Orontium

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

Orontium (lat. Orontium) - an aquatic plant; monotypic genus of plants of the Aroid family (Latin Araceae). Orontium is popularly called the "golden club". In nature, the plant is found in the eastern regions of North America, Syria and Turkey. Previously, orontium was widely used in cooking, its rhizomes and seeds were boiled or fried and eaten.

The genus was identified by Karl Linnaeus back in 1753. Previously, the genus included 3 species, now only one - aquatic orontium. In Russia and other countries with a temperate climate, orontium is rarely cultivated, which is associated with low winter-hardy properties and insufficient knowledge in agricultural cultivation techniques. Despite this, some gardeners are trying to tame the plant in their area.

Characteristics of culture

Orontium is represented by perennial deep-water plants with long, vertical rhizomes that form a huge number of roots as they grow. Externally, the plants look very attractive, its foliage is unusually beautiful, from the outside it is bluish-green, from the inside it is silvery. Leaves are leathery, entire, pointed at the ends, with pronounced veins, have an oblong elliptical shape, slightly rise above the water surface.

Inflorescences of plants are no less attractive, presented in the form of cobs, consisting of small yellow flowers. They rise above the water on long peduncles, some of which are deeply submerged in the water. Orontium inflorescences are devoid of smell, but they look magical. They will decorate any (even the most unsightly) body of water. The fruits of the orontium are blue-green or green, berry-like, contain only one seed. Orontium cannot boast of fast growth; it develops slowly. In addition, it is quite demanding on growing conditions.

The subtleties of cultivation

Orontium prefers reservoirs with stagnant waters, well lit by the sun. It does not tolerate the commonwealth of other aquatic plants, otherwise it will begin to wither. Lack of sunlight also negatively affects the development of culture, they either do not bloom at all, or form 2-3 inflorescences. Accepts orontium shallow water. The presence of thick silt is required. The soils should be nutritious and rich in humus.

Landing is carried out at a depth that does not allow freezing in winter. In general, orontium cannot be called a winter-hardy crop, it tolerates a drop in temperatures down to -15C, lower temperatures lead to complete freezing. When grown in central Russia, orontium is planted in special containers that are moved to shallow water. In winter, the containers are taken out and carried into the basement.

I must say that in the middle lane, plants rarely bloom, which cannot be said about the southern regions. Orontium is extremely rarely affected by diseases and pests. Intolerant of algae, this is important to remember when planting a crop. Orontium is propagated by seeds and dividing rhizomes. In the south, seeds are sown in August, before the onset of cold weather they will have time to germinate and take root. Caring for orontium is simple, it consists in removing old foliage and thinning.