Orontium Water

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Video: Orontium Water

Video: Orontium Water
Video: Оронтиум водный (лат. Orontium aquaticum) 2024, May
Orontium Water
Orontium Water
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Orontium aquatic (lat. Orontium aquaticum) - an aquatic plant, which is a representative of the numerous Aroid family. The people often call him the "golden club".

Description

Orontium aquatic is a coastal or aquatic plant, the height of which can reach from thirty to fifty centimeters. The rhizomes of this herbaceous perennial, vertical and gradually rooting as they grow, penetrate quite deeply into the soil. And the roots of this aquatic inhabitant are quite long and very peculiar.

The leaves of the aquatic orontium, provided that it is planted at a decent depth, will be floating. In specimens growing in shallow water, they are always slightly raised. The width of the leaves reaches an average of five to twelve centimeters, and their length can be up to thirty centimeters. All leaves are slightly pointed, whole-edged, characterized by an oblong-elliptical shape and equipped with very clear parallel veins. Above, each leaf is painted in dense green shades (sometimes they can be slightly bluish), and below their color is usually silver (occasionally - with a colorful purple tint). And the leaves of orontium aquatic boast a water-repellent waxy surface. The width of the flattened leaf petioles usually reaches 1, 2 cm, and their length can reach fifty centimeters.

The peduncles of this plant are always longer than the leaves, slightly thickened and flattened at the very inflorescences. Some of them are curved in an arcuate manner, and the other part is straight. The upper parts of each peduncle are raised above the water surface, and the lower ones are immersed in the water. When this plant blooms, the flower stalks are painted in rich white tones.

The tiny bisexual flowers of this aquatic beauty are painted in warm golden-yellow shades and form a multitude of either club-shaped, club-like, or narrow, cylindrical ears that playfully rise above the water. The length of these ears can vary from 12 to 18 cm, and the width - from 0.6 to 0.8 cm. But the flowers are characterized by a very unpleasant odor. Orontium aquatic blooms in April or May.

The fruits of orontium aquatic are single-seeded green berries. As they ripen, the cobs of the plant lean towards the water. And the finally ripe fruits are instantly separated from the cobs and float on the water for about a week. As soon as the water completely fills the pericarp, the berries will immediately plunge to the bottom of the reservoir. And after another week, seed germination will begin in the muddy soil.

Usage

Orontium aquatic is ideal for decorating winter gardens and decorating small ponds - this aquatic inhabitant will delight the eye with its luxurious flowering for a long time.

You can also eat this plant - not only its boiled rhizomes, but also fried seeds are considered edible. True, both those and others must be pre-soaked for several hours. And to taste, the seeds of water orontium are very reminiscent of peas. In addition, flour is made from dried rhizomes, which is actively used in some regions as an additive for various bakery products.

Growing and caring

Orontium aquatic grows equally well in stagnant and running water. It is best to grow it in containers, submerging them in water to a depth of thirty centimeters (the more accurate depth will depend on the size of the plant). The most suitable for growing orontium aquatic will be clayey fertile soils. It is also important to try to place it in sunny and warm enough areas.

Alas, the aquatic orontium cannot boast of a high growth rate. And when grown in soil in central Russia, it may not bloom at all due to a lack of heat. But in the southern regions, it easily overwinters right in the ground. In all other areas, it is transferred for the winter to a fairly cool winter garden or to a cellar.

This plant propagates both by dividing rhizomes and by seeds. And it is very resistant to diseases and pests. True, sometimes overgrowing algae can harm it.

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