(Succisa pratensis); lizun, rannik; birthplace of the Chersakovs (Dipsacaceae); meadow calico
This plant is not too bright. In summer it is almost invisible, but in autumn everything changes. The colorful summer has passed, and now every flower pleases like an unexpected gift. The first frosts hit, and the chimney is alive, as before, its blue heads swaying in a friendly way. The plant tolerates low sub-zero temperatures well. So if you can’t see anything on the meadows in autumn, there is still a lot of interesting things to do on the edges of the forests and forest glades.
Meadow gorse is a herbaceous rhizome perennial. Its stem is erect, simple, covered with hairs, 40-80 cm tall, with two opposite flower-bearing shoots at the top. Leaves are opposite, entire, basal – long-petiolate, ovate-elliptical; stem – lanceolate, growing petioles into a short sheath. The flowers are small, lilac or blue, collected in a headlike inflorescence, blooming from June to September. The fruit is an achene. Meadow gorse is widespread in the forest and forest-steppe zones of the middle and southern part of the European part of Russia. In Ukraine, it grows in forest and forest-steppe zones, occasionally in the Steppe.
It turns out that this inconspicuous plant has medicinal properties. The aerial part and rhizomes with roots are used to prepare medicines. The grass is collected during flowering, and the rhizomes with roots – in spring or autumn. Preparations of komonnika are used only in folk medicine.
The composition of the plant includes saponins, tannins and a glycoside of unknown structure.
Rhizomes and roots (in the form of powder) are used for stomach pains, as a diuretic for edema, and as an anthelmintic to expel roundworms. The decoction of the aerial part has diuretic properties and, thanks to the content of saponins, expectorant properties, in addition, it is used for headaches. Externally, the decoction is used to heal wounds and treat eczema.
The biggest surprise is the honey yield of this humble plant. Honey productivity reaches 105 kg from 1 hectare of thickets. On fine days, bees willingly prepare food for the winter.
Powder of rhizomes with roots. The powder is mixed with sugar in a ratio of 1:1. Take 1 teaspoon each to relieve stomach pain and as an anthelmintic.
Decoction of grass . 1 tablespoon of crushed raw materials per 300 ml of boiling water. Boil for 5 minutes, filter. Take 1 tablespoon three times a day with main symptoms
pains, bronchitis, gastric colic. Externally, the decoction is used for washing and lotions.