Snowdrop (Galanthus platphyllus) is a perennial bulbous crop., one of the varieties of snowdrop. The species belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, the variety is listed in the Red Book (we will consider why below).

The variety is also called broadleaf (G. Latifolius). This is a flower that is perfect for growing in gardens. It grows especially well in central Russia and in the northern regions.

Brief description of the plant

According to the description, flat-leaved snowdrop has a height of no more than 20 cm. The diameter of the bulb does not exceed 3 cm. The flat leaves have an oblong shape. The color of the leaves is dark green without a bluish bloom. They have a shiny smooth surface.

During the flowering period, the length of the leaves is about 15 cm, and at the end of flowering they grow up to 25 cm. Because of the appearance of the leaves (flat and wide), the plant got its name.

The peduncle is up to 20 cm long. The perianth leaves are distinguished by a delicate, white color. The inner leaves are up to 7 mm long, and the outer leaves are up to 2 cm. The flower itself has a diameter of about 4 cm.

This crop begins to bloom in April, and the short flowering period itself lasts about a month.

Where does it grow

Flat-leaved snowdrop became widespread in Georgia, as well as in North Ossetia. Where it grows: the species prefers to grow in alpine meadows, as well as in the gorges of mountain slopes.

When do they appear and when do they bloom?

You can see this snowdrop when the first snow melts and thawed patches appear. Flowering begins in mid-spring, around April. The flowers remain on the stems for a month.

When grown at home, the crop begins to bloom only in the 3rd year after planting or sowing the seeds. The plant can grow in one place for 5 or more years.

When and why was the species listed in the Red Book?

Reasons for including a flower in the Red Book:

• small growing area;
• quite a rare species in the wild;
• collection for bouquets;
• digging up bulbs for medicinal purposes;
• use as an ornamental plant.

The culture was listed in the Red Book of the RSFSR in 1988. This variety is also listed in the Red Book of North Ossetia.

Medicinal properties of flat-leaved snowdrop

Snowdrop is a poisonous crop. It contains toxic substances such as alkaloids. Of particular importance is an alkaloid called galantamine.

This active substance is quickly absorbed into the blood, having a strong effect on the nervous system. In this regard, the plant is included in many medicines and is also actively used in folk medicine.

Snowdrops are used to treat the following diseases:

• cerebral palsy and polio;
• radiculitis, polyneuritis;
• myopathy;
• myasthenia gravis;
• nerve ending injuries;
• fungus;
• skin diseases and boils;
• cancerous tumors.

Important information: Before using the plant, you should consult a specialist to avoid unpleasant consequences - poisoning and burns.

Since the culture is poisonous, not everyone can use it for treatment. It is not recommended to use snowdrop:

• pregnant and lactating women;
• persons under 16 years of age;
• suffering from epileptic syndrome;
• those suffering from asthma;
• with diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• hypertensive patients.

Overdose symptoms:

• nausea, vomiting;
• dizziness;
• rare heartbeat;
• increased salivation.

In folk medicine it is actively used in the form of ointments, tinctures, and decoctions. For treatment All parts of the plant are used - bulbs, leaves, stems and flowers.

Landing rules

For planting snowdrops It is recommended to choose open sunny or slightly shaded areas. If you plant a plant in the shade, the snow will not melt as quickly as in the sun, as a result of which flowering will be delayed and not so decorative.

The soil for planting will need to be loose, enriched with nutrients, and also with good water permeability. Snowdrops do not tolerate stagnation of moisture in the soil. The soil must contain humus or compost.

Watering is only needed during the germination stage of seeds or bulbs., in the future, the crop should be watered sparingly, only as needed.

Fertilizers are applied only during the active growth stage. Snowdrops need elements such as phosphorus and potassium.

There is no need to apply fertilizer with a high nitrogen content, as this can provoke the development of fungus.

The flower does not need shelter for the winter, like other plant varieties.

Reproduction

Broadleaf snowdrop can be propagated in two ways:

1. Seeds.
2. Bulbs.

Seeds must be sown immediately after collection., because they quickly lose their viability. The seeds need to be deepened approximately 1 cm into light, nutritious soil.

Self-seeding gives excellent results, so there is no need to rush to collect seeds. Flowering will begin only in the third year after sowing the seeds.

The division of the bulb and its further planting is carried out at the end of summer or early autumn. At this time, the culture is at rest.

For planting, you need to use only bulbs and seeds purchased in the store., digging up bulbs in nature, as well as collecting seeds, is prohibited, since the flower is listed in the Red Book.

Other types and their differences

There are many varieties of this crop known, many of them are cultivated and grown in garden plots as ornamental ones.

Caucasian

Caucasian is the most common variety of the genus. Grows in the Caucasus. At the end of flowering, the leaves reach a length of about 30 cm. They have a dark green color with a bluish tint. The species is also called alpine.

The diameter of the white flower with a green spot is about 3 cm. The snowdrop begins to bloom in April. The flowering period is about 2 weeks.

It differs from the flat-leaved one in the bluish shade of the leaves, as well as in the flowering period; in the flat-leaved one it is longer. In Latin it is pronounced Galantus Alpinus.

broadleaf

Broad-leaved is the second name for a flat-leaved species. It differs from other species in having wide and flat leaves without a bluish tint.

Snow white (white)

Snow White is a widespread species in horticulture in temperate climates. This variety begins to bloom already in March, which makes it different from many others, including the flat-leaved species.

The height of the crop does not exceed 15 cm. The leaves are dark green with a bluish tint. The flowers are very delicate, white, have a diameter of about 3 cm. In Latin, the name of the snowdrop sounds like Galantus Nivalis.

Thus, broad-leaved or flat-leaved snowdrop is a fairly common crop in nature and horticulture. Listed in the Red Book.

This unpretentious plant is easy to grow in the garden., propagated by seeds and bulbs. Differs from other varieties in its wide and flat leaves.

krasnodar plant fauna animal

The flora of the Krasnodar region is very rich and diverse. The beauty and splendor of the region's nature are unique.

However, the consequences of human economic activity have not spared this corner of our country. Every year the list of rare and endangered plants grows.

Below, in this section, are the plants listed in the Red Book of the Krasnodar Territory.

Caucasian snowdrop

Herbaceous perennial up to 20 cm in height. Bulb with a diameter of up to 1.5 cm. 2 leaves, covered with a waxy coating. The stem bears one drooping flower up to 25 mm in length, consisting of 6 white leaves. Blooms in February - April. The fruit is a capsule. Fruits in May. Propagated by seeds.

It is an ornamental plant, honey plant, and also a poisonous plant.

It lives in the Krasnodar region - in the lower and middle mountain zones. Grows in deciduous forests, thickets of bushes, and on the edges. Found in the subalpine zone. The number of plants is noticeably reduced due to the collection of plants for bouquets and unregulated grazing.

To protect this plant, it is necessary to study the state of populations and create micro-reserves in forest areas.

Snowdrop or galanthus belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. Although this rare plant is listed in the Red Book, growing it on your own plot is not so difficult. Very quickly the flower spreads over a large area. The trembling inhabitants of the forest will delight you with the beauty of awakening nature and its delicate aroma. They suddenly appear in small groups in thawed areas. First, lush green shoots contrast with the snow, and then tiny flower heads bloom.

Snowdrops can exist not only on the street, but also in pots on the balcony. And miniature bouquets will last a long time in a vase, reminding you of the arrival of spring.

Botanical description

Galanthus is a tiny bulbous perennial. It is distributed in Central and Southern Europe, central Russia, the Caucasus and Asia Minor. The bulb is elongated vertically, its diameter is 2-3 cm. As it grows, children (small daughter bulbs) are formed under the outer scales.

The plant has a very short growing season. In early spring, when the sun begins to warm up more strongly and the snow melts, snowdrops awaken and produce their first leaves. Depending on the climate zone, this can occur from February to May. After a short flowering, the shoots die off and completely disappear by mid-summer.

The elongated bulbous neck contains 2-3 oblong lanceolate leaves of a dark green color. The length of the leaves ranges from 10 to 25 cm. Simultaneously with the leaves, a single peduncle appears. It carries a single drooping milky bell. The corolla consists of three elongated, oval bracts and three wedge-shaped, shorter petals. The flowers emit a faint but pleasant aroma.

After pollination, a seed capsule with dense walls ripens in place of the bud. Internal partitions divide it into 3 compartments. They contain several small black seeds.

Popular varieties

According to various classifications, there are 12-25 varieties in the Galanthus genus. This discrepancy is due to the fact that some plants are too similar to each other and botanists argue whether to classify them as a separate species or as an already registered one. Let's look at the most famous and cultivated varieties.

The plant is common in the mountain forests of Transcaucasia. The yellowish bulb reaches a length of 4 cm and a width of 2 cm. Dark green flattened leaves with a waxy coating rise above it. The length of the plant is 18 cm. The peduncle, about 6 cm high, bears a snow-white bell. The outer bracts are obovate in shape, slightly curved, their length is about 2 cm. Inside there are wedge-shaped petals, they are half as long. On the petals, above the notch, a green spot is visible. Blooms in March.

This species is the most common in Russia for cultivation. It is actively growing and occupying adjacent territories. In mid-March, 2 narrow bluish-green leaves grow from the soil. Fragrant bells consist of elongated white petals. Closer to the pharynx there is a yellow spot on the perianth. Flowering lasts throughout April. This species became the basis for several hybrid varieties:

• Flore Peno is a double variety with greenish inner petals;
• Lutescens is a capricious plant with miniature pale flowers;
• Lady Elphinstone is a double variety with yellow spots on the inner petals;
• Arnot - long white bracts hide a short flower with green spots;
• Viridapicis - blooms already at the end of February with large flowers, green spots are at the ends of all petals.

The plant is found in the alpine foothills and is most suitable for the northern regions. Above a large bulb 4-5 cm long are erect dark green leaves. During the flowering period, their length is 16 cm, and later reaches 20-25 cm. A white bell is located on a peduncle 15-20 cm long. The oval outer petals hide the short ovoid ones. A shapeless green spot is visible on the flower. There is no notch on the petals. Flowering occurs in May-June for 20 days. There is no fruiting, it reproduces vegetatively.

Also popular among people blue snowdrops. However, this plant does not belong to the genus Galanthus. Most often, this name refers to scillas from the Asparagus family. They are quite similar in external structure and early flowering, but are not related to snowdrops.

Reproduction methods

The most convenient way to propagate snowdrops is to separate the young bulbs. Each year, 1-3 additional bulbs are formed on the mother plant. After 3-5 years, when the clump has grown sufficiently, it can be divided. In August-September, after the foliage has completely dried, snowdrops can be replanted. The bush is carefully separated by hand, trying not to damage the thin rhizome. The bulbs are planted to a depth of 6-8 cm individually or in small groups.

Seed propagation is considered more difficult, although it allows you to get many plants at once. It is necessary to allow the seeds to ripen completely. Sowing is done immediately after harvesting, as they quickly lose their germination capacity. Sow the seeds in open ground to a depth of 1-2 cm. Seedlings bloom in 3-4 years. The place should be chosen shady and windless.

Features of care

Location. Miniature snowdrops grow easily and do not require careful care. However, they are very picky about the location and composition of the soil. They should be planted under trees. The place should be fairly shady in summer, but well warmed up by the sun in early spring. Ideal planting under tall deciduous trees such as walnut, cherry, chestnut and others.

Temperature. The plant tolerates even severe frosts and does not need additional shelter. In summer, excessive overheating can lead to the death of the bulbs. For this you will need shade from the trees.

The soil should be nutritious and moist, but without stagnation of water. Loose substrates with the addition of compost or humus are suitable. In clay soil you need to add additional sand.

Watering Snowdrops need it only in severe drought. Usually they get enough water from melted snow and spring rains.

Fertilizer. During the growing season and flowering, it is worth fertilizing monthly. Choose phosphate and potassium liquid complexes. Excess nitrogen causes foliage to grow greatly, which is subsequently often affected by fungal diseases.

Diseases and pests. With regular stagnation of water in the soil, snowdrops suffer from fungal diseases (rust, powdery mildew, chlorosis). To protect rare plants, you need to choose the right soil composition and location. Periodically, it is recommended to replant and treat the bulbs with a fungicide. Natural pests of galanthus are slugs, caterpillars, bulb nematodes, and mice. To prevent rodents and slugs, coarse sand and shell rock are scattered around the lawn, and sods with grass are placed around the perimeter. Treatment with an insecticide will save you from small insects.

Planting and caring for snowdrops

Usage

By planting snowdrops on your property, you can not only decorate the area, but also propagate an endangered plant. Galanthus are good in group plantings in a rock garden or in the middle of a lawn. If you distribute them evenly under the trees, you can get a continuous carpet, like in a forest.

In flower beds, snowdrops are placed in the foreground, along with other shade-tolerant plants. When the first flowers fade, attention will turn to the neighbors. These can be scillas, corydalis, primroses, lungworts, peonies, hostas and even ferns.

Bouquets of snowdrops look great in a vase without any decoration, but can be combined with deciduous or other flowering specimens. You shouldn’t pick a lot of flowers and collect them in the forest, because the snowdrop is included in the Red Book of Russia. It is better to admire their delicate beauty on the street.

Interestingly, the plant contains galantamine. This alkaloid was isolated in the middle of the 20th century. It is used in traditional medicine and is part of drugs to combat Alzheimer's disease and other diseases of the nervous system.

Snowdrops in landscape design

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Caucasian snowdrop - Galanthus caucasicus

Page 1

Amaryllidaceae family - Amaryllidaceae

Spreading.

Rare Caucasian-Colchian species. Distributed in Western and Eastern Transcaucasia. General distribution - Northern Iran. Within the region, it is recorded in the subalpine meadows of Mount Abago, in the Tuapse and Gelendzhik regions. Grows in mountain forests of the lower and middle mountain zones.

Basic features of biology.

A perennial herbaceous plant with a bulb up to 1.5 cm in diameter, covered with light brown scales. The height of the plant is 10-20 cm. It has two upright linear leaves emerging from a straight-truncated cylindrical sheath. The leaves are obtuse, with a keel at the bottom, covered with a waxy coating during flowering. The flower stem is cylindrical, during flowering it exceeds the leaves, and after flowering it becomes very elongated. The stem bears one drooping flower, sitting on a thin peduncle emerging from the axil of a floral membranous lanceolate leaf with two green veins at the edges. Flowers up to 25 cm in length, perianth of six white leaflets, three leaflets of the outer circle have an obovate-oblong shape and reach 25 cm in length, and three leaflets of the inner circle are half as long, wedge-shaped narrowed towards the base, erect, with a notch at the top and with a green spot in the upper part, having an obverse heart-shaped or kidney-shaped shape. There are six stamens, they are located at the base of the perianth lobes, the filaments are very short, the anthers are widened downward, and strongly drawn upward and usually end with a pointed point. The ovary is inferior, triangular, the column is thin, turning into a sharp stigma. The fruit is a capsule with a few spherical seeds; the capsule opens into nests.

Limiting factors

Uncontrolled grazing of livestock, economic development of territories. Weakly resistant to habitat disturbance.

Security measures.

Included in the Red Book of North Ossetia, the RSFSR, the Krasnodar Territory and the lists of rare and endangered plant species in North Ossetia.

Radde Birch - Betula raddeana

Family - Birch

Betulaceae

Spreading.

In the RSFSR it is found in the systems of the Main Caucasian, Bokovoy, Skalistoy ridges (Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region, Kabardino-Balkarian, North Ossetian, Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics), as well as in Inner and Mountainous Dagestan. The largest among the known locations is the massif of birch forest in the upper reaches of the river. Bashilyauza (one of the sources of the Chegem River) with an area of ​​​​several square kilometers, formed exclusively by Radde birch. Other, less significant massifs are located in the river basins: Baksan (between Itkol and Koysyuryulgen), Chegem (headwaters of the Kiichkisu and Garaauzsu rivers), Cherek, Urukh (Bartuy gorge), Ardon (Adaykhoh, in the Tseyskoye gorge), Tereka (surrounding villages Armkhi, Lare, Kazbegi, Daryal, Kistin and Devdoraki gorges); Chermoyloom, Karakoysu (along the Akusha River and in the vicinity of the village of Gunib). In Russia, in addition, Radde birch is found in the Eastern and northern parts of Central Transcaucasia, in the territory of Azerbaijan and Georgia. Despite the rather significant size of the range, the number of the species as a whole is small; Radde birch rarely forms large tracts and is found scattered throughout its range.

Basic features of biology.

The species is confined to rocky habitats from the upper part of the forest to the lower part of the subalpine belts at an altitude of 1440-2560 m above sea level. seas. Reaches the upper limit of the distribution of trees and shrubs. It grows mainly on slopes with northern exposures. At an altitude of 1500-1600 m above the river. sea ​​is found mainly in pine, mixed, and beech forests. Above 1700 m above sea level. the sea Radde birch forms the first tier of communities with Litvinov birch, mountain ash and other tree species; the undergrowth (depending on habitat conditions) is dominated by Caucasian rhododendron or species of subalpine tall grass. It also forms clean stands of trees. It is found sporadically on fresh glacial moraines among shrub thickets formed by various types of willows. Reproduction is by seed and vegetative.

Limiting factors.

Anthropogenic disturbances of habitats, uncontrolled grazing, collection for various purposes.

Security measures.

Included in the Red Book of North Ossetia, the RSFSR, the Krasnodar Territory and the lists of rare and endangered plant species in North Ossetia. Protected in SOGZ.

Hazel tree

dna or Ore

x bear

lively -

Corylus colurna

Birch family -

Betulaceae

Spreading.

In the Russian Federation it is found in the North-West Caucasus and Transcaucasia (Krasnodar Territory, Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia, Dagestan). Outside Russia, it grows in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, northern Iran, the Balkan Peninsula, Asia Minor and Western Asia.

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