Two-leaved (Platanthera Bifolia). Lyubka double-leafed - night violet

The double-leafed (Latin name Platanthera bifolia) is a species of perennial tuberous herbaceous plants belonging to the Lyuba family of the Orchidaceae family. The second name is a night violet.

Name

The scientific name of this genus comes from the Greek words "wide" (platis) and "pollen bag" (antera). It is explained by a special form of anther in representatives of this species. Epithet bifolia comes from the Latin language and consists of two words - "two" (bi) and "leaf" (folius). It is explained by two large leaves characteristic of this plant at the base of the trunk. The Russian name of this species, "Lyubka", is associated with the old traditions that the root-tubers of this plant (meaning the widespread Lyubka double-leafed) have special magical properties. Of these, love potions and love potions were prepared .

Spread

Lyubka double-leafed (night violet) is spread over a fairly large territory of Eurasia, in its temperate zone. It occurs in Asia Minor and Western Europe. In Russia Lubka double-leaf grows in the European part, in the Caucasus and in Southern Siberia. It grows in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, especially on fringes, glades, in thickets of bushes, sometimes on meadows. It can be found on subalpine meadows in the Altai, Caucasus, Sayan mountains. The ecological amplitude of this genus is rather wide. Lyubka double-leaf is completely indifferent to the moisture of the soil, grows both on excessively moistened (even with stagnant moistening), and on dry lands. It is not particularly demanding to the acidity and richness of soils, although it is more common on acidic soils. Can tolerate significant shading, although it prefers lighted places, since here it blossoms better and fructifies.

Description

Lyubka double-leaf (photo is given in the article) is a perennial herb plant, whose height is 20-50 centimeters, with two undivided tuber roots. There are specimens up to 60 centimeters high. Every year, a replacement tuber grows. The root leaves of the plant (two, rarely three or one) are located on the stalk opposite, at the base they are narrowed into the stem, which passes into the vagina. The shape of the leaf is obtuse oblong-obovate. Leaves reach a length of 22 centimeters, in width - 6 centimeters. The color is gray-green, shiny. The stem leaves are one to three, fairly small, lanceolate, sessile.

Night Violet: Color

The inflorescence of this plant is a rare ear of cylindrical form. It reaches 20 centimeters in length, consists of small flowers (of the order of 8-40 pieces). The flower has a very strong pleasant aroma (especially at night or in cloudy weather), the perianth is white, slightly greenish at the ends, corolla-like, simple. All six leaflets are different in size and shape. The largest of them forms a lip with a thin, slightly curved or straight spur, pointed at the tip, obliquely upward or horizontally directed. Its length does not exceed three centimeters. The lip itself is narrow, 12 mm long, at the base without tubercles. Three leaves of the perianth are brought together, they form a helmet, and the other two are free. The stamen in the flower is only one, its pollen in the anthers glued together into a lump called pollinium. Pestle - with a three-bladed stigma and a lower single-cavity ovary. Blossoms Lyubka double-leafed in June-July. It is pollinated by insects. Ages in July-August. The fruit of the plant is a box, which is opened by six longitudinal slits. The seeds are very small, pulverized.

Care Tips

Place for this plant should be selected shaded to protect it from the scorching sun. To the soil it is absolutely not exacting, it grows both on poor soils and on well-fertilized soils. However, fertilizer will not be superfluous, so, timely fertilization promotes better flowering and development. In a period of intense heat requires additional watering. Lyubka double-leaf perfectly tolerates winter and does not need shelter.

Reproduction

This plant multiplies exclusively by seeds. In one fruit contains more than 20 thousand seeds. On one plant, on average, up to 11 fruits ripen. Germinated seeds only in the presence of fungi. During the first two or four years the sprout leads exclusively underground way of life, and only on the third or fifth year the first leaf appears on the surface of the earth. The white night violet blossoms for about 11 years after germination, under favorable conditions it can occur for the sixth year. This plant can bloom for five to six years without interruption, but after a particularly abundant flowering, a short break may occur. On average, the plant lives 20-27 years, under favorable conditions it may take longer. Flower buds are laid two years before flowering. Pollination is usually carried out by night butterflies (sconces and scoops), then the perianth soon fades. Seed ripening takes place one and a half to two months after pollination. Due to the fact that the seeds are very small and light, spreading occurs even with a slight movement of air masses. Lyubka double-leaf is a remarkable decorative plant with a strong aroma. It is in great demand among flower lovers. However, it is not easy to breed. Formally, the night violet is a protected plant, but in practice it is practically impossible to organize it. Flowers are lapped in bulk to create bouquets, and this leads to a reduction in its range.

Medicinal value of a double-leafed

Root tubers of night violets have medicinal properties. They are excavated immediately after flowering or at the end. Only young, juicy and fleshy are selected. Tubers are usually immersed in boiling water for two to three minutes (in order that they do not germinate), and then dried in the shade. The result is a so-called sap. It has long been used in the preparation of medicines for toning and restorative action. The main reason for such popularity of the slele is its ability to increase sexual activity. Since ancient times, hundreds of recipes for the treatment of impotence have been developed with the help of Lyubka double-leafed. However, the limited raw material base of this plant product does not allow to create a single reliable medicinal system of these plants. Salep has an antitoxic and enveloping effect, so it is prescribed for the purpose of detoxification by poisoning with some poisons that cause gastrointestinal disorders, with peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, with chronic gastritis, colitis, and various intestinal diseases in children. In addition, they can prescribe for chronic and acute bronchitis.

ethnoscience

In folk medicine, Lyubka double-leaf is used as a diuretic, with fever and toothache. Also, this plant is considered a good tool for increasing the strength of people, exhausted by a serious illness, and the elderly. In addition, salep is recommended as a nutrient with broth or grape wine. Traditional medicine uses lyubku for the treatment of sexual dysfunctions and female diseases. Powder from mother tubers is used as an effective contraceptive. However, Russian healers claimed that prolonged use of this remedy could cause infertility in women. Tibetan healers use it to increase the strength of the body.