Black root: description, useful properties

Poorly versed in botany, truck farmers often sow seeds of a black root in their plot with the hope that there will be no mice there. But to their surprise, the mouse does not go anywhere. This is explained by the fact that the root is black and black, the unpleasant odor of which frightens off rodents, - quite different plants. The first of them is also called: black carrots, sweet root, scythes and scorzonera.

This plant is very valuable, but it is undeservedly avoided by our gardeners, gardeners and gardeners. In the old days it was considered an excellent medicinal product, many of them were cultivated on household plots. Now black carrots can be seen in rare cases. All this is unfair, and the plant is worth remembering.

Black root: description

The sweet root is a representative of the genus of perennial herbaceous plants. The stem is erect, its height reaches 75 cm, sometimes not more than 25 cm. The branches are dense, protruding. The base of the stem is covered with green leaves, which in its lower part are slightly pointed, with numerous veins.

The plant blooms in May, it has a yellow, sometimes pink fragrant reed flower. The black root of the scorzoner is cylindrical, quite thick. Flesh white, with milky juice. The plant self-pollinates.

Place of distribution

Black carrots grow well on stony and steppe slopes, limestones. The favorite place of growth is the steppe belt. Homeland is considered to be Southern Europe, as well as South-West Asia. Scorzonera is cultivated in all countries of Europe, it can be found on the territory of Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Residents of the Netherlands, France and some other countries began to grow this plant as a vegetable culture, since the end of the XVI century. In Russia, they speak of it only as a wild representative of the flora, which grows in the Caucasus. Manufacturers, and even more so consumers, do not know much about it. Many take it as the root of an ebony tree, which is completely untrue. Residents of the United States and Western Europe admire the medicinal and nutritional qualities of the plant.

Black root: useful properties and its composition

Useful properties of this exotic root are due to the various substances that make up its composition, among which it is worth noting:

• micro- and macro elements (salts of phosphorus, potassium, etc.);
• vitamins of group B, as well as C, K, E, PP;
• natural sugar;
• nitrogenous substances;
• Glutamine, inulin (about 10%), asparagine.

There are also biologically active substances, due to which the plant has acquired great importance in dietary nutrition. The black root is successfully used to treat rheumatic pains, radiculitis, trophic ulcers, snake bites and other serious diseases. Science proves that the biological composition of this root is much higher than all revered ginseng, and its caloric content is quite small and is only 17 kcal per 100 g of root. Leaves are fed worms of silkworm.

Healing properties

Traditional medicine believes that the goat is very useful and tries in every way to apply it as an independent tool, and in conjunction with other medicinal plants. The root black has recommended itself in the treatment of atherosclerosis, obesity, vitamin deficiency and anemia. If you often take this product, you can achieve a gradual inhibition of the development of polyarthritis, gout and rheumatism.

Older people of scorzonera should always be on the menu. So they can not face such serious health problems as liver disease, hypertension, diabetes and many others for a long time. The plant has in its composition asparagine, which positively affects the heart muscle, and also enhances the work of the kidneys. It is still considered a natural anesthetic.

Application in Cooking

In addition to well-known medicinal properties, scorzonera is famous for its taste qualities. Root crops have become widely used in cooking. They are used to prepare many useful and yet quite tasty dishes. The root is prepared black, like cauliflower or asparagus, used as a part of vinaigrettes, as a seasoning for soups and used to make delicious sauces for meat. Very delicious will be a goat, if fry it in oil, taking off before peeling.

When starting to clean, everything should be done very carefully, as it is possible to paint both hands and clothes. After cleaning the hard part, it should immediately be placed in a bowl with water diluted with vinegar. The black root can be eaten raw, pre-wiped and sprinkled with chopped parsley or other herbs. In this form it is very tasty and resembles a cabbage stump.

The season of this useful plant begins in November. On the festive table you can serve a black root with the addition of a morel sauce. The duck breast served with a root under a cheese sauce also looks good. All dishes can not be listed. It should be noted that the root crop of the plant is perfectly preserved even in cold winter, being under snow. This makes it possible to have delicious dishes on your table all year round for everyone who has such a useful plant on the site.