Indigofer

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Indigofera (lat. Indigofera) is a genus of flowering plants of the legume family. Another name is Indigonos. The genus has about 300 species. Natural range - tropical countries and temperate latitudes of East Asia. In Russia, only one species is cultivated - Indigofera Gerard (Latin Indigofera gerardiana), represented by flowering deciduous shrubs.

Characteristics of culture

Indigofera are herbaceous plants, dwarf shrubs or shrubs. Leaves are odd-pinnate, alternate, consist of short-petiolate, entire leaflets, equipped with styloid stipules. There are forms with simple or trifoliate leaves. Leaves bloom in late May - early June. The flowers are pink, white or purple, moth type, collected in axillary racemose inflorescences. The calyx is small, bell-shaped, with five identical teeth, less often one elongated tooth. The fruit is an oblong or linear-oblong pod, often rounded or spherical, faceted or flat. When ripe, the fruit cracks.

The subtleties of growing

Indigofera is a thermophilic plant, it prefers sunny areas with protection from cold northern winds. Soils for growing crops are desirable well-drained, loose, moderately moist with a neutral or slightly acidic pH. It is not recommended to plant Indigofer in areas with swampy, waterlogged and highly acidic soil.

Indigofer is propagated by seed method. Seeds are sown in warm greenhouses (in autumn) or in open ground (in early spring), followed by diving of seedlings for growing in a warm room or nursery. Summer grafting is not prohibited. This procedure is carried out in June-July. Cuttings are planted in a nutrient substrate under glass or plastic wrap. Indigofer, grown by sowing seeds, blooms for 3-4 years, but with the condition of an optimal climate and careful care.

When growing crops in areas with a temperate climate, plants with the onset of stable cold weather freeze to the soil surface, but by June the shoots are restored. Therefore, it is more advisable to cut off the shoots annually, leaving 15-20 cm. For the winter, plants must be mulched with peat or humus, it is not forbidden to cover the Indigofer with spruce branches. Young shoots that form in spring can easily tolerate small frosts (this applies to species grown in a temperate climate zone).

Indigofer needs rare watering during prolonged drought and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. The second procedure stimulates the formation of flowers, and also affects the size of the inflorescences and the intensity of their color. Positively, the culture refers to weeding and loosening of the near-stem or near-stem zone. Mulching is also helpful.

Application

The beautifully flowering indigofer has long ago won the love of gardeners living in many parts of the world, including Russia. Semi-shrubs and shrubs are ideal for landscaping gardens. Plants are often used to create autogenies, or gardens of autumn flowers. Indigofer looks especially harmonious in group plantings. Moreover, it is combined with a wide variety of perennial and annual flowers and ornamental shrubs.

Some types of indigofer are used to obtain indigo dyes for dyeing fabrics. Basma, a natural hair dye, is also made from plants. The thing is that the leaves of indigofer contain indican, a colorless glycoside, which, under the action of enzymes, is split into two substances, one of which, when exposed to air, is oxidized and converted into indigotin. It is this substance that, when mixed with other components, gives the paint a violet-blue tint.

Indigofer is also used in folk medicine. Indigo tinctures are used to treat wounds and abrasions, boils and skin diseases of various kinds, inflammatory processes in the throat or larynx. Cancer, leukemia and liver diseases are subject to the action of indigo. The plant is famous for its antiseptic properties, therefore it is used in cosmetology.