Content
- 1 Characteristics of the lofant plant
- 2 Useful properties of lofant herb
- 3 Description of varieties and types of lofant
- 4 Planting and caring for lofant in open ground
- 5 Reproduction
- 6 Diseases and pests
- 7 When is lofant collected?
- 8 How to dry lofant correctly
- 9 Methods of using lofant
- 10 Contraindications
- 11 Conclusion
The lofant plant is unique in its healing properties and chemical composition; it is not without reason that it is called northern ginseng. Since ancient times, Tibetan monks have used it in their recipes to treat a wide range of diseases. Today, lofant is also grown for decorative purposes and as a honey plant. The popularity of this crop among gardeners is growing every year.
Characteristics of the lofant plant
Lofant (multigate) is a herbaceous perennial from the Lamiaceae family. The genus includes 22 species with similar morphological characteristics. In different regions the plant is known by the following names:
- licorice mint;
- great blue hyssop;
- fennel grass (fennel);
- Ganise flower;
- giant hyssop;
- anise hyssop;
- agastache (agastachis).
The Latin name for this genus of herbs is Agastache, consisting of two words of Greek origin: agan - “many, many”, and stachys - “ear”.Many English-language sources call polygonum simply mint because of its characteristic spicy aroma and similarity of flowers and leaves.
The natural habitat of this medicinal plant is the Northern states of the USA, Southern regions of Canada, Asia. Nowadays, none of the lofant species is practically found in the wild. The first description of Agastachis belongs to a botanist from Holland, Jan Gronovius. In 1762, using just a few specimens and notes from the English flora collector of Virginia, John Clayton, he was able to give a detailed description of the genus of Polygonums he was studying.
The lofant plant is a bush with several straight, tetrahedral stems bearing opposite, serrated, simple leaves. The height of the multi-grass, depending on the variety, ranges from 45-150 cm, the diameter of an adult plant is up to 90 cm.
The top of each shoot is crowned with a complex vertical inflorescence in the shape of a candle. The calyx of the flower has a tubular, reverse conical shape; the corolla is also tubular, gradually expanding. The flower has 4 stamens, 2 of which are longer, the pistil has 2 stigmas. The color of the petals can vary from pink and lilac to dark purple. The ripe fruit is divided into 4 smooth nuts with fibers at the top.
Like many other plants of the family, lofant has a pleasant aroma. At the height of flowering and when there is no wind, the gentle notes of lofant fill the entire garden with fragrance. Essential oils are found in abundance not only in the flowers, but also in the leaves of the plant; when lightly rubbed, they also emit a subtle anise aroma.
Lofant is a valuable honey plant.Along with sweet clover, this plant is specially sown to collect honey, which has an interesting anise flavor. Beekeepers love polygrass for its unpretentiousness and long flowering period. Lofant can be grown in one place for up to 10 years, provided that the climate is not particularly severely frosty.
Useful properties of lofant herb
Lofant is a medicinal plant, which many rightfully consider one of the best natural biostimulants. In folk medicine, polygon is used for:
- acute respiratory diseases;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- diseases of the genitourinary area.
The powerful healing properties of lofant herb have been scientifically proven. The product is used as:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antimicrobial;
- antioxidant;
- antimycotic;
- lipotropic;
- immunostimulating.
Description of varieties and types of lofant
Many species and bred varieties of lofant are successfully grown in private plots both in our country and abroad. Plants differ in the size of the bush, decorativeness and degree of honey production, however, all multi-spreaders have powerful medicinal properties.
Lofant Mexican
This type of polygonum is loved by many gardeners because of the compact size of the bush and large bright inflorescences. The mature plant does not exceed 80 cm in height, with the spike reaching half the total length of the stem. It blooms with deep red or pale pink flowers that exude a delicate aroma.
Mexican lofant is a plant with good resistance to drought and grows well even in depleted soils. This species of polygrass is not grown as a honey plant because it is unattractive to bees.The plant is often used in landscape design for landscaping the local area; it is well shaped by regular pinching.
The most popular variety of Mexican mint (lofanta) is Amethyst. This is a fairly tall plant, the bush reaches a height of 1.5 m. It is valued as a good honey plant; for medicinal purposes, the Mexican polygrass is used to remove waste, toxins and radioactive substances. It helps normalize blood pressure, prevent blockage of blood vessels, improve metabolism, as well as with headaches and insomnia.
Lofant wrinkled
Lofant Tibetan or rugose mint is often called Korean mint due to its wide distribution in this country. In addition to Korea, this plant can be found in the Himalayas and Tibet, in Central and Northern Asia, and in Siberia. This type of multi-grass grows especially well on well-drained sandy and sandy loam soils.
The plant is a cross between a shrub and a grass. The species reaches 1 m in height, up to 60 cm in diameter. The leaves look like nettles, the inflorescences are dense candles with many small funnel-shaped purple-violet flowers. Korean mint has a distinct anise aroma, which attracts a large number of insects. From 1 hectare planted with wrinkled lofant, a beekeeper can collect up to 700 kg of tasty and healthy honey per season.
This type of multi-grid is characterized by good frost resistance. The rhizome of the Tibetan lofant does not freeze at -30°C; the above-ground part can withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -5... -10°C.
Lofant Frant
Anise lofant Frant is a perennial plant that grows up to 110 cm in height.Polygonum flowers are colored blue-violet, dense spike-shaped inflorescences reach a length of 8-15 cm. Seeds of this species can be purchased in many hypermarkets or online. You can sow both in open ground and for seedlings.
Lofant Frant blooms throughout the summer season; new ones quickly bloom to replace the withered flowers. This variety is not particularly decorative, but is loved by gardeners for its unpretentiousness, valuable medicinal properties and pleasant aroma, somewhat reminiscent of mint and valerian.
Lofant Barbera
This type of polygonum is distinguished by its compact size (height no more than 60 cm) and the bright orange color of the flowers. The foliage has a gray-green tint. Lofant Barbera grows wild in the southeastern United States and northern Mexico. The plant prefers sunny areas and does not tolerate frost.
Lofant mountain
This type of agastachys is characterized by compactness and increased bushiness. The mountain lofant grows to an average height of 45-90 cm. The aroma of the flowers is stronger than that of the wrinkled polygonum. The plant is grown mainly as an annual, but in central Russia and more southern regions, with good shelter, it can successfully overwinter. The most popular varieties are:
- Desert Sunrise (tall bush with pink flowers);
- Sunset (lilac-orange inflorescences, bush - about 50 cm in height);
- Blazing Sunset (with a characteristic mint aroma).
Planting and caring for lofant in open ground
Lofant is an unpretentious plant that can grow on any type of soil. It will not die on acidic and swampy soil, however, it will bloom sparingly and rarely.
On fertile nutritious soils, lofant will quickly grow and show itself in all its glory. Systematic pruning will stimulate the development of new shoots and ensure a long flowering period over several months.
During the dry season, the plant needs regular watering. For abundant flowering, the polygon needs to be fertilized regularly. To increase the decorative effect, complex mineral fertilizers are used, which are applied 3 times a season, and in the fall they are fed with organic matter (compost or humus).
As you grow weed Lofant thickets need to be weeded, since the plant is not capable of displacing more aggressive species. In the fall, many gardeners cut off the above-ground part of the plant, leaving half of the total height of the bush.
Reproduction
Lofant can be propagated both vegetatively and generatively. The most common methods of reproduction are:
- Dividing the bush. In early autumn or early spring, before new shoots appear, an adult polygonum bush is divided into 3-5 parts so that each has a well-developed root system. The cuttings are immediately placed in a new place, having previously placed drainage in the hole, and watered abundantly after planting.
- Cuttings. The shoots are rooted similarly to any garden shrubs in a nutrient substrate, providing increased humidity, that is, by placing them in a greenhouse or greenhouse.
- Seed method. Growing lofant from seeds is one of the popular methods of propagation. Seeds are sown directly into the ground in early May, after the last frost. To do this, make grooves about 2 cm deep, where the prepared planting material is placed. For better germination, seeds can be soaked in a solution of a growth stimulator.As young plants germinate, the plantings are thinned out, leaving stronger and more viable ones.
- Seedling method. Lofant seeds are sown in large containers in early April. After 2 pairs of true leaves appear, the plants are planted in separate pots. In the spring, after the last frost, the seedlings are assigned to a permanent place. With this method of propagation, flowering of polygonum occurs in the first season.
Diseases and pests
Any type of lofant is resistant to most diseases and is practically not affected by pests. In case of prolonged damp and cool weather, as well as with very dense plantings, the plant may suffer from powdery mildew, fusarium and spotting. These diseases are fungal in origin and are eliminated through the use of fungicides. The plant is sprayed with the drug diluted according to the instructions in 2 stages with an interval of a week.
When is lofant collected?
The procurement of raw materials is carried out from the last days of June until August. During the season, 2 harvests can be harvested from 1 plant. It is better to collect in hot weather, since it is in such conditions that the concentration of useful substances in the ground part is maximum. The shoots are cut from the bush with a sharp blade at a height of 10-12 cm; the foliage can be torn off by hand.
How to dry lofant correctly
Dry the multi-grid in a dark, well-ventilated room, tying it in small brooms and hanging it on a rope or wire.
The dried lofant is crushed and stored in a tightly closed glass container. Shelf life – up to 2 years.
Methods of using lofant
The lofant plant is widely used in medicine. Agastachis is included in many medicinal products produced on an industrial scale. In folk recipes, anise multi-grain is found even more often. The most popular ways to use lofant:
- For minor damage to the skin and fungal diseases, baths made from a decoction of lofant herb help well.
- In the form of compresses, lotions, and tinctures of polygonum, they are used for vascular diseases of the legs. The product relieves swelling well.
- For heart diseases, the use of lofant can reduce the risk of stroke, stabilize blood pressure, and strengthen the walls of blood vessels. For the purpose of prevention, drugs based on it are prescribed for ischemia.
- Thanks to its powerful sedative effect, polygonum has a beneficial effect on brain function, especially in senile sclerosis.
- For parkinsonism, lofant is used as often as rosehip root, angelica or sage. A tincture of crushed leaves, stems and inflorescences in alcohol allows you to get rid of the disease in the shortest possible time.
- The lofant plant is a strong antioxidant. It is used to remove toxins and waste from the body, as well as for severe poisoning.
- Taking a decoction of polygonum normalizes metabolism.
- As a restorative agent, lofant is used after pulmonary diseases, including pneumonia and bronchitis.
Contraindications
Despite its proven medicinal properties, lofant also has contraindications.In addition to individual intolerance to substances included in the chemical composition of the plant, it is not recommended to take it in the following cases:
- with low blood pressure;
- during pregnancy and lactation;
- in the postoperative period;
- in the presence of oncology;
- with thrombophlebitis;
- for epilepsy.
The consequences of an overdose of anise lofant can also be disastrous. Despite the seeming harmlessness of drugs based on lofant, it is better to consult a doctor before use, since only a specialist can calculate the correct course of treatment based on the individual characteristics and predispositions of the patient.
Conclusion
The lofant plant will not only decorate any garden, but also a green healer that helps with many diseases. Even an inexperienced gardener can grow lofant due to the unpretentiousness and vitality of the plant.
