2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Lunar (lat. Lunaria) - a small genus of herbaceous flowering plants belonging to the Cabbage family (lat. Brassicaceae). According to some reports, the genus includes only three or four plant species. Plants of the genus are distinguished by beautiful large whole leaves and cute inflorescences of small 4-petal flowers of white or purple color. But the most amazing part of the plants of the genus Lunnik are their pod fruits. The pods have an almost round shape and translucent valves, resembling in their appearance a miniature moon that descended to Earth.
What's in your name
A very simple genus name does not require a search in dictionaries and ancient literature to understand its meaning. The Latin word "Lunaria", if we drop the last three letters, clearly gives the desired answer - "moon".
But what does the terrestrial plant have to do with the Moon revolving around our planet and illuminating the way for the night traveler? And the culprit of this attitude is the fruits of the plant, which in their appearance resemble a lunar disk to a person, having an almost round shape and transparency of thin valves.
Description
The lunar is a fairly tall herb with an erect, strong branching stem. The stems are densely covered with large, whole leaves with a heart-shaped base and an elongated, narrower second half of the leaf, ending with a sharp nose. The edge of the leaf plate is wavy-toothed, giving the giant a little romance. The leaves are very showy.
Typical of the Cabbage family, the 4-petal flowers are somewhat larger than those of other plant relatives. They form fragrant spring inflorescences that are born on the tops of numerous branches and attract hardworking bees with honey glands. Bees in exchange for nectar pollinate the bisexual flowers of Lunnik. Although varieties with decorative large purple inflorescences have been bred, the main role in the popularity of Lunnik is played not by flowers, but by the fruits of the plant.
Creative people are attracted not even by flat pod fruits with small seeds inside, but by the oval silvery-white septum of the fruit, which remains after the pod is freed from its seeds. But the moon-like pods hanging on the branches are very picturesque. It seems that the moon is tired of hanging alone in the sky and she showered the branches of Lunnik with her numerous miniature copies. In Europe, the fruits of the Lunnik are called "papal coins", which will be useful to those who intend to go to Heaven by all means.
Varieties
* Lunar annual (lat. Lunaria annua) - a powerful meter-long bush with large decorative leaves that have chosen the shape of a human heart, somewhat elongated in length. The decoration of the sheet plate is an unevenly serrated edge. The varieties are bred in which the leaves are edged along the edge with a white border. The inflorescences are formed by small, fragrant flowers that can be blue, purple, white or crimson. Fruits - "papal coins", are a popular element of winter dry bouquets and are used by creative hands in the manufacture of souvenirs and children's handicrafts.
* Lunar come to life (lat. Lunaria rediviva) - a taller plant with leaves of two forms. The bottom of the stem is covered with heart-shaped leaves, and the upper part is covered with leaves with an ovoid leaf blade. Lilac or white small flowers form carpal inflorescences, exuding a violet scent.
Growing conditions
Lunnik or
Lunaria a very unpretentious plant that does not require a lot of sun. He will be quite satisfied with partial shade.
It grows on any soil, but it is hygrophilous, and therefore needs watering, especially during the active period of life. In order for the plant to bloom more abundantly, brighter and more aromatic, it is advisable to combine one watering per month with fertilizing the plant with mineral fertilizer.
The plant is frost-resistant, tolerates Russian frosts, without requiring special shelter.
In autumn, branches with ripe silver "coins" are carefully cut and hung for drying in a ventilated and warm room, or they are waiting for the pods to dry on the root, if the natural color of the fruit is needed.
Lunnik is propagated by sowing seeds.
