perennial plant of the Lamb or Lipocystaceae family. Another name is fennel multicolor. Natural range - Central Asia, Southern Europe, North America and Canada. Small crop plantations are cultivated in Crimea and Moldova.
Characteristics of culture
Anise lofant is a herbaceous plant 1-1.5 m high with numerous tetrahedral shoots and a fibrous root system. Leaves are sparsely toothed, petiolate, heart-lanceolate, 4-4.5 cm wide and 7.5-10 cm long. The flowers are medium-sized, blue-lilac, less often white, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences developing on lateral and axial shoots. The fruit is a smooth oblong-oval nut of dark brown color. Seeds are small, dark.
The active growth of the culture begins in March, the buds are formed at the end of May, and the mass flowering - from June to August. The entire aerial part has a sharp, unobtrusive aniseed aroma and a pleasant sweetish taste. With good care in one place, a lofant can grow up to 8-9 years. The culture is light-loving, drought-resistant, but demanding on growing conditions.
Growing conditions
Anise lofant prefers fertile, loose, moderately moist and neutral soils. Does not tolerate heavily limed, heavy clayey and waterlogged soils. Plots for cultivation are desirable well-lit, protected from northerly winds. When planting, you should avoid lowlands with stagnant cold air and melt water.
Reproduction and planting
The aniseed lofant is propagated by seeds and dividing the bush. Seeds remain viable for 2-3 years. Lofant seeds are sown in seedling boxes filled with fertile soil. When two true leaves appear on the seedlings, the seedlings dive into separate containers. Seedlings are planted in the ground at intervals of 20-25 cm in late May - early June, but only after the threat of frost has passed. Sowing in open ground is not prohibited. The seeding depth is 2-2, 5 cm. The seeds are sown in an ordinary way. The distance between the rows should be 35-40 cm. To facilitate sowing, the seeds are mixed with fine-grained sand in a ratio of 1: 2.
Under favorable growth conditions, seedlings appear in 10-12 days. Crops are thinned out with the appearance of two true leaves on the seedlings. Re-thinning is carried out as needed, the final distance should be about 20-25 cm. By dividing the bush, anise lofant is propagated in spring or autumn. The bush is dug up, divided into parts with a knife and planted in the ground. Important: each division should have a root system sufficient for development and 4-5 renewal buds.
Care
Caring for anise lofant includes systematic weeding, loosening, feeding and watering. In early spring, plants are fed with liquid nitrogen fertilizers or humus. Subsequent dressing is done after each cutting of the greenery. Mullein infusion is ideal for this purpose. For the winter, ridges with a lofant are insulated with peat chips, pine or spruce branches or crushed bark. A dense layer of snow will become a natural covering material.
Harvesting
Lofant is harvested during budding or flowering. The cut greens are dried under a canopy in the shade or in a well-ventilated area without direct sunlight. After drying, the plants are crushed, poured into glass jars and covered with lids. You can also pack the lofant in thick paper bags.
Application
Anise lofant is widely used in medicine. The people call the plant a symbol of beauty and youth. Lofant infusions reduce blood pressure and regulate metabolism. The lofant is useful for hepatitis, gastritis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Flower infusions are used for paralysis. Often, anise lofant is used in the manufacture of cosmetics for skin and hair.
Lofant greens are used in salads, soups, potato and cabbage dishes. As a fresh seasoning, lofant is added to rub, sandwiches and cottage cheese. Flowers and leaves are brewed and used as a medicinal tea. The lofant is also ideal for decorating garden plots.
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