Plantain is a herb from the plantain family. It grows on almost all continents of the globe, the only exceptions are Antarctica and Africa. The wide geography of distribution is due to the unpretentiousness of the plantain. It can grow on any kind of soil, as well as in any place, even the darkest one. Moreover, it is almost impossible to trample it.

Its name fully justifies the area of ​​its habitat - as a rule, it grows along highways. Sometimes it is found in forest glades, as well as in meadows and fields. The plant is able to form a kind of carpet that displaces other plants. Since plantain is a medicinal plant, it was grown on an industrial scale, which greatly simplified its harvesting.

The herb, in addition to the main one, has a huge number of names that the people gave him:

  • roadside,
  • companion,
  • cutlery and others.

Plantain herb

Plantain is a medicinal plant from which oil is produced, which helps with a large number of diseases.

Description

The root system of the plant is rather short: it has one main root and many appendages that branch off from it. It is the appendages that are capable of deepening more than 20 cm into the ground.

The arrow-shaped stem can be completely bald or slightly pubescent. Its length reaches half a meter. The appearance of the leaves resembles chicken eggs. The inflorescence resembles an elongated spikelet of wheat.

The fruit of the plant is a small capsule similar to an oblong egg. Each box contains seed material - about 12 seeds. The seeds are rather small.

Medicinal plantain

The medicinal plantain blooms almost all summer, the period of its flowering depends on the place of growth. In central Russia, the grass blooms from mid-May to early September. The main method of its propagation is seeds. Cutter is very prolific and each of its bush can bring several thousand seeds.

Plantain varieties

In nature, there are a huge number of plantain species, but preference is given to only two that have healing properties.

  • Sandy plantain

This type of plant belongs to annual grasses. Its height is about 40 cm. Sandy plantain is used in alternative medicine.

  • Plantain Big medicinal

This type of plant is perennial. It has a somewhat short rhizome, from which the processes branch off. All parts of this plant species are used in the production of herbal medicines.

Plantain Big medicinal

Plantain propagation

For gardeners, plantain is called a weed, but pharmaceutical companies grow it on an industrial scale. Moreover, it grows in ordinary glades, because it is not cultivated in greenhouses or in special fields. The culture is unpretentious, therefore it does not need special care. It grows on almost any soil, it does not require any fertilizers and constant moisture.

Seed propagation

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The plant reproduces not only by means of seeds, which are able to maintain their germination for more than ten years, but also by means of root processes.If there is a desire to sow plantain with seeds, they just need to be collected after ripening and scattered in the designated place, having previously moistened this piece of land.

After a while, sprouts will appear from the seeds, which will take all the necessary minerals and trace elements from the soil. One or more rods can grow from one seed.

Important! A wild plantain is capable of scattering several hundred seeds from one stem over a distance of 20 km. For a full season, each plant throws out at least three stems. Due to its excellent germination and a large amount of seed, plantain was ranked as a weed.

Propagation by root shoots

To propagate a plant in this way will take a little more effort. To do this, take 5 cm pieces of root and put them on the bottom of a small hole made on a loose area of ​​soil. Then the holes are covered with earth and watered a little.

You can guess that you won't have to wait long for the first shoots. They will appear in a couple of weeks. True, for the first few days they will be very weak and easily damaged.

Note! This breeding method is only suitable for spring. And the segments should be taken only from the strongest "fellow travelers".

Useful properties of plantain

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Plantain herb is used as a medicine. With this culture, you can treat:

  • various inflammations;
  • wounds;
  • cuts, etc.

It is interesting: even many children in the village know the simplest application of plantain grass - you need to attach a leaf of the plant to the place of a cut or damage and press it with your hand.

What else does plantain herb help from? Also, the plant perfectly relieves pain and promotes the expectoration of phlegm from the lungs. To the aid of patients with serious diseases of the pulmonary system, a decoction from the "roadside" will come. It is only necessary to drink it strictly following the instructions.

The authors of scientific works, who studied the plant, came to the conclusion that the plant contains components that contribute to the healing of stomach and duodenal ulcers. But in severe forms of these diseases, it is necessary to be treated with an aqueous or alcoholic extract of plantain.

Interesting information! A distinctive feature of plantain is that treatment can be organized independently, at home. For example, by preparing a tincture from the "roadside". To do this, you will need to pour over the freshly picked leaves with boiling water and grind in a food processor. Then squeeze out the juice and add water or alcohol to it in a 1: 1 ratio. This tincture is very effective for wounds, skin cuts, abscesses.

Diseases and pests of the "roadside"

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Plantain is a unique plant that nature gave to man. It is noteworthy that the grass is extremely resistant to diseases and pests.

But sometimes his leaves turn yellow. As a rule, this is due to sunburn, which occurs after watering in hot and clear weather. Therefore, with targeted cultivation of a medicinal plant, it is necessary to correctly organize irrigation.

Cultivation of plantain

Procurement and storage

For drying "roadside" can be harvested during the growing season, that is, from early June to early September. When collecting a plant, you must rely on the weather conditions. The best time is a bright sunny day after rain. You just need to wait until the grass dries well.

You need to cut the leaves together with the petioles, but this should be done very carefully so as not to damage the root rosette. Its damage can lead to the fact that the plant will not grow in this place.

The collected leaves of the plant should be dried only on sheets of clean white paper or cuts of cotton cloth, placing the medicinal material in the shade. Moreover, the room must be provided with excellent ventilation.

Important! To help the leaves dry evenly, they should be mixed every day, then they will not be caked.

Paper bags, wooden boxes or cardboard boxes are considered the best storage method, since air penetrates into these containers without hindrance. You can store dried plantain for no more than 3 years.

The medicinal plant plantain is rightfully considered one of the most ancient medicines. Knowing its basic properties, you can use the weed for personal purposes.