Mysterious Vines

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

Surely many have heard about vines. This mysterious plant - one of the most interesting manifestations of living nature - makes you want to learn more about it. The concept of liana includes all climbing and climbing plants that attach to the support in different ways

In ancient myths, vines were mentioned: ivy, climbing roses. In our imagination, vines are usually associated with rainforests. The stories about them (twisted around the trunk, hanging from the branches like ropes, loops and swings: like snakes, crawling on the ground or lying on it in tangled balls) are remembered for a long time. Lianas include a large group of plants of different families, united by a common structure, mainly the stem - flexible, unable to stay upright. To lift it up, closer to the light by wrapping antennae, leaves, thorns, support is needed.

I will introduce you to woody vines

In the forests of the Kabardino-Sunzhensky ridge, along the Terek valley, there is a low liana

forest grapes

Liana often spreads along the ground. Prefers rich soils. Spherical, black, sour with a bluish bloom, berries 6-10 mm in diameter are collected in bunches. Her flowers have a honey scent. Grapes are one of the most ancient plants used by man. In the forest, he was first noticed by a man, and then he began to cultivate. It was cultivated as early as 9 thousand years ago. "The path of our life passes through grapes" - said the ancient Romans. It has long been divided into wine and table varieties. The classical shape of its leaves, together with ivy leaves, served as a subject for Gothic ornaments.

The spread of forest grapes has decreased due to the economic development of the territory.

This species is included in the list of rare and endangered flora species. Very decorative with glossy leaves. Valuable for decorating walls, arbors, balconies.

Fragrant honeysuckle, or

honeysuckle

The most typical semi-evergreen plant in floodplain and beech forests. It is also found in mountain bush thickets. Spectacular bundles of her creamy, strong-smelling flowers at night and surrounded by nocturnal insects. Fruits - inedible juicy orange berries, sitting 2-3 on an elegant rosette of two fused leaves. It has long been used for vertical gardening. Bright, long-lasting foliage, fragrant flowers and bright fruits give it a high decorative effect. It is a pity that the custom of planting gazebos with honeysuckle, whose name was given to spirits, has been hopelessly forgotten.

Persian nightshade - a semi-shrub with climbing stems, found in the lowlands, in the foothills and in the mid-mountain zone. It grows along the banks of the rivers in the bushes, among the stones. Bitter-sweet nightshade grows in the floodplain forests and bushes of the Foothill Plain.

Nightshade is decorative with bright red, but poisonous fruits.

Interesting evergreen

Colchis ivy, clinging with aerial roots - suction cups to the trunks. Its leathery, shiny leaves have a characteristic nutmeg scent. Only three areas of ivy forest are known in our forests. An island of forest with ivy, noted at the beginning of the century by F. I. Gorepekin, has not yet been found in the vicinity of Elkhotovo. Ivy is characterized by variegation. Due to the varied shape and magnificent mosaic of the leaves, it has been used in landscaping for a long time. Sometimes it climbs the trunks, more often it spreads along the ground, forming a bright green carpet. In winter, it gives a peculiar appearance to the crowns of deciduous trees. It freezes in severe winters.

Ivy is also called a plant - a firefighter because of its ability to resist fire and protect the forest from fires. They used to decorate temples in ancient times. It was used to make garlands, green rugs, borders. It often covers the walls and ceilings of rooms. Ivy is a relative of the famous ginseng. Poisonous. Its leaves can be seen in ornaments and designs of lattices. They are used to decorate the cornice of the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral, built in the 13th century. It is a pity that the decorative advantages of ivy are undeservedly forgotten.