Warty Euonymus

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

Warty euonymus (lat. Euonymus verrucosus) - ornamental shrub; species of the genus Euonymus of the family Euonymus. It is found in mountainous regions, mixed and deciduous forests of Europe and Asia, also grows in Iran, Turkey, China, Korea and Japan. It is widely cultivated in Russia and the Caucasus. It has a number of differences from other representatives of the genus, it is easily recognizable.

Characteristics of culture

Warty euonymus is a deciduous shrub up to 2 m high with a superficial root system forming a huge number of fibrous roots. The branches of the plant are rather thin, over the entire surface are covered with blackish or brown warts (growths), due to which the species received this name. The growths themselves are formed by their loose fabric, which easily allows air to pass through and allows the branches to breathe freely. Young shoots are dark green, with ridged outgrowths.

The leaves are green, smooth, oblong-ovate, simple, opposite, finely serrate along the edge, depending on the location, they may not fall up to 7 years, therefore many scientists are of the opinion that the warty euonymus was previously an evergreen shrub, but now it is classified as deciduous or semi-evergreen. In the fall, the foliage turns reddish pink or pink. The flowers are inconspicuous, small, four-membered, flat, greenish, greenish-brown or brownish, collected in paniculate inflorescences, pollinated by insects, have a specific mouse smell, are formed in the leaf axils, sit on long pedicels.

Fruits are polyspermous leathery capsules with orange seedlings and coral valves, which give the plants a special decorative effect. Seeds are black and light, darker on the side protruding outward than those that are immersed in the seed plant. When ripe, the seeds do not fall out, but hang on thin seeds from the fruit. Warty euonymus blooms in May for several weeks, the fruits ripen in August, sometimes in September. The average age of plants is 50 years. The shrub grows slowly, the growth is about 10 cm per year.

An equally important feature that gardeners with children should remember is that warty euonymus is poisonous; when in contact with shrubs, you need to wash your hands. Eating even small amounts of fruit can cause vomiting, diarrhea and seizures, as well as disruption of the cardiovascular system. Euonymus can be grown in the form of a dwarf tree, and in this version it will bear fruit well and decorate the garden with bright fruits. In addition, the species in question is unpretentious, frost-resistant and resistant to drought and waterlogging.

Reproduction

Propagated euonymus warty seeds, root suckers and layering, as well as green and semi-lignified cuttings. Seeds are sown after harvesting in open ground or in spring after stratification. The seeds are cleaned from seedlings, placed in wet sand and stored at a temperature of 18-20C for 1, 5-2 months, then at a temperature of 3-5C until sowing. Like the seed method, cuttings give good results. Green cuttings are cut in June - July. For rooting, cuttings are planted in a nutritious and well-moistened mixture, which is made up of sand and peat. Cuttings take root after 40-45 days. A successful method is propagation by root cuttings and suckers. They are laid in the grooves in early spring, covered and watered throughout the season. Separate the layers or offspring in the fall or next spring.

Application

In industry, warty euonymus has found a special application. The fact is that the bark, roots and leaves of the shrub contain a substance called gutta, from which a high-molecular hydrocarbon (gutta-percha) is obtained, which is identical in chemical composition with natural rubber. Currently, the use of euonymus for the production of gutta-percha has significantly decreased, since artificial polymers are in demand. The wood of the warty euonymus is used for the manufacture of small joinery and handicrafts. Most often, the considered type of euonymus is used in decorative gardening.

Plants are suitable for decorating hedges, walls of houses and agricultural buildings. Another remarkable property of this culture is the possibility of using euonymus in the art of bonsai. Moreover, not only seedlings purchased in a nursery are suitable, but also shrubs taken in the nearest forest, because the plants easily tolerate transplanting, the main thing is to provide them with optimal growing conditions. The warty euonymus will perfectly fit into the automnaly, since all its beauty is revealed in the fall.