Lupine

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Video: Lupine

Video: Lupine
Video: Lupine - Lupinus species - How to grow Lupines 2024, May
Lupine
Lupine
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Lupine (lat. Lupinus) - a fairly numerous genus of flowering plants from the legume family (lat. Fabaceae). Most often these are perennial herbaceous plants, but there are also annual species. In addition, among the species of the genus Lupine, there are shrubs and there is even one tree that has chosen warm Mexico as its place of residence. Decorative foliage and long bright flowering are not the only advantages of plants of the genus. All parts of the plant have healing powers, and the seeds have been used by people as food since ancient times.

Description

Lupine, a herbaceous plant, stocked up with a deep taproot, reinforced with additional lateral roots. Small nodules form on the roots, on which microorganisms-magicians find shelter, able to extract nitrogen, which enriches the soil with the main element of plant nutrition.

Such strong roots appear on the surface of the earth with vigorous bushes with a strong erect branching stem. The multi-toed leaves hold on to the stems with long petioles, giving the plant splendor and charm. One sheet plate can have from 5 to 28 blades, imparting an openwork to the soft sheet. The foliage is so decorative that even without inflorescences it will take its rightful place in a flower garden. The surface of the leaves can be smooth or covered with silvery hairs.

From the axils of the leaves, strong peduncles are born, covered with sailboat flowers, typical for plants of the legume family. The petals are painted in bright colors of all kinds of colors and shades, and can also combine several colors at the same time. Carpal inflorescences, like elegant candles, adorn front gardens and flower beds.

Lupine's fruit is also traditional, which is a bean that hides several seeds under closed valves. As a rule, seeds contain bitter alkaloids, and therefore people consider them unsuitable for food. But in many countries of the world people are not stopped by the bitterness of seeds. They use running water to remove the bitterness from the seeds, and then prepare hearty and healthy dishes from them, similar to dishes made from peas, beans and other common legumes for nutrition.

What are Lupine seeds rich in?

Lupine seeds are in many ways similar to soybean seeds, and in some respects even surpass the widely advertised product at present. Soy is used to prepare many different products that are popular with vegetarians, vegans, as well as people who, for various reasons, refuse to eat animal meat.

Since, at the end of the 20th century, Lupine suddenly attracted the attention of people involved in the cultivation of plant foods, scientists tried to take a closer look at the pros and cons of using Lupine seeds in human nutrition.

Seeds are rich in protein, like soybean seeds, but the fat content in them is less, and therefore such food does not threaten to increase the weight of eaters.

A storage protein called "gluten" (or, gluten), which is present in cereal plants and in some people provokes an allergic reaction in the body, is absent in Lupine seeds. Therefore, where Lupine is grown, its ground seeds are added to the baking dough.

Lupine contains useful amino acids, antioxidants, as well as dietary fiber, which are not processed by the stomach, but reach the intestine, creating favorable conditions for the growth and development of microflora in it.

Healing abilities

All parts of Lupin have healing powers, from roots to tops. Both fresh and dried raw materials are used. Oil is squeezed out of the seeds.

Decoctions are prepared from raw materials, which are used in the treatment of spleen, liver, acne and other skin problems (including getting rid of dandruff), inflammatory processes in the joints, diabetes mellitus (type 2) …

Lupine oil is used in cosmetology, as well as in the treatment of many diseases.

Contraindications

Since the plant contains poisonous alkaloids, you should not self-medicate.

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