2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Sheikhzeria (lat. Scheuchzeria) - a genus of herbaceous plants of the Scheuchzeria family. Belongs to the category of marsh plants. The genus got its name in honor of the famous botanist and naturalist Johann Scheuchzer. It includes only one species - marsh Scheuchzeria (Latin Scheuchzeria palustris).
Distribution locations
It occurs naturally in the Northern Hemisphere, both warm and cold. Isolatedly distributed in the mountains, for example, the Alps and the Carpathians. It also takes place on the territory of the Russian Federation. To date, Scheuchzeria is listed in the Red Book of the Moscow Region.
Typical habitats in the natural environment are sphagnum blots, swamps located near damp meadows and river valleys. Usually grows in close alliance with cranberries, sundew and even cotton grass. Not used in gardening and folk medicine. Serves as a peat forming agent in swamps.
Plant characteristic
Sheikhzeria marsh is represented by low-growing perennial plants no more than 25 cm high. It is famous for its well-branched root system. It has sympodial rhizomes up to 50 cm long. By the way, they are responsible for securing the sphagnum cover in swamps. Scheuceria is not completely submerged in water, some of it is above the surface.
The foliage of plants is two-row, alternate, endowed with long open sheaths with an outgrowth in the form of a membrane at the base. Outwardly, it is very similar to sedge foliage. An interesting feature of Sheuchzeria foliage is the presence of multicellular hairs that form in the sinuses.
The flowers are inconspicuous, unattractive, collected in racemose inflorescences. As a rule, inflorescences bear only 5-6 flowers, endowed with bracts. Flowering in different regions is different, for example, in the territory of the Moscow region, flowering occurs in late spring - the second or third decade of May and lasts approximately until the end of June.
The fruits of Scheuchzeria are represented by multileafs. They are rather large, green-yellow in color, some of their parts swell and then open along the carpel suture. Fruiting occurs in early - mid-summer, depending on climatic conditions. So, in the Moscow region, fruiting occurs in mid-June and ends at the end of July.
