2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Spiked crow (Latin Actaea spicata) - a type species of perennial herbaceous plants of the Voronets genus (Latin Actaea), ranked by botanists as part of the Buttercup family (Latin Ranunculaceae). A picturesque plant and outwardly very appetizing fruits are fraught with danger to humans. The alkaloids found in the tissues of the plant, especially in the pretty black fruits, are poisonous and can injure a person's skin or cause poisoning. Today, the Spiked Raven can be found in public parks as a decoration. Therefore, it is important to inform children about the harmful abilities of the plant in order to avoid sad incidents.
Description
The spiked crow is a herbaceous plant, the long life of which is supported by a multi-headed rhizome, which is distinguished by a knobby structure and impressive human power.
An erect stem appears from the rhizome to the surface of the earth, which loves to branch. Its surface, as a rule, is very smooth, or it is protected from external stimuli by slight pubescence. At the base of the stem, the surface is covered with brown scales.
Strong stems provide a solid support for relatively large, complex leaves with a very showy appearance, which hold onto the stem with their stalks. A complex leaf is formed by surprisingly picturesque leaves, the shape of which can be very different. They can be simple or lobed; oval, ovoid or heart-shaped. The leaf plate is decorated with lateral veins, which branch off at an angle from the central vein to the edges of the leaf. Openwork to the leaves is also given by the denticles that cut the edges of the leaf plate, as well as by the flirtatious sharp tips of each blade or leaf. The leaves are a bit like the leaves of Stinging Nettle. The surface of the leaf plate can be smooth or slightly pubescent along the veins.
Blooming, which lasts throughout May and June, reveals to the world racemose inflorescences, similar to a bottle brush. The inflorescences are formed by small flowers, which, one or two on one strong peduncle, surround the rather upper part of the long peduncle with a friendly family. The flower corolla has an even number of white elongated petals (two, four or six) and is protected by sepals, although they fall off too early.
The culmination of the growing season is the fruit, which is a juicy leaflet similar to miniature black olives. There are numerous seeds inside such a leaflet.
After fruiting, the ground part of the plant dies off, hoping for its underground rhizome, on which growth buds are formed for the next year. Such plants are called by botanists the word "hemicryptophytes".
Habitat
Spiked crow is a European plant capable of growing in some Asian regions, where the frosts are not so strong as to be able to get to the underground rhizome.
The plant can be found both on the river slopes open to the sun, and in the shady thickets of shrubs and trees.
Healing abilities
Spiked crow is distinguished by an unpleasant odor and high toxicity. Outwardly appetizing black fruits are the most poisonous. The plant owes such qualities to the content of toxic alkaloids in its parts. Although, along with poisons in the leaves, for example, there is vitamin C.
Only traditional healers resort to the help of the healing abilities of the plant, official medicine manages with other possibilities. Herbs and fruits are used to treat a variety of diseases ranging from headaches, rheumatism, asthma, and ending with stomach cancer.
Other uses of the plant
Ripe fruits can be used as raw materials for black dye production.
Recently, the plant is often adorned in public parks, forgetting to provide plantings with a warning about the poisonousness of the plant, and especially about the poisonousness of its pretty fruits, which are asking for someone to taste them.
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