Volcheyagodnik ordinary: botanical description and classification

What kind of plant is a wolf cub (wolf lobster, common wolfberry)? Why does it have such a name? What varieties are found in nature and where do they grow? There is a sense to understand the characteristics of the classification, the specificity of growing and using the plant.

Wolfhound common

For sure, many people saw a spectacular low tree or shrub with lush green leaves and bright red fruits that stay on the branches for a long time. This is not accidental. There is an opinion that every beautiful woman can be insidious. So the common wolfberry (photo above) is beautiful and effective at first sight. But if you know its features, it becomes clear why no one eats appetizing berries, and leaves and branches rarely rashly rash.

According to the specification of plants of the wolf family, they are called Daphne. From Greek this word is translated as "laurel". This is because the leaves of these species have a clear similarity. Another version of the name is associated with the legend of the times of Ancient Greece. According to the legend, a nymph named Daphne, fleeing from the passionate Apollo, asked the goddess of the Earth to hide Gaia from her pursuer. And she, without hesitation, turned the fugitive into a spectacular laurel tree.

Volcheyagodnik ordinary: description

The plant belongs to angiosperms from the class of dicotyledons, is in a row of malcolaceous. In the family of wolves, the genus Volcheyagodnik is distinguished. The plant is compact, has the appearance of a shrub, reaching a height of 1.5 meters. The root system is superficial, and can be easily damaged when cultivating the soil. The crown of the wolf forms a cup-shaped or sprawling. The leaves are smooth, dense and rigid, in the shape of an ellipse or lanceolate. On the branch are arranged alternately.

There are plants that dump foliage, and evergreen species. Small flowers are formed on shoots grown over the previous vegetative period. In form they can be assembled into a bundle, head, brush. They differ in color (from white and shades of yellow to rich pink). Known for a pleasant scent, reminiscent of lilac. Flowering can last up to one month. Formed after maturing inedible fruit-berries have a glossy appearance and can be yellow, red or black.

Growing in our wild-growing species, called the wolf's bark, is distinguished by the strength of the bark on the trunk. It's hard to break with your hands, do not try to bite your teeth. Touching the mucous membranes is fraught with poisoning. The plant belongs to the poisonous species. And harm to humans and animals is caused by all parts of the bush.

Habitat

Wolf's bast (common wolfberry) in the wild can be found on the fringes of forests, in mixed thickets, groomed gardens. Distributed throughout Russia, found in Siberia and the Caucasus. It lives in conditions of flat terrain and in the mountains. In the wild environment is not drowned out by a higher growth. Transferred to cultural conditions, it gradually transforms and develops to the maximum species size.

Prefers shaded space on nutrient-rich light soil. It grows well in a wet area with good drainage. Carries the pruning, forming the crown in the desired direction. Can be used to decorate gardens and landscaped areas. It is characterized by resistance to common pests and viral infections. A definite danger in the cultivation may be aphids and gray rot.

Diversity

Volcheyagodnik ordinary is a typical representative of the middle band. In total, in the family, experts identify almost 70 species. The division is carried out depending on the region of growth. Many representatives are named on this basis (Alpine, Caucasian, Altai, Circassian, Kamchatka, Crimean, etc.). Some species from the family also grow in Asia, Western Europe, North Africa. Many Dáphne have undergone breeding and have been acclimatized in various regions.

Plant subspecies have characteristic differences (leaf shape, inflorescence, total height, color shade and their aroma, form of berries). Often it is these features that are the cause of the change in the names of the wolf-eaters (silky and pseudo-silty, fragrant or fragrant). Another specification is characteristic for species that have similarities with other plants (laurel, olive-like).

Some names of varieties of a wolfberry can be understood even by a common man in the street (hoghead, narrow-leaved, bored, daphno pazushkotvetkovaya). Other features of the wolves (Genkva, Iez, Pontic, Gutta) are known and understandable only to specialists who know the specific features of shrubs growing in different climatic zones.

Peculiarities of growing

The wolf-lobster (common wolf-fever) is characterized by its unpretentiousness and adaptability to the conditions of the growing medium. In a harsh climate, the bush well withstands freezing. As a decorative species is valued for the early flowering period (April) and the relative duration of this period.

The wolf breeds with seeds, layers of the root system. It is possible to divide the formed bush or plant cuttings into prepared land. When sowing, it is preferable to use fresh ripened berries, since during storage the percentage of growth decreases. In a typical environment, the shrub gives off self-seeding. At the same time, not all the fallen fruits germinate.

When seeding seeds in the soil in autumn can withstand a depth of no more than 3 cm. Appendages appear in the spring. For cultivation, the soil is treated, mulched, watered, and weeded. A year after sowing (August-September) young shoots are transplanted to a permanent place, choosing a shaded area.

Next spring it is advisable to produce complex fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. In advance when planting, you can make peat. Pruning and shaping of the crown are carried out in the first years of development. In the future, intensive shoot growth is not observed and it is only necessary to monitor their condition (sanitary pruning). The transfer of adult bushes to a new location can lead to negative results. Therefore, resort to this should be only in case of emergency.

Using

Volcheyagodnik ordinary for many valuable appearance. It is planted to ennoble the garden or the site adjacent to the house. It finds application in rock gardens as a decorative element of a complex landscape composition. Decorative nature of the plant is different. Used in the garden as a background element, it can border the edges of the site areas, paths and paths.

Separately, the berries are highlighted for bright and juicy appearance, flowers - for the softness of shades and spreading aroma. Another important feature is early and plentiful flowering. Thanks to this, the wolfberry is planted on the site as the first honey plant.

In folk medicine, the wolf cub is practically not used. Previously mentioned the practice of using crushed bark and its extract as an irritant for snake bites and rabid animals. Berries were used by artists to make paints.

Poisonous plant

The fact that the common wolfberry has toxicity was known for a long time. In the people there was an opinion that six berries could kill a wolf. The juice of the plant, its fruits, leaves, bark and roots are dangerous and can cause serious damage to health. Especially prudent should be when growing shrubs in an environment where access to it can have small children.

Berries in a ripe form can attract their attention. Although the taste is not pleasant at all, even short-term contact with the mucous membranes can cause harm. Therefore, even with normal contact with the wolf-fever, care should be taken. Washing hands with soap will prevent undesirable consequences.