Aflatun onions - useful properties, application, cultivation

Recently, in the gardens and suburban areas you can see an unusual plant with a beautiful ball-shaped flower of violet color and wide leaves. "What is this strange flower?" - passers-by are surprised. It turns out that this is the Aflatun bow. This plant came to us from the mountainous area and is named so in honor of the Aflatun Pass, where it was spread. In some countries, this onion is listed in the Red Book because of its scarcity.

Description of the plant

Looking at this unusual plant, you can not help admiring its beauty. After all, it would seem that the usual, seemingly slightly bulky garlic, but in fact, it turns out, a beautiful decorative bow. At first glance, the bulbs of this plant somehow resemble a huge head of garlic or a tulip bulb. Here only grows from it a completely unfamiliar plant to us - the aflatun onion, the useful properties of which equate to those of ginseng.

Green shoots are the first to appear from the ground in the early spring, probably together with snowdrops. Happens, snow will not come down yet, and green elastic seedlings look out from under the snow cover. Powerful wide leaves (often 5-7 of them) of a saturated green color grow quite large. They can reach 10 cm in width, very smooth, pleasant to the touch.

After the warm weather is established, the flower spike is shown. In height, it can reach 150 cm. A large purple flower that blossoms at the end of May - June, keeps on a thick, inside empty stalk. This leg is very dense, withstands strong gusts of wind, without breaking. Inflorescence in the form of a ball consists of many small flowers-stars. At the end of flowering in their place appear boxes with seeds, which can be collected for further reproduction.

The flower produces a pleasant, light scent that does not look like anything. In addition, this smell is very attractive to bees.

Conditions and methods of cultivation

This plant, in principle, unpretentious. It can withstand very low temperatures (up to -35 degrees), but the onset of summer heat, it can not wait - a short flowering period makes itself felt. Aflatun onions are growing both in the lighted area and in the shade. But the sun, of course, is preferable for him. As practice shows, the land also suits different. He feels great in the mountains, sandy soils and chernozems.

This plant is perennial, multiplies by either dividing the bulb, or seeds. Planting its bulbs is necessary in the autumn, when they dry up after digging. If the bulb is divided, an independent plant will grow from each part. The division of bulbs occurs almost every year. But you can change it every year or once in 2-3 years.

If there are no bulbs (you came to visit, you saw a flower and you want to breed such a bow in your home), you can collect seeds from the peduncle, which appear at the end of flowering. True, this way of planting is very long, because in this case the plant will bloom in 2-4 years.

Experienced growers like the bow of Aflatun, the cultivation of which does not bring any special problems. And the incidence is not affected. The only drawback is that before the beginning of flowering, its leaves turn yellow and dry, which can look ugly on an organized flowerbed or hill.

Aflatunium onion: useful properties

Like any relative of this plant, this onion contains a lot of nutrients. For example, there are more dry substances in it than in the usual repertoire, and vitamin C - almost 4 times more. Also this product contains vitamins D and E, which prevent rickets from developing, prevent the incidence of cancer, strengthen immunity.

This type of onions are used for spasms of the brain, it also improves vision better. Good effect is its use in the incidence of stomach and colds. By the way, if you squeeze juice from this onion and rub it into the scalp, your hair will grow better.

Application

It would seem, where can I apply a normal bulb? Unless in cooking. However, it is not. Aflatun onion is very good for decorative purposes - cut flowers put in vases or enter into various bouquets. So, a freshly cut flower can stand for weeks 2 in water, and if it is dried, then all winter.

Very often such onions are grown on hills or flower beds as a very beautiful flower. Its bright, large inflorescences are seen very well. One tip from gardeners: plant this plant in the center of the flowerbed, so that other flowers can close an ugly dry leaf.

It is very good to plant this unusual "onion" wherever there is an apiary nearby - it is considered a honey tree and it is very popular with bees. For folk medicine is also very good onion Aflatun. The use of its juice or eating will certainly yield its results.

Aflatun onions - can I eat?

The main question remains open: is it possible to eat this plant? Those who breed this plant, claim that it has a garlic flavor. But edible leaves do not last long. When there is a flower spike, the leaves are already inedible. They can be eaten only when they have just appeared. In addition, the young leaves are very juicy, fleshy, will be an excellent addition to the spring salad. They will give the body a lot of useful vitamins, very necessary during the vitamin deficiency.

In addition, the bulbs of this onion are used for food. They can be baked, marinated (while maintaining in the water about 2 weeks, in other sources - up to 50 days), cook on honey. But it is worth remembering that in order to avoid allergies and poisoning, you should not use more than 3 grams of this onion.

Conclusion

As you can see, even such a seemingly simple and habitual plant, like a bow, can surprise. A few years ago no one really knew anything about the beautiful ornamental flower. Even experienced growers were presented as wild garlic, giant garlic ... They even learned where this incredible fragrant and useful bulb actually came from.

Even if you do not dare to use this plant for food - do not worry. His appearance will more than replace your desire to eat it, because aflutun onions - a very beautiful and prominent "guy" in the garden.