Borage (borage, borage). Exotic cucumbers

borage borage borage pharmacy heart flower borage borage planting beneficial features photo description reproduction, care, medicinal use, spice

Synonyms: Borage, Borage, Borage, heart flower, borage, borage,

This plant is also known as Borago, joy of the heart

The scientific name is from Spanish or Late Latin bogra, burra - shaggy beard.

Latin name Borago officinalis L

Genus Borago - Borage

borage borage borage or cordial flower

This plant gave the name to a whole family - borage - which includes plants known in folk medicine such as lungwort, comfrey and blackroot.
The medicinal properties of borage have been known for quite some time. This plant was known to many ancient peoples. IN Ancient Rome it was believed that it improves mood and makes a person more courageous. In England, during the time of Queen Elizabeth 1, its flowers were added to salads to evoke pleasant thoughts. They were added to wine to “amuse people” and cough syrups. At the end of the 16th century. English herbalists treated sleepwalking, melancholy, Bad mood. As it turned out, this use was quite justified. It has been proven that borage stimulates the adrenal cortex and promotes the production of adrenaline, which increases tone.

In modern medical practice it is used for cardiac weakness and to improve performance.

Description Borage - Borago

Borage officinalis or borage Borago officinalis- the only species of a monotypic genus of flowering plants.

Low herbaceous annual vegetable plant resembles both lungwort and comfrey, only greatly reduced. Has a cucumber scent (young leaves borage they smell like fresh cucumber) for which it is popularly called cucumber grass.

The entire plant, especially an adult one, is heavily pubescent with spiny hairs and feels rough to the touch.

Root well developed, taproot and numerous lateral roots.

The stem is erect, thick, fleshy, branched, short-haired, 80-100 cm tall. The stem is crowned with a curl of flowers.

Leaves alternate, large, fleshy, whole, widely elongated in shape - oval, wrinkled, wavy along the edge, finely toothed, hairy-pubescent.

The lower leaves are large, petiolate, ovate, elliptical, obtuse, the upper ones are much smaller, sessile, oval, ovate-oblong.

Inflorescences are corymbose-paniculate.

Flowers large, blue with a pink tint, less often white, drooping, similar to five-pointed stars.

They are located at the ends of the stems and are collected in a spreading thyroid-paniculate inflorescence.

Fetus borage consists of four obovate-shaped nuts. The nuts are elongated, somewhat curved, cross section irregularly rounded, with a folded surface, dark brown, less often light brown or almost black in color.

The plant blooms in June-July, the seeds ripen in July-August.

Distribution of Borago

The homeland of borage is Asia Minor and the Mediterranean coast.

It is found wild in North America, Europe and Asia Minor, including in the southern regions of our country.

In the wild, the plant is found throughout the European part of Russia and Siberia, most often near human habitation. Sometimes grown as an ornamental or salad plant.

Growing on site

Local varieties are cultivated in our country and abroad.

Agricultural technology

Does not require special techniques cultivation.

Borage is the fastest growing plant.. The leaves begin to be cut 15 - 20 days after germination and before the flower stem appears. The grass is harvested while it is young. Therefore, it must be sown at several times.

Growing this plant is absolutely easy. Borage tolerates light shade and prefers well-moistened fertile soils. The plant is very cold-resistant.

Grows well on various soils, but it’s better on more loose and humus-rich ones. In dry and hot weather, a flower stalk quickly forms, the leaves become coarse and become tasteless.
A high yield of leaves can only be achieved on rich and sufficiently moist soils.

Reproduction

Borago can be sown before winter or early in spring as soon as the soil has thawed. . To obtain young tender greens, sowing is carried out at several times. In summer time borage It is recommended to sow in partial shade.

Seeds are sown in a single line with row spacing of 25 - 30 cm or in two or three line tapes with a distance between lines of 20 - 25 cm, between tapes - 45 cm, in a row between plants - 15 cm. Seed placement depth - 1.5 - 2.0 cm , their seeding rate is 8 - 10 g per 1 m2 or 25-30 kg per 1 ha.

When growing cucumber grass for greens in protected soil, the seeds are sown somewhat thicker than in open ground. Sowing in rows, at a distance of 6 - 8 cm, as well as scattered. 6 - 8 kg of seeds are sown per 1 ha.

It blooms for a long time, and it grows quickly, so it can be planted in a visible place on the site, and not hidden in secluded places. Seeds are sown in spring, in early May, without preliminary preparation. You won't have to wait long for seedlings.

When sowing borage seeds in the ground, seedlings appear on the 7th - 9th day. The seedlings are thinned out twice, leaving a distance between plants of 15-20 cm.

Care

Caring for crops consists of loosening the rows, weeding, and in dry summers, watering.

In case of weak development of plants, they are fed with one of the nutrient mixtures (2 - 3 g per 1 m2) or nitrammophos (2 g per 1 m2).

On infertile soils - fertilizing ammonium nitrate- 2 centners per 1 hectare. When growing cucumber for seeds, the seeding rate is reduced to 13 kg.

In the phase of two or three true leaves, plants are thinned out by 8-10 cm.

Seeds

When cutting raw materials, do not forget that the plant is an annual plant and you will need seeds for sowing next year.

The seeds of borage are large, 1000 pieces weigh 13 - 18 g. They retain germination well for 2 - 3 years. Renews itself by self-seeding.

To obtain seeds, borage is sown in early spring at a distance of 40 - 60 cm row from row at the rate of 35 - 40 kg of seeds per 1 ha. Caring for plants involves weeding and loosening the rows.

Borage - Borage blooms in June - early July, flowering continues until September. Mass seed ripening is observed in August. Flowering and ripening are very extended, therefore, to avoid shedding, plants are cut off as the seeds turn brown.

To prevent them from shedding, harvesting begins when the seeds in the lower part of the inflorescence begin to turn brown. There is no point in waiting for all the seeds to ripen. If you wait for the last ones, then the first ones, the largest ones, will simply crumble. Therefore, when the last flowers begin to bloom, cut off the flower stalks and place them on paper in a dry place.

The cut stems are placed in a well-ventilated area for ripening. As they dry, the unripe seeds ripen, and the ripened ones fall out onto the paper. After 8-10 days, the seeds are threshed. After this, you can collect them and calmly wait for the next season.

Cucumber grass is little affected by diseases and pests.

Advice. The plant can be placed in partial shade near bushes.

Borage Grass Harvesting, Drying and Storage

Borage leaves are harvested at a young age, before the plants develop a flower stem. Young plants with cotyledons and the first leaf are more tender. They are harvested whole, like spinach. Basically, borage is cut off as it is consumed. If they are cut for storage, they are dried under a canopy or in attics. Store in a closed container.

Anguria

......or also Antillean cucumber, kiwano, horned melon. Vegetable and ornamental annual vine with stems up to 4 m long, original leaves, similar to watermelon. The flowering is lush; in place of the flowers, cylindrical fruits up to 8 cm long, covered with fleshy spines, are formed. Fruiting lasts until frost. It is better to grow on a trellis. Young fruits are eaten raw and pickled. At a later age, the skin becomes dense, and they become inedible; instead, they can long time stored as souvenirs. Grown like a cucumber, seedling method. Choose a sunny place, well protected from the wind. The soil must be fertile and well drained. The plant is very productive. For generous fruiting, as soon as the first ovary appears, the tops of the shoots are pinched. There is also Anguria Syrian (Syrian cucumber) - a smaller vine with smaller fruits.

Trichosanth

It is also called snake cucumber. Annual liana with long stems up to 5 m, large leaves and fruits twisted into a spiral, up to 1-1.5 m long. The skin of ripe fruits is orange, the flesh is red. The plant clings to any surface with its tendrils, even smooth ones. Trichosanthus is very beautiful during the flowering period; the flowers look like snowflakes, with thread-like endings. The young ovary, 10-15 cm long, is used for salads, stewed, boiled and canned. For better yield fruits must be removed regularly. Often grown with decorative purpose for landscaping gazebos, fences and verandas. Loves fertile soil and abundant moisture. Grown from seedlings, care like a cucumber. Loves light and regular watering. The plant is very rich minerals and also has medicinal properties: anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic and antipyretic.

Cucumber Momordica

Other names - yellow cucumber, Chinese bitter melon. Liana-like plant with dissected, orange flowers and fruits of an original shape, similar to oblong pumpkin or a cucumber with large “warts”. When ripe, the fruit acquires bright orange color and cracks, exposing bright red growths with seeds. Often used to decorate gazebos and verandas. Support is needed. Unripe fruits are consumed after soaking for several hours in salt water to eliminate the bitter taste. Then they are stewed, marinated and salted. Momordica needs a lot of light and moisture. Grow from seedlings, care like a cucumber. Used for gastrointestinal diseases, reduces cholesterol and blood sugar levels, improves immunity, speeds up metabolism.

Tladianta doubtful

…. Either red or sweet cucumber. perennial liana, forming shoots 5 m long. All summer it blooms with bright red flowers, similar to tulips. The fruits are small, similar to cucumbers, and red when ripe. The pulp is sweet. Jams and preserves are prepared from ripened fruits. The plant requires hand pollination, so fruiting is small. Pollen can be used for pollination male flower from cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchini. Underground shoots form large tubers. Often cultivated for ornamental purposes vertical gardening. The growing location should be sunny or slightly shaded. Propagated by seeds and division of tubers.

Cucumber Melotria

Annual liana up to 3 m high. Vegetable and ornamental culture. Caring for it is like caring for cucumbers. It needs support, quickly forms green screens, bears fruit until frost, and can be grown as a potted plant. Loves open and sunny places. Seeds are sown in the soil or in seedlings. The fruits are edible, up to 3 cm long, light green, with a marbled pattern, and taste like a cucumber. The most delicious young cucumbers. They can be eaten fresh, salted, or used to decorate dishes. For medicinal purposes, melotria is used to remove excess fluid from the body, normalization blood pressure. Melothria also produces edible tubers.

Chayote

This is a Mexican cucumber. For decorative purposes, it is often grown near gazebos and verandas. Support is needed. The fruits taste similar to zucchini, but are softer and sweeter. They are consumed fresh, boiled, stewed with other vegetables, or pickled. The culture produces numerous edible tubers that taste like potatoes. From the stem after special processing. Weave various products, such as hats. Grow by seedlings. Loves the light abundant watering and fertilizing, the area must be protected from the wind.

Botanists call this plant borage, but popularly it is better known as borage. It was not given its name by chance, because it not only smells like cucumber, but also tastes like it.

It is believed that borage came to Europe from Syria at the beginning of the Middle Ages, which, according to botanists, is the birthplace of this plant. The Arabs once brought borage to Spain, where they began to grow it as an ornamental plant.

Even medieval healers discovered at Borago medicinal properties. It is not for nothing that the plant is called “the joy of the heart.” Doctors gave borage to patients who had heart problems. Moreover, it was believed that this plant could improve mood, overcome depression and even add courage to a person. Earlier, back in Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece, warriors ate borage before battle to strengthen their fortitude and add stamina and courage. And before entering the lists, medieval knights did not forget to drink a cup of tea made from borage. Apparently, that’s when the saying “A garden without borage is like a heart without courage” appeared.

Beneficial features

Borago - ornamental and melliferous plant

Beekeepers have long noticed that bees are very attracted to borage flowers, so much so that not a single bee is able to fly past. Therefore, borage is often grown next to apiaries as a good honey plant.

Borago is not only useful, but also beautiful plant. Its star-like beautiful bright blue flowers with a black center they go well with other plants. Therefore, borage is often planted simply to decorate the garden. Moreover, his proximity can be extremely useful. It has been observed that there are significantly fewer pests in strawberry beds if only a few borage bushes grow next to them.

It seems that borage, which is “ignored” by almost all pests, is able to repel them from plants located next to it. Moreover, plants get sick less if borage is planted in close proximity to them.

Healing properties of borage

Borage contains enough a large number of vitamins C and P, which are so necessary for the body. The leaves of borage contain a variety of mineral salts, fatty and resinous acids, which allows this plant to be used not only in culinary, but also in medicinal purposes.

In folk medicine, both freshly picked and pre-prepared borage leaves are used.

Borago is used:

in the treatment of various neuroses as a mild sedative;

for skin diseases;

for gastrointestinal diseases (as a mild laxative);

for kidney problems accompanied by edema (borage infusions are used as a diuretic).

Cucumber leaves are also used externally. A compress of borage leaves applied to an inflamed area or swollen joint helps relieve pain and reduce swelling quite well.

Growing borage

The herbaceous annual borago is a plant that is very picky and grows quickly. Thanks to its unpretentiousness, growing borage is extremely simple, because it reproduces well by self-sowing.

Therefore, it is important to sow borage correctly the very first time. Cucumber seeds should be planted to a depth of 1-2 centimeters. When sowing, be sure to consider how the plant is intended to be used. If you plan to collect young plants entirely, then it is better to sow borage according to a 10 x 10 cm pattern. After the collection of grown cucumber grass begins, the distance between plants gradually increases to 30-40 cm, which allows them to continue to grow successfully.

If you are going to get flowers from borage, and even more so let its seeds ripen, then you need to leave a distance of at least 70-75 cm between plants.

Although this plant is not too demanding on soil, it grows much better in fertile soil, in which all were included necessary fertilizers(primarily organic). Borago in the garden can also thrive in partial shade.

In the spring, cucumber seeds, which have fallen into the soil from last year's plants, are among the first to emerge, significantly ahead of other green ones. vegetable crops(except watercress). It is interesting that borage seeds from the first flowers, having fallen into the soil, are able to sprout in the second half of summer, which allows you to continuously harvest the tender leaves of borage. And even the first small frosts are non-lethal for cucumber grass. At this time, you can still collect its leaves, and the stems of the plant are suitable for consumption until serious frosts.

It is quite possible to grow cucumber grass as a indoor plant. Borago can grow in normal flower pot(of course, of the appropriate size), placed for a sufficient time in well-lit sunlight windowsill.

Collecting borage seeds

As mentioned above, borage reproduces well by self-sowing. But this quality creates some problems if its seeds need to be collected. Since borage blooms very long time, then its seeds do not ripen at the same time. It is almost impossible to collect black, not too large and completely invisible borage seeds after they have fallen to the ground.

You can try to lay a piece of borage under the bush thick paper or film (so that the crumbling seeds can be collected from them), but this option is only possible in the absence of rain. Therefore much easier collection Borage seeds are planted simply by shaking off the drooping shoots that have already dried flowers.

Borage in cooking

This is a plant that tastes and smells strongly reminiscent of fresh cucumber, most often used in a variety of salads. Young, not yet hardened cucumber leaves are best suited for them. After the beginning of flowering, when harsh hairs appear on the leaves of borage, the succulent stems of this plant, capable of reaching up to good conditions growing up to half a meter in length and up to 3-4 cm in diameter. Peeled and chopped borage stems can even completely replace real cucumbers in a salad.

There are also ways to prepare borage as a separate dish. In some culinary recipes borage is recommended to be used as a filling or garnish. In addition, this plant produces very tasty refreshing drinks. Borage leaves added to the drink can add flavor to it.

Even the blue flowers of borage are edible. They are best suited for decorating various salads. Sometimes these flowers are specially candied and eaten as a dessert.

Culinary recipes with borage

Salad "Spring"

Jerusalem artichoke 4 tubers

carrots 2 pcs. (medium size)

borage 10 young plants (with just blossomed cotyledon leaves)

vegetable oil

Grate carrots and Jerusalem artichoke, add finely chopped borage, vegetable oil and salt (to taste)

Cucumber salad. Wash the young leaves thoroughly and chop finely, then season to taste. vegetable oil, salt and vinegar are added to taste.

Stewed borage. Stew the leaves in salted water and serve with butter.

Borago flowers in sugar. Place borage flowers in rows in a clay dish on a layer of granulated sugar, interspersing them with sugar. Most upper layer- sugar in a thick layer. Store in a cool place.

Drinks from borage

Tea. Pour two glasses of boiling water over 6-8 leaves. Leave for 15-20 minutes.

Drink "Summer"

borago 10 leaves

one lemon

2.5 cups boiling water

Pour boiling water over borage leaves and lemon (cut into slices), let cool, then strain.

Borage is very actively used in medicine and other fields. The main advantage is very active pollination by bees, which is why it is recommended to plant with other fruit plants. Photos of grass and cultivation are described below.

Botanical name: Borage officinalis.

Borage is a hardy, prolific self-seeding annual plant, well known for its bright blue flowers shaped like stars that bloom throughout the summer. The large green-gray leaves are oval shaped and can be quite spiny. The stems are similar in color, but the spiky white bristles along the stems give the impression that the plant is silver in color. They are located interspersed around a hollow hairy stem, resulting in large plant reaches 100 cm in height and up to 90 cm in width. Natural environment Its original habitat was Syria, but the plant is now naturalized throughout Europe and much of the United States. Although borage with blue flowers is very common, there is a more famous white one. alpine species, which has many features.

This plant is a great addition to the garden, and borage is one of the best honey plants to attract bees and wasps. Many years ago it was nicknamed "the bee's bread." If you plant it next to strawberry patch, bees will additionally pollinate it, and wasps perfectly control various pests.

Borage was popular in the Middle Ages as a vegetable and salad plant, and continues to be used for culinary and medicinal purposes in modern times. The flowers, leaves and oil made from the seeds can be used for a variety of purposes.

Growing conditions

Borage is very easy to grow as it is tolerant of a wide range of conditions in the Australian climate. The plant reaches 60-100 cm in height and grows in clumps, so it is best planted in groups so that the plants help support each other. The stunning blue star flowers appear during the summer months and the plant will dry out by winter.

In subtropical climates it will grow best and bloom with early spring until the beginning of summer. The plant prefers sunny and semi-shaded places that are protected from the wind. Cultivated soil is preferred, but is not the main requirement. Hue blue flower seems to be more intense when grown in poorer soils. In addition, the plant grows more compactly in nutrient deficient soils.

You can try to grow borage without special effort on your part by simply sowing the seeds from October to December. Just lightly cover the seeds with soil and water a little! After the first season, the borage should self-seed and reappear every year. Choose a place where the soil is loose and moist, if possible. Due to its good fertility, some gardeners prefer to grow in pots.

Medicinal use

Borage has been used medicinally since ancient times, but not all traditional medicinal uses have been supported by medical research. The active ingredient in borage oil is gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which, when transformed by the body into a hormone-like substance, has a number of therapeutic effects. These include anti-inflammatory properties, thinning of blood vessels and vasodilation. Actually in Borago greatest number GLA among all plants.

Since ancient times, borage has been referred to as a mood-elevating herb, but major benefits have been found in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, lung function, as well as for promoting the growth of premature babies and topical use in treating the skin conditions eczema-dermatitis. The leaves have a moderate diuretic function. Borage is also used to treat fevers, diabetes, PMS and as a general detoxifier for the body.

Culinary use

Young borage leaves, with their refreshing cucumber flavor, can be used in salads, soups, sauces and drinks. It is best to collect them before flowering, when they do not have too many prickly fibers. Borage flowers are also edible and can be used as a garnish for salads, sauces and soups. Adding flowers to herbal vinegar will give it a delightful pale purple color.

Borage is believed to deter tomato and cabbage hornworms and is very beneficial to most plants as a protector against various pests and diseases, so it is best planted next to tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries, legumes, spinach or anywhere in the garden. It is also a useful addition to your compost pile.

« Squirting cucumber" is the unofficial name of several plants of the Cucurbitaceae family. Our fences, trees, shrubs and hedges are often covered with annual Echinocystis lobata. It is unpretentious and quickly masters any territory where the seed ends up. Is it worth fighting the fast-growing annual herbaceous vine How about a weed or let it grow on the site? After all, it is truly decorative. Is it safe to use Echinocystis lobes as medicinal plant or consider it poisonous?

Echinocystis lobes, known as the "mad cucumber"

Why did the “mad cucumber” get such a name?

Echinocystis lobed, or lobed, spinous, belongs Pumpkin family. This annual plant is popularly known as the “mad cucumber.” The name of the plant comes from the Greek words “hedgehog” and “bubble”. The peel of the “cucumber” is covered with soft spines, which is why Echinocystis is also called “ thorny»

Echinocystis seeds were brought to Europe from North America. There the plant felt at home and spread to Far East. It can be found in nature not only along river banks, along roads, but also in forests.

Leaves. Light green leaves prickly carp slightly rough. They are often three-lobed or five-lobed. Stems up to 6 meters long cling to any support with tenacious spirals of tendrils.

Leaves of Echinocystis loba ("mad cucumber", prickly carp)

Flowers. Fragrant flowers small, white or light cream. They are collected in clusters of inflorescences. The aroma is delicate, honey. Flowering continues from July to August.

Inedible pot-bellied, prickly “cucumbers” (up to 6 cm long) appear in late summer. At first they have a bluish tint. There are only two cavities inside with two seeds in each. Seeds shoot out from a ripe “cucumber” under pressure from accumulated moisture and mucus, which is stronger in damp summers. They fly several meters away different sides. The dried fruit resembles a tiny washcloth.

The fruits of the “mad cucumber” on the background green wall old barn

Growing and decorative

Echinocystis prefers light soils. Doesn't like sour things. It grows not only in well-kept areas, but also in wastelands. You can often see shrubs entwined with thorny plants. Especially along rivers. "Mad cucumber" feels great on sunny place, not bad in partial shade.

This is a cold-resistant plant that grows well in fairly warm, but not very hot summers. The “mad cucumber” does not attract pests.

Unpretentious fast growing plant most decorative during flowering. It can be safely used in the design of a wide variety of vertical structures. The competitor weaves around fences, pergolas and is able to cover unsightly places on the site.

The flowers of the “mad cucumber”, collected in inflorescences, are beautiful and fragrant

For many people, the aroma of flowers causes headaches and weakness. In this case, echinocystis is not the most best plant for decorating gazebos or verandas. For a long time It is not recommended to be near him.

Children love green “hedgehogs”, which they can play with and make dolls, animals, etc. out of them.

Reproduction

"Mad cucumber" is a monoecious plant. It reproduces by hard, oblong-oval, dark seeds, reminiscent of watermelon. Each “cucumber” contains four seeds, the germination rate of which is very high.

The prickly fruit of the “mad cucumber”

Sowing is best done in the fall in the year the seeds ripen. Storing seeds reduces the germination rate.

Seedlings appear quickly and begin to rapidly climb up any support. Outwardly, they look like cucumber or squash. Our first “mad cucumber” was successfully transplanted by me from a vacant lot to a fertilized garden bed. Many years have passed since then. Now this loach has settled in the area, grows weeds and sprouts in places where it is not visible at first.

Weed or not?

The lobed prickly carp actively develops new regions, often running wild when it finds itself in abandoned areas or in nature.

We have a “mad cucumber” on our site. I don't like that Echinocystis grows quickly among hops. Many long shoots, light green foliage and whitish inflorescences spoil the overall impression of a wall of hops with beautiful dark green foliage and armfuls of golden honey “cones”. If you miss the moment, the thorny vines climb onto the branches of trees and bushes. Even hedges made from carefully selected shrubs suffer from the “mad cucumber”.

“Mad cucumber” on a hazel (hazel) bush

Neighbors also suffer with this plant, which from time to time sprouts among the girl’s grapes.

They say that the milk of cows and goats that often ate the “mad cucumber” can taste bitter.

Use of "mad cucumber" in folk medicine

Inedible “cucumbers” contain toxic substances. ethnoscience only with great caution does it allow the use of some parts of the plant (after preliminary preparation of the raw materials) for medicinal infusions and decoctions. The thorny plant contains toxins that can harm the human body. Therefore, you should not risk putting fruit juice into your nose when you have a runny nose, although they write that this method of treatment really helps some people. Herbalists advise diluting the juice with water beforehand.

I would not allow children to play with the funny fruits of this plant, because... There are known cases of damage to delicate skin by fresh thorny juice.

R.B. Akhmedov, practitioner traditional healer and a plant expert warns:

« The plant is poisonous and requires careful handling. Mad cucumber is contraindicated for pancreatitis, diseases of the stomach and intestines with a tendency to loose stools, during pregnancy, as well as for people with a weak heart. Use herbal juice and infusion only as recommended by herbalists."(book "Plants - your friends and foes").

Self-medication can be dangerous because... properties of this interesting plant have not yet been studied.

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