2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Chistoustom (lat. Osmunda) - shade-tolerant and moisture-loving perennial fern from the Chistoustovye family. Its second name is osmund.
Description
Chistoustom is the oldest relict fern plant on our planet. According to archaeologists, this amazing fern appeared more than one hundred and eighty million years ago! Once upon a time, in the southern hemisphere of planet Earth, there was an ancient supercontinent called Gondwana - that's where the handsome chistmouth grew up!
Chistoustom is a fern, the height of which ranges from one and a half to two meters. Its large and slowly growing pair-pinnate green leaves form incredibly beautiful rosettes of the correct shape. The leaves of the chistomus are non-wintering, and they are invariably located on short, dense rhizomes.
With the onset of autumn, the fronds of the purest mouth turn yellow or acquire a characteristic brownish color. And in tropical species, fronds are in most cases evergreen.
A characteristic difference between the purestomach and many other ferns is the huge number of sori, which change their color to a pleasant golden yellow during the ripening process, as a result of which these sori become similar to very unusual flowers. And that is why this fern gained fame as a blooming one, which in turn served as the impetus for the creation of a great many legends!
In total, this genus includes about nine species.
Where grows
Most often, the puremouth can be seen in southern Europe, as well as in the North American and Far Eastern expanses. And on the territory of Russia, this fern grows mainly in the Far Eastern region, including on the island of Sakhalin with the Kuriles, in addition, it will not be difficult to meet the purest mouth in the foothills of the Caucasus.
Usage
In our climate, in open field conditions, three varieties of the Chistmouth are successfully grown - the Royal Chist, as well as the Clayton Chist and the Asiatic Chist. Some species of this fern are quite actively used in floriculture, both industrial and amateur.
Growing and caring
Chistoustom grows best in very humid and semi-shaded swampy areas with peat soils. However, shady areas are also quite suitable for growing this graceful fern, and if the soil is very well moistened, it will really be possible to grow the puremouth in areas well-lit by the sun. When preparing the soil for planting this fern, sand and humus with peat are necessarily introduced into it, in addition, to improve the general characteristics of the soil, it is not forbidden to add small pebbles to it. By the way, the peat from under the royal purest mouth is often used for growing orchids!
Throughout the season, chistmouths need to be watered regularly - it is especially important to ensure the plant is properly watered when dry weather is established. Even a short drought can easily cause the death of this beautiful fern, and this fact should in no case be discounted. But the winter hardiness of all varieties of chistomus is quite high, so it can be safely planted in regions with a temperate climate.
Reproduction is carried out both by dividing its bushes and by means of spores. However, when multiplying by spores, it is important to take into account that these spores quickly lose their germination capacity. In natural conditions, spores, as a rule, dissipate on their own, thereby giving rise to new plants. And then these new plants can be safely removed from the soil and transplanted to permanent places, while when planting them, it is necessary to maintain a distance of about 150 - 170 centimeters.
