2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
The Latin name tragopogon is known only in the scientific world, it consists of two words, it is translated into Russian as "goat's beard". For a long time, in Russia, this plant was called the devil's beard or the goat-beard. Baskets with unripe seeds look like a goat's beard from afar, the leaves look like leeks. What is this mysterious culture?
A bit of history
The ancient Greeks were the first to use the tragopogon. First, they mined it in the wild, then they learned to grow it in their gardens. The unique plant gradually migrated to European countries.
Long before the spread of potatoes in Russia, the peasants used the roots of rutabagas, turnips, and long-leaved goatbeard for food. Its description can be found in the encyclopedia of I. Efron and F. Brockhaus in 1890.
Another name that is more commonly used is oat root. The seeds are similar to oats in shape, but differ in a bluish bloom with airy "parachutics".
The arrival of new exotic food products in our diet has supplanted old roots. What was considered a healthy delicacy centuries ago is rarely used by modern people.
Biological features
Biennial plant of the Astrov family. In the first year, it forms a powerful root and a rosette of leaves. On the second - seed arrows. Leaves are narrow, lanceolate, 30-40 cm long, grayish-green in color.
The roots are represented by a thickened root vegetable 30 in length, 3-5 cm in diameter, with an average weight of about 100 g. The smooth, yellowish-white surface is overgrown with many small roots.
The stem is thin, 60 to 100 cm long, topped with a flower-bearing basket. The petals are narrow, ligulate, lilac-pink in color. The stamens are bright yellow. Bracts with green rays protrude significantly beyond the border of the petals. Inflorescences are bisexual, pollinated by insects, up to 5 cm in diameter. They bloom gradually within 2 months (June-July).
The fruit is an achene topped with a parachute tuft, like a dandelion. When ripe, it is carried by the wind over long distances, increasing the area of settlement.
Distribution area
In the wild, goatbeard is found in North Africa, the Mediterranean. Then it was brought to Northern Europe, Great Britain, South Africa, USA. On the territory of Russia, it grows in the Caucasus, in the Lower Volga region, Crimea.
Cultivated varieties are successfully cultivated in the Leningrad and Arkhangelsk regions, Karelia, the Northern Urals, the Vologda region, the Komi Republic and further south.
Living conditions
Frost-resistant plant perfectly tolerates frosts in the spring-autumn period. Under the snow it hibernates in the soil without additional shelter.
Loves loose loam, sandy loam. Negatively refers to the introduction of fresh manure, a rigid structure of the root crop is obtained. On heavy, clayey soil with an acidic reaction of the environment, curved roots form.
Drought-resistant. It responds to rare watering with an increase in yield, increased juiciness of the underground part.
Prefers sunny locations. In the shade, the bushes are strongly elongated. The green mass grows to the detriment of root crops. They come out thin and taste bad.
The best predecessors are beets, carrots, under which rotted organic fertilizers were applied.
Areas of use
Tragopogon, rich in valuable substances, is used in:
1. Traditional medicine.
2. Cooking.
3. Beekeeping (excellent honey plant).
4. Landscaping garden decoration.
We will consider the first two positions in the following articles.
Landscape design
Beautiful, lilac inflorescences with fluffy stamens are great for mixborders. Oat root is included in the background planting in a sunny location.
The islets of the goat beet look original among the green tops of carrots, potatoes, and beets. Creating a joyful picture, bright colors.
Solitaire plantings along garden paths, against the background of a lawn, near a hedge will surely attract the attention of guests.
How to grow oat root in your area, we will consider how to get seeds in the next article.
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Oat Root
Oat root - vegetable culture; root plant of the Asteraceae family, or Asteraceae. The homeland of the plant is considered to be the Mediterranean. It is also actively cultivated there and used for culinary and medicinal purposes. In small quantities, oat root is cultivated in Western Europe, the Baltic States and some regions of the United States.
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