Ornithogalum flower. Description, features, types and care of ornithogalum

Description

Poultry plant is a genus of bulbous perennial bushes belonging to the Asparagus family. According to some reports, the culture is considered to be one of the Liliaceae family. This is a bulbous crop that is grown not only in the garden, but also as a houseplant. The plant reaches a height of 30-80 cm, which makes it possible to cultivate poultry plant in various habitats. The second name for the culture is Indian onion.

The bulbous rhizome has a spherical shape. The tubers are oblong, at the base they have small adventitious roots that go into the ground. The surface of the roots is covered with a dense scaly crust, about 2 mm thick. The diameter of the bulb of an adult plant can reach 5 cm. The peculiarity of the poultry plant is the constant change of rhizome, renewal and rejuvenation.

Basal leaves appear from the base of the bulb neck. Leaf plate of elongated linear shape. In the middle of the leaf blade there is a whitish vein that stands out against the background of the light green surface of the leaf. Leaves appear in spring, before flower stalks begin to form. In some cases, certain species of poultry plant produce foliage in the autumn, and die off by winter. Most often, the leaves grow in several pieces, usually 3-7 basal leaves per crop.

Flowering begins in mid-May, when long flower stalks with bright cream star-shaped flowers appear on the plant. The peduncles are quite dense, light green in color, bare or covered with several leaves. The flowers remain decorative throughout June.

The special shape and color of the inflorescence became the reason for the appearance of such popular names of Indian onions as “bird's milk” or “milk stars”. On the outside, some of the petals have a small green stripe near the perianth. In different varieties, the flowers can be single, collected in long racemes or corymbs. The buds have no aroma and are self-pollinating.

After flowering, a fruit is formed on the plant - an achene, inside which flat black or brown seeds ripen. Seed material retains its germination capacity for a long time.

general information

Birdwort is a bulbous herbaceous plant found naturally in certain regions of Africa and the Mediterranean. Its official name is Ornithogalum. From small bulbs compact bushes up to 30-50 cm grow, but there are also taller species.

First, linear basal leaves with a light vein grow. Then - flower arrows, which are covered with racemose or corymbose inflorescences. In addition to white varieties, yellow poultry plants are very popular. Even during flowering, it has almost no smell, which may be important for sensitive people.

Photo: demiart.su

Spreading

Indian onion in the wild is found mainly in temperate and subtropical climates. The crop is actively grown as a garden and commercial crop throughout Europe and Asia. The natural habitat of the culture is considered to be the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and southern Africa. Indian onions are cultivated in South America. Individual representatives are found in North America.

Indian onion has a variety of species, but 4 representatives today are in the Red Book. Today, plants are actively cultivated at room temperatures to decorate plots and garden areas.

In the wild, the birdbird lives in coastal areas. In addition, the culture grows on slopes and highlands. The culture prefers nutritious soil and optimal air humidity.

Description of appearance

At the base of the poultry plant there is a dense rounded bulb, covered with dry yellowish scales, which can reach 10 cm in diameter. The plant is perennial. Its age can be determined by the number of leaves (1 year - 1 leaf). Leaves are basal, linear, narrow. Reaching a great length (grow up to 60-100 cm), the leaves can sag in the middle - lie down. The roots are numerous, white, cord-like.

Indian onions bloom in spring, as well as in November and December. The flowers are white, small (about 10 mm in diameter) with a longitudinal green stripe in the middle of each petal. Each flower has six stamens and six petals. Flowers fade from bottom to top. The inflorescence-brush is formed on a peduncle that can reach one meter in length. In addition to the buds, thin green needles placed on a peduncle are clearly visible on the arrow. In indoor conditions, the poultry farmer usually produces an arrow within 2-3 years of cultivation.

The fruit of the Indian onion is a capsule that contains flat black seeds. For seeds to appear on a flower grown on a windowsill, artificial pollination is required.

Main types and varieties of poultry grass

The Indian onion genus includes more than 130 species and varieties. Culture is characterized by a variety of growth forms. Many species have similar external characteristics, but differ in habitat and flower size.

Arabian birdwort (Ornithogalum arabicum)

A representative of the Indian onion, found in the wild along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, mostly grows in Israel. It is a low, erect bush, growing upwards a little more than 80 cm, with spreading long light green leaf plates. The leaves that appear at the roots form a rosette consisting of many belt-like sheets. In the spring, when early garden crops begin to appear, the birdflower begins to form a long shoot, at the end of which a racemose inflorescence is formed, consisting of rare and large buds, blooming 5 cm in diameter. The flowers are painted in snow-white tones and have a star-shaped shape.

Boucheanum (Ornithogalum boucheanum)

A wild growing representative found in our country. The habitat of the culture is considered to be the Balkans, Asia Minor and Moldova. It is actively grown in moist soil and lives along rivers in the wild. It is a small bush, up to half a meter in size. The basal leaves are quite thin and long, about one and a half centimeters wide. The leaves are brightly colored and form a rosette at the root collar. Individual leaves are formed on the shoots as sessile leaves. The tops of the shoots bloom in the form of a brush, which includes more than 50 buds. The flowers are decorated with wavy edges of the petals, the edges of which are painted in a bluish tint.

Ornithogalum dubium

The natural habitat of the bulbous culture is considered to be the southern part of Africa. The plant is considered a perennial, forming a variety of inflorescences in the spring. Some varieties may bloom with orange, red, cream or white inflorescences. The bush also has different leaves, which are covered with small fibers on the surface. The above-ground part of the crop is colored greenish-yellow. The plant is widely used to form decorative bouquets, including cut ones. There are two common varieties of this crop:

• Ballerina is an unusual crop that can grow in indoor and garden conditions, with the same germination and decorative properties. Blooms with unusual orange buds;
• Sunshine is a garden representative of a perennial. Cultivated as a decoration for flower beds. It features rich yellow buds.

Fischer's Ornithogalum fischerianum

Wild varieties grow in the steppe zones and salt marshes of Kazakhstan and western Siberia. It is a type of bulbous crop, growing upright about 0.6 m. The plant is distinguished by small inflorescences in the form of snow-white racemes, growing upward to 25 cm. The buds in the raceme are small, not exceeding 2 cm in diameter. The flowering is bright, the racemes are completely white, the petals form the shape of stars. Up to 20 buds can form on one peduncle.

Ornithogalum nutans

Small bushes, up to half a meter high, with unusual and long erect leaves. It lives in the Balkans and the Mediterranean Sea. The inflorescences that go down are formed from small flowers. The inflorescence can contain up to 15 flowers. The buds are milky in color, quite large, about 7 cm in diameter, and resemble bells in appearance. The leaf blades are belt-shaped and have a white vein in the middle.

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Pontic birdwort (Ornithogalum ponticum), or Pyrenean birdwort (Ornithogalum pyrenaicum)

It is cultivated in its natural environment in Russia - in the Crimea, as well as in the Caucasus, where the culture is cultivated among rocky slopes. In the wild, the plant lives in wastelands and along roads, in meadows. These are tall crops, reaching a meter in size. The leaf blades are elongated, with smooth edges, and a rich green hue. The inflorescences are long and can grow up to 40 cm. The flowers are large, milky in color, and can reach 7 cm in diameter. Up to 90 flowers can appear simultaneously on one peduncle. The milky petals have a green stripe, visually dividing the plates into equal halves.

Saunder's Ornithogalum saundersiae

The culture is found only in warm climates because it does not have good resistance to frost. It is a perennial with large bulbs. The size of the leaf plates reaches half a meter. The leaf blades are dark, belt-shaped. The inflorescences are apical, located on long pedicels. The length of the pedicels often exceeds a meter in size. The inflorescences form a raceme consisting of many buds. The crop is used as a decoration for flower beds, for making garden compositions and in cut form. The difference between the crop lies in the bulb’s regular need for moisture.

Ornithogalum narbonense

A perennial native to South Africa and Europe. In its natural environment, the culture lives in places with a loamy substrate and with a sufficient amount of moisture. It is a low bush, a little more than 75 cm, with spreading belt-like leaf plates that bend in different directions. Leaves have a bluish tint. The flowers are simple, white, forming an apical raceme. A green stripe is visible on the surface of the petals. The buds quickly lose their decorative effect, appear in early June and fade by the middle of the month.

Large Ornithogalum magnum

Quite bright and large perennial bushes growing in Transcaucasia. The leaf blades of this species are wide, up to 5 cm in diameter, and long, with a light green coating. The poultry plant is similar in external characteristics to the Arabian variety. There are about 50 flowers in a brush of white buds.

Ornithogalum balansae, or Schmalhausen's birdweed (Ornithogalum schmalhausenii)

Representative of the Alpine zone and Transcaucasia. It is a low-growing bush, about 12 cm in size, actively grown in the home environment. The leaves are linear, arranged in an arcuate manner, and colored in a marsh or light green shade. These bushes grow more widely, and the crop blooms with an inflorescence of 3 buds. The diameter of the flowers does not exceed 3 cm.

Ornithogalum umbellatum

One of the brightest representatives of the poultry plant, grown in the cultural area. The habitat of the culture is considered to be the forests and steppes of Western Siberia, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean Sea. The poultry plant is a small bush, about 23 cm in size, with bright landscaping, not exceeding 1 cm in diameter. The leaves are located upward. A white vein is visible on the inside of the leaves. The inflorescences are umbellate and consist of approximately 30 small white flowers. The buds are distinguished by a wide white stripe on one part of the petals.

Ornithogalum caudatum or Indian onion

The plant is cultivated in an open substrate and home environment. It is distinguished by large greenish tubers, from which rich green leaves appear. The leaf rosette is dense, the height of the Indian onion reaches 75 cm. It is distinguished by large white buds that form apical shoots. Some representatives produce inflorescences reaching a meter in length. The abundance of white flowers on the plant makes the poultry plant decorative and unusual. In addition to its decorative purpose, poultry is used to create medicinal raw materials, but it is poisonous, so it is used with caution.

Description of the ornithogalum ornithogalum

Orange Ornithogalum dubium photo

Perennial bulbous plant Ornithogalum of the lily family. The stem is absent, the leaves are long, belt-shaped, dark green, appearing before the peduncles. The flowers are light yellow or white with a green stripe on the outer side of the perianth, collected in corymbose or racemose inflorescences of varying density at the top of the peduncle.

A characteristic feature of the birdweed is its six-petalled flowers, with a green stripe on the back of each of them. The bulb is covered with white papery scales. Baby bulbs love to climb up the succulent scales and often end up above the surface of the ground. Thanks to the numerous children, the plant reproduces easily.

Ornithogalum is considered an exotic flower and is successfully used by florists to create bouquets and compositions. The poultry plant has frost-resistant species suitable for garden plots in central Russia. There are several species that cannot tolerate frosty winters and are suitable only for indoor floriculture. Birdflower species differ in the shape and size of the peduncle and the color of the flowers.

When purchasing bulbs, you should pay attention to the condition of the covering scales and the bottom. The presence of stains and mold indicates disease. The bulb should be dry and clean, without signs of mechanical damage. At the bottom, the presence of root rudiments is welcome. If there are dry roots, it’s better not to buy one. Before planting, place the bulb in a solution of hydrogen peroxide (1 teaspoon per liter of water) - this will disinfect the planting material, and active oxygen stimulates awakening and rapid growth.

Planting a poultry plant in open ground

Cultivating poultry grass in the garden or vegetable garden is quite simple. The culture does not have high care requirements, however, it is important to take into account the peculiarities of the development of the culture and follow the time and rules of planting.

What time to plant

When cultivating a plant, some gardeners prefer to grow the crop from seeds. However, with such planting, it is important to understand that the crop will begin to bloom no earlier than after 4 seasons. To obtain ornamental plants more quickly, you can purchase bulbs from adult plants. Planting bulbs on the ridge is carried out in the fall, at the end of summer or the first half of September. At the same time, the culture does not require special cultivation conditions.

Features of landing

To grow poultry, you need to choose the right substrate and lighting. The bulbs are placed in the sun or in semi-shaded places. Many varieties grow quite well in a shaded place, but the decorative quality of the crop suffers. When cultivating, the tubers are placed on well-dug soil. For Indian onions, preference is given to a soil mixture containing a loamy substrate rather than sandstone. The crop is placed in the ground, deepening it by 6-8 cm. If several crops are planted at once, a distance of about 15 cm is left between them. The hole for the bulb is prepared in advance so as not to damage the existing rhizome during planting. After placing the bulb in the hole, it is dug in with earth and compacted. Immediately after planting, the plant is watered abundantly. In this state the plant overwinters. As a rule, in the spring the first leaves and buds begin to form.

Poultry farmer – photo

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Caring for poultry in the garden

Even the most inexperienced gardeners can take care of the poultry plant. The plant can grow normally in any environment. However, in order to maintain its decorative appearance, the plant is regularly watered and weeded. It is also necessary to take into account the differences in the variety, its height and shape.

How to grow poultry plant

There are several ways to cultivate Indian onions in the garden. Most often, the poultry plant is placed in the ground in the fall with a bulb purchased from a store or nursery, but some prefer the seed propagation method. In the latter case, flowering begins only after a few years. To speed up the onset of flowering, some gardeners recommend growing the crop from seedlings. To do this, the sowing seeds are placed in containers in the fall and left at room temperature throughout the winter.

Lighting

The poultry plant takes root quite easily, both in sunny places and in shaded areas. The plant is not picky about where it grows, but preference is given to shaded areas where the sun shines on the crop for several hours a day.

Watering the poultry plant

When caring for Indian onions, take into account the watering regime. Water is added to the soil as the top layer of soil dries. It is necessary to water the crop in the morning or evening, at the root. To prevent the plant from burning in the sun, watering should not be carried out during the heat period. Water with settled water at room temperature. It is important not to allow water to stagnate in the soil, since the bulb begins to quickly rot and it becomes almost impossible to save it. As soon as the poultry plant blooms, watering is reduced.

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Spraying

The poultry plant begins to grow actively if it is sprayed regularly. Spraying the upper part of the plant is carried out in the morning, with warm, settled water. Spraying is especially important during the flowering period.

Temperature

Indian onions easily tolerate intense heat, however, to maintain decorative properties, the optimal air temperature is 19-25 degrees. In winter, many plants can withstand any frost, but some varieties are heat-loving and require additional shelter.

soil mixture

When cultivating poultry grass, it is important to choose the right quality soil that is suitable for this species. Most varieties prefer clay soil with constant soil moisture. The planting pit must contain a drainage layer and some peat that can absorb excess moisture.

Top dressing

Poultry fertilization is carried out several times a year. In autumn, organic fertilizers containing enough nitrogen are added to the soil. Some gardeners do not recommend feeding Indian onions if the substrate in the area is loose and contains enough substances. During the active growing season, the plant is fed with minerals and complex fertilizers. You can buy them at any store.

Poultry transplant

Since the poultry plant is a perennial plant, the substrate in the place where the crop grows is gradually depleted. In order to preserve the culture, Indian onions are regularly transplanted to other places. In addition, moving the plant from place to place is necessary to eliminate the bulbous children that form annually on the crop and absorb the necessary minerals from the mother plant. Transplantation is carried out every 4 years. The basic rules for transplantation are:

• In April or August, the bulbs are carefully removed from the substrate and cleaned of soil residues;
• Large and small lateral bulbs are separated from the mother;
• Keeping distance, the bulbs are planted in different places;
• After transplanting, new crops are watered abundantly.

The rules for transplanting are quite simple, but if the mother tuber is damaged, it may rot in the future. Therefore, the procedure is carried out carefully. If there is no need to propagate young bulbs, they do not have to be placed in the ground.

Common mistakes when growing

Most types of bulbous flowers are very unpretentious if you know a number of simple rules and characteristics of their growth. The main mistakes that gardeners make:

1. No feeding for several years. You can correct the error by regularly applying complex fertilizer.
2. Excess nitrogen in the soil. This phenomenon usually occurs when a large amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizers is applied.
3. Incorrect landing site. Many gardeners plant poultry grass in areas where the soil does not dry out well. Accumulated moisture can lead to root rot and disease development.
4. Planting in a shady place. The flower “feeds” on the sun’s rays. If you limit their access, the plant will grow slowly.
5. Excessive watering. Water retained in the soil provokes the activity of fungi and other pathogenic microorganisms. They can cause the development of many pathologies.

Attention!

Only healthy bulbs are planted. An infected specimen not only grows poorly, but is also capable of infecting healthy plantings.

It is not recommended to plant ornithogalum next to evergreen shrubs and trees. These plants absorb nutrients from the soil in large quantities. As a result, the flower will lack nutrition.

Growing at home

Poultry plant can be grown not only in the garden, but also at home. The plant not only adds decorative value to the room, but also has beneficial properties. However, when cultivating, it is also necessary to follow the rules of care.

Growing at home is carried out in deep, but not wide pots. The diameter of the container should not greatly exceed the size of the bulb, since otherwise the plant will devote all its energy to growing the bulb and landscaping. 3-4 cm from the edge of the pot is enough for normal bulb growth. The culture is placed in a nutrient substrate with a neutral environment. The plant does not tolerate an acidic environment.

When planting Indian onions at home, you must follow certain cultivation rules. The basic rules for planting poultry at home are:

• The soil in the pot should be located approximately 2/3 from the base;
• The bulb is placed so that most of it is on the surface of the ground;
• When planting several bulbs, they are placed close to each other in one pot.

Domestic varieties tolerate drought quite easily, so they should be watered only when necessary. It is important to provide a high-quality drainage layer and holes at the bottom of the container so that excess water is removed from the pot. Stagnation of water in the soil becomes a common cause of rhizome rotting. Unlike garden crops, indoor poultry plants cannot be sprayed, so dust from the foliage is removed with a dry cloth.

With proper care, the poultry plant does not shed its leaves during the dormant period. In addition, annual flowering of the plant for half a month is considered a sign of quality care. In summer, it is recommended to take the poultry plant out onto the balcony or veranda. In addition, in the summer the bulbs can be placed in open ground, and in the winter they can be brought indoors again.

At home, the poultry plant grows quite quickly and produces new bulbs. Therefore, the crop is regularly replanted. The criteria for transplanting a bulb are to fill the pot with children or to grow the bulb to the edges of the pot. When transplanting, the children are separated from the mother plant and cultivated in new containers.

The basic rules for caring for crops are:

• No stagnation of water in the soil;
• Regular and moderate watering;
• The presence of high-quality drainage at the bottom of the pot;
• Clay composition of the soil;
• Annual feeding of poultry with organic fertilizers;
• Soil mineralization at least once every 3 weeks;
• When the soil becomes depleted, it is necessary to transplant the crop into a new substrate.

A prerequisite for cultivating indoor poultry farmers is bright light and constant exposure of the crop to the sunny side of the room. The sun helps to increase the number of flowers and the duration of flowering of the crop. If you follow simple rules, the culture retains its decorative effect for 25 years.

How to plant poultry gardens - basic methods

Indian onions in landscape design

Perennial garden geranium - planting and care in open ground

Planting ornithogalum is necessary when growing it from seeds or when children appear.

Basic methods of how and when to replant poultry seedlings in the above cases:

• Seedlings are planted in the spring, and children in the summer.
• Shallow holes are made in the dug up earth in an open area.
• It is recommended to cover the seedlings with a special nutritious soil mixture. You can buy it ready-made or mix it yourself from humus, fine sand and mineral fertilizer.

Note! After planting, the bushes need to be watered generously.

The decorative poultry onion has a very fragile and cute appearance, which can be planted and cared for by a gardener of any level. In addition to its beautiful appearance, the plant has many useful properties, which can also be useful in the household.

When does the bird's eye flower bloom?

Flowering begins in mid-May. Depending on the variety, the inflorescences can be thyroid, umbellate or racemose. As a rule, the flowers are highly decorative due to their bright white color. However, there are no less decorative varieties with orange, yellow or red flowers. The culture blooms for about 3 weeks, after which the bushes become almost bare.

Overwintering of the poultry bird

Most species tolerate wintering well, without creating additional growing conditions. However, it is necessary to prepare the plant for the dormant period. To do this, immediately after flowering and fruit ripening, the above-ground part of the plant is completely cut off, leaving only a few cm from the ground. Heat-loving varieties are additionally covered with a layer of mulch or dry foliage for the winter. Spruce branches are used as shelter in cold winters with little snow.

Some gardeners recommend digging up heat-loving species for the winter. After removing the bulb from the soil, it is planted as an indoor crop, or placed in a cellar where the plant will overwinter. In the spring, such bulbs are placed back in open ground, after the end of severe frosts. Under normal conditions, the crop germinates quickly and produces new leaves.

After flowering

After the leaves have completely withered, they will need to be trimmed. In mid-latitudes and southern regions, the plant does not need shelter for the winter. However, if the winter period has little snow and is quite frosty, then the area where the ornithogalum grows needs to be covered with spruce branches. If you grow heat-loving species, which include the dubious poultry plant and the Arabian poultry plant, then the bulbs need to be dug up in the autumn and planted in flower pots or stored in the cellar for the winter. They are planted in the garden in the spring.

Poultry breeding

You can propagate the poultry plant in several ways. The simplest and most popular way is to separate the bulblets from the mother, which are simply placed in a separate place for further propagation. In the absence of an adult plant, a crop can be obtained using seeds. Each of the presented methods has its own cultivation characteristics.

Reproduction by daughter bulbs

The easiest way to obtain a new plant is to separate the daughter bulbs from the adult bulb. The procedure is carried out at the end of summer or early spring. On average, you can separate the bulbs from the crop once every 4 years. During this time, the bulbs will get stronger and gain strength, and will easily take root in a new place. To carry out propagation, the crop is taken out of the ground, cleaned of soil residues, and then the bulbs are separated. After receiving the necessary material, the mother is again placed in the ground, and the daughter bulbs are placed in a new place. For better engraftment, crops are watered abundantly.

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Seed method

The seed propagation method is divided into two subtypes - placing seeds in open ground, or obtaining seedlings. It is important to understand that in the case of propagation of a crop in this way, active flowering begins only 3-4 years after cultivation.

1. The seedless method is carried out in late autumn. The seeds are evenly distributed over the surface of the soil, after which they are covered for the winter with a thin layer of peat, dry foliage and spruce branches. In the spring, the planting site is opened. After the snow melts, you can find young seedlings that quickly gain strength and form a strong bulb.
2. To obtain faster germination, it is recommended to plant the crop under seedlings. Sowing in containers is carried out in early spring. For better and healthier seedlings, the soil should be loose and nutritious. After placing the seeds in the ground, it is recommended to cover the containers with film until germination. Regular ventilation of the crop is necessary, as well as watering. To grow seedlings, a sufficient amount of light is required. Therefore, boxes with seeds are placed on the south window. After the seedlings appear, the culture is opened. As soon as the seedlings are strong enough, they begin to harden off. They are gradually taken out into the air, increasing the time spent on the street to the maximum. After the plant gets used to the outdoor environment, the seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place of growth.

Growing from seeds is used when it is necessary to obtain many seedlings and crops at once. In addition, this method is effective when cultivating several varieties at once.

Poultry plant from seeds

Poultry seeds photo

It is better to sow poultry seeds before winter to undergo natural stratification.

If you decide to grow ornithogalum seedlings:

• Place the bowl with the sown seeds in the refrigerator or under the snow for a month. The seeds must be fresh, as they quickly lose their viability.
• The sowing container must have drainage holes in the bottom.
• The substrate for planting can be used ready-made for flowering plants.

Hatched Ornithogalum seed photo

• A month later, after stratification, place the container in sunlight, covering it with plastic film or glass. The seeds will not germinate at the same time.

What Ornithogalum seedlings look like, photo of seedlings

• Try to initially sow poultry grass as rarely as possible to avoid subsequent diving (a distance of at least 5 cm). You can immediately place 1 seed in separate cups.
• The polyethylene is removed every day for ventilation for a few minutes, gradually increasing the time.
• Water little by little as the substrate dries.
• Young seedlings can develop in this container without transplanting until they grow up, and then they can be planted in a permanent place.
• With good care, plants will bloom in 5 - 6 years.

Diseases and pests

The poultry plant is not highly resistant to various pathologies. The main cause of disease is often considered to be excessive soil moisture, which causes fungal pathologies to appear on the plant. In addition, during intense heat, foliage may dry out and die.

Among the most common pests of poultry are:

• nematodes - the pathology is characterized by the appearance of yellowness on the foliage, namely near the veins. Diseased leaves quickly wither and fall to the ground. To eliminate pathology, some gardeners use traditional methods, such as watering the soil with water whose temperature has reached 70 degrees. Anthelmintics are suitable chemical agents;
• Spider mites are another common crop pest. When the soil moisture is high, various cobwebs can be found on the foliage. At the same time, the leaf itself quickly turns yellow and becomes covered with cracks, dying. To prevent pathology, the plant is regularly sprayed with an insecticidal solution;
• aphids – a characteristic feature of this crop is the appearance of small sticky droplets on the foliage, due to which the foliage begins to lose its original appearance. You can prevent crop deformation by treating the plant with an anti-aphid agent;
• onion mite - light spots first appear on the foliage, which gradually darken, and the leaf quickly withers. Treatment with insecticides can help with this pathology.

As a rule, with timely loosening of the soil and normalization of watering, the crop is not affected. However, even after treatment, the poultry bird recovers quickly.

Interesting Facts

German villagers used the crushed leaves to cauterize cuts and bruises. It was also prepared with candies in cold syrup.

Han Zhongsu was a famous practitioner of Chinese medicine. He had several hepatitis patients who took the medicine for many years, but to no avail. Dr. Khan suggested taking Indian onion leaves along with other medicines. After a few months, the patients' liver functions recovered and the test for the virus came back negative, which surprised Dr. Han. Moreover, he found that the plant was particularly effective in treating liver cancer.

The antitumor function of Ornithogalum Caudatum has been clinically tested and proven. In the drug development process, basic pharmacological research is mandatory.

The study of the chemical components of Ornithogalum Caudatum in China began later than in other countries, but the study of its effectiveness has never stopped since its antitumor function was discovered.

In 1989, on behalf of the Changbai Mountain Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Han Xinchang, in partnership with the Jilin Chinese Medical Institute, began studying the toxicity and effectiveness of Ornithogalum Caudatum.

He created different cancer models in rats and treated them with different doses of Ornithogalum Caudatum powder. The results showed that Ornithogalum Caudatum is not toxic at all; in fact, it may prevent certain types of cancer.

Application of poultry plant

Poultry plant is not only an ornamental, but also a useful plant that is used for household and medical purposes. The culture has a number of useful properties, due to which it is valued as a means of traditional medicine.

At home

Many species of poultry are poisonous because the culture contains alkaloids and glycosides. In economic activities, poultry bulbs and shoots are used as a food delicacy. Parts of the plant are pickled or fried.

The plant is cultivated to create flower arrangements and decorate gardens and park areas. The unpretentiousness of the poultry plant allows it to be grown in poor soil and to decorate rocky areas and alpine hills.

In medicine

Official medicine has not found the use of poultry as a pharmaceutical. However, in folk medicine, poultry has a number of positive properties that make it possible to prevent and treat many pathologies.

Properties of poultry

The benefits of the plant are due to the content of useful elements in its composition. The culture has the following medicinal properties:

• eliminates inflammation of internal organs;
• used for the prevention of gout, due to the ability to prevent the deposition of uric acid salts;
• pain relief;
• eliminating itching;
• treatment of skin rashes;
• restoration of blood circulation;
• relaxation of the body;
• elimination of tissue swelling and rapid healing.

Based on this, poultry plant is considered one of the most commonly used plants in folk medicine.

In folk medicine

As a medicine, various recipes for preparing the medicine are used. Depending on the pathology, one or another remedy is prepared.

Tincture

A tincture based on Indian onion is used to relieve joint pain, as well as for external use for radiculitis and varicose veins. The tincture is effective against fungal infections.

To prepare the tincture, use the lower leaves of the poultry plant, which are washed and crushed. The resulting leaves are mixed with water in a ratio of 1:10. The resulting mixture is infused for half a month in a cool, dark place. The finished mixture is filtered and taken externally as compresses.

Balm

Indications for the use of the balm are pain in the joints and muscles, intercostal neuralgia and osteochondrosis.

Preparation of the balm begins with grinding the leaves to a porridge state. The finished plant is mixed with a fatty base - Vaseline, glycerin. Add 2 tablespoons of honey to the resulting composition and mix thoroughly. The finished balm is infused for several days in the refrigerator, then used for its intended purpose.

Infusion

The infusion is used as an external remedy to relieve acute inflammation and reduce pain. To prepare lotions, the leaf is crushed and poured with boiling water in a ratio of 1:10. The mixture is infused for two hours, after which it is applied externally.

Application in landscape design

Thanks to the unpretentiousness of the poultry plant, more and more gardeners are using it to decorate their plots .

The magnificent decorative qualities of ornithogalum do not leave anyone indifferent, and its unpretentious nature allows it to be grown in almost any conditions.

Another positive feature of Ornithogalum is its “pacifism” - the plant harmoniously coexists with other ornamental perennial and annual plants .

Contraindications

Poultry plant is a very poisonous plant, so folk recipes are not used internally. It is important to avoid contact with mucous membranes and apply the culture carefully. Before treatment, it is recommended to consult a doctor to determine the indications for taking the substance. Before using the medicine with Indian onion, an allergy test is carried out - the product is applied to a small area of ​​skin. People under 18 years of age cannot accept funds. Poultry is contraindicated for hemophilia, allergies and renal failure. Treatment is limited by the period of pregnancy and feeding.

Useful properties of poultry plant

Healing properties are attributed to the tailed poultry plant. It contains many biologically active substances. There is evidence that Indian onions help against many diseases and have a pronounced analgesic property. It’s easy to verify this - just cut off a fresh leaf of the ornithischium caudatus and rub it on the place of pain, and it will immediately begin to subside.

This is due to the fact that the plant contains active substances that stimulate blood flow. Indian onion is indispensable for bruises, joint pain, and abscesses. Helps relieve swelling from bee stings, heals herpes, cures osteochondrosis, radiculitis, arthritis, salt deposits. For medicinal purposes, they take the most mature, old leaf that is beginning to dry out and in which the beneficial substances are most concentrated.

The sore spot is rubbed with the cut part of the leaf. The sap of the plant is colorless and has no odor. You should handle the plant with care, trying not to get the juice on the mucous membranes of the eyes - this can cause irritation.