Grass golden thorn: its healing properties are amazing. It will be, perhaps, one of the most mysterious plants found in traditional medicine. It has been used since ancient times, but all its effects on humans are still not fully understood.

This herb has a lot of names, each of which suits it in its own way. Woolly weed, fire-grass, iodine-grass, cocklebur and many others. It is used to treat many diseases, the list of which is still not complete.

Plant origin

Most often, the Golden Thorn can be found on the mountain slopes. North Caucasus. It also grows in the territories of Asia, Siberia and Ukraine.
It is quite simple to recognize the lintweed - it is a tall shrub of a gray-green hue, which sometimes reaches one and a half meters in height. It always grows on chernozem soil and has a characteristic appearance - the flower of this plant looks like an egg-shaped thorn.
Each branch is strewn with small, barely visible needles and has a tip - long spikes that seem to resemble a crown. Often the leaves are also called a catchment area - at the junction they form a bowl in which moisture collects.

They call it fire-grass because there is a belief among the people: it is able to burn out all evil spirits and dark power from the body.

flowering period

The flowering period of the shrub is the end of July and the beginning of August. This is the perfect time to harvest. The golden thorn is very poisonous, so not all of its parts are used for medicine - usually only the rhizome, seeds and leaves are collected.

Each of the components is usually collected at different times. The signal for collecting cones is the appearance of a golden hue on pungent flowers. The tops are harvested when the ripening period is underway - that is, they are still green. When the entire cocklebur bush has faded, you can collect the rhizomes.

The chemical composition of the golden thorn

Fire-grass has been widely used in folk medicine since ancient times. This is due to her chemical composition. It contains:

• Vitamins of group C;
• thymol extract;
• cardiac glycosides;
• Essential oils;
• Tannins and many others.

Medicinal properties

As already mentioned, iodine grass is a very mysterious shrub, which, despite its poisonous needles, is actively used by the indigenous population in folk remedies. Medicinal properties have a healing effect on many body systems.

Grass has the following properties:

• Diuretic;
• Anti-inflammatory;
• Antiseptic;
• diaphoretic;
• Painkiller;
• Antimicrobial and others.

Application

Cocklebur is considered one of the most popular components in medicinal decoctions and potions. In general, it has a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, lowers blood pressure, treats infections, and eliminates spasms and muscle pain.

Often infusions on this herb are taken for arthritis, psoriasis, asthma, rheumatism and other diseases.

Peoples believe that this herb cures diseases such as:

• polyps;
• tumors;
• Urolithiasis and kidney diseases;
• Staphylococcus and others.

In addition, the plant is often used to combat cellulite.

Before use, you should consult with your doctor!

Contraindications for use

We have already mentioned above that the composition of the golden thorn includes poisonous substances. That is why it is necessary to strictly observe the dosage.

Excessive use of the Golden Thorn can lead to serious consequences. If after taking it there is discomfort, vomiting, pain in the abdomen or stomach, dizziness, then you should immediately consult a doctor.

Contraindications: preparations or decoctions based on semolina should not be used during pregnancy and lactation, gastric ulcers, individual intolerance and allergic reactions.

Fees from cocklebur

As we have already said, the collection takes place in several stages. First, the upper spines are collected, then the seeds, and only then the rhizomes.

1. The thorns are cut during the flowering period, when the stems are still green. They need to dry well.
2. The seeds of the plant are also collected during their maturation. They also need to be dried. They are then usually used for essential oils.
3. Rhizomes - when the bush has completely faded and turned yellow. First, they must be dug out of the ground, cleaned and washed with water. Then - spread out on a moisture-absorbing surface in one layer and dry on fresh air. Preferably under a canopy and in a dark place.

When all the blanks are well dried, they can be poured into paper bags or boxes and put for further storage in a dark and cool place with ventilation.

From cellulite, an ointment made from petroleum jelly and semolina extract will help well. Mix 10 g of crushed collection with 10 g of vaseline. Rub before going to bed for 30 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly. It will also help with bruises and swelling.

The juice from the columbine will help with indigestion and abdominal cramps. The juice is squeezed from a fresh plant, then mixed with medical alcohol in proportions of 1:1. Close the liquid well with a lid and let it brew for a week. Take orally 30 drops 4 times a day.

With swelling and bruises, you can make a decoction based on ground powder. Take a teaspoon of crushed raw materials, fill with water (400 ml). After the water boils, leave on fire for another 20 minutes. Strain the liquid before drinking.

Take orally one tablespoon several times a day before meals.

thorny plant any plant with spines or thorns on any part of the plant. What are plants with thorns and thorns? There are many varieties in the world different plants with spines and thorns. Large and small plants, herbaceous and shrubby, medicinal, weedy, poisonous and simply known and very rare plants. These cute thorns and thorns serve as protection for plants and can cause a lot of trouble for those who dare to disturb these thorny plants. On this page of the site are often found thorny plants with thorns.

Brief description and photo of thorny plants

Quince- a low deciduous tree or shrub. Quince bears yellow fruits - a false apple. Quince branches are covered with thorns. Quince has sharp spines up to 2 cm long. Some varieties of quince do not have spines.

Article about quince, description and photo of quince.

White acacia This medicinal plant, whose bark is poisonous. Paired spikes up to 20 mm long are placed on the branch at the base of the leaves. The thorns of the white locust are strong and very sharp, reddish-brown in color and shiny.

All about white acacia, description and photo of acacia.

Aloe considered a medicinal plant. Juicy aloe leaves have spines along the edges of the leaves. There are many spines, they are small in size, reaching only a few millimeters in length, but despite their small size, these teeth are prickly.

Aloe treelike, agave.

cherry plum – fruit tree or shrub. Cherry plum fruits are small, juicy, with a stone inside. According to the color of the cherry plum, fruits are yellow, green, pink, red and purple. The trunk and branches of cherry plum are branched, covered with numerous red-brown spines. Especially a lot of thorns in wild cherry plum. The spines of the cherry plum are sharp, up to several centimeters long.

Orange- an evergreen citrus fruit tree of southern fear. The tree bears sweet juicy orange fruits. Young orange branches have thorns. Orange spines are dark green in color, very sharp, the length of orange spines is about 3 cm. Usually wild oranges have spines, orange seedlings grown from stone. Orange cultivars do not have thorns, but can sometimes be found. The presence of spines on orange branches and their length may depend on the varieties of orange and the conditions in which the orange grows.

Barberry medicinal plant known since ancient times. This tall, thorny shrub produces edible and very sour-tasting red berries. On the branches of the barberry sit tripartite strong and sharp spines, reaching a length of up to 2 cm.

Article about barberry, description and photo of barberry.

Hawthorn deciduous shrub with red fruits similar to small apple. The hawthorn is covered with sharp numerous spines up to 7 cm long. Some types of hawthorn have small spines, some species do not have spines at all.

All about hawthorn, description and photo of hawthorn.

Pomegranate is a medicinal plant in the form of a deciduous tree or shrub. Pomegranate branches have small spines at the ends of small young branches. The length of the spines of a pomegranate is about 5 mm. These thorns on pomegranate branches break off easily, however, these thorns can be easily scratched. Some types of pomegranate do not have thorns.

Article about the grenade, description and photo of the grenade.

Grapefruit– citrus evergreen tree bearing juicy fruits of various colors. Grapefruit, like other citrus plants, has thorns on its branches. The length of the spines of a grapefruit is up to 3 cm, the spines are sharp, dark Green colour.

Pear is a deciduous fruit tree. Pear bears juicy fruits different color weight and shape. Some varieties of pears have thorns on the branches and trunk. Especially a lot of thorns and wild pears. The thorns of wild pears are powerful, long and sharp.

Blackberry This is a medicinal plant, the famous forest thorn with black berries. Blackberry is a low shrub densely covered with thorns. Blackberry thorns are small, but very sharp and strongly prickly. Blackberry thorns are different in length, from a few millimeters to 1 cm. Most blackberry species have a lot of thorns densely sitting on the branches of the plant. However, there are varieties of blackberries that do not have thorns at all.

Blackberry article, blackberry photo different types.

jujube This is a thorny deciduous shrub or small tree, considered a valuable medicinal and food plant. Branches of jujube are covered with sharp thorns.

Cactus this is perhaps the most famous thorn in the world. There are many types of cacti, some without thorns, some thorns are small and harmless. But there are cacti in which the spines are very sharp, while the spines are huge and there are a lot of them. The size of the spines of cacti varies greatly, depending on the type of cactus and its size, and can be from a few millimeters to a decent length in centimeters. In general, many cacti are very prickly and touching a cactus with bare hands can be difficult.

Chestnut is a tall deciduous tree that produces nut-shaped fruits. During ripening, chestnut fruits are covered with a green cupule surrounding the fruit, which, when the nut ripens, usually cracks into 4 parts and a ripe chestnut falls out of it. Outside, the plush is covered with many branched or single spines. The length of chestnut spines is about 3-7 mm. In general, chestnut spines are fairly harmless compared to those of other thorny plants.

Description and photo of chestnuts.

Nettle burning herb, medicinal plant. Nettle does not have large thorns, but it is covered with small, barely noticeable, burning hairs, densely sitting on stems and leaves. On contact with the skin, these fine hairs break off and dig into the skin, causing temporary, harmless skin irritation. Like other thorny plants with thorns, nettles protect themselves from many herbivores with the help of these small burning hairs.

Article and photo of nettles of different types.

In the photo gooseberry thorns

Gooseberry is a low perennial berry shrub. There are types of gooseberries without thorns and thorns. However, many types of gooseberries have rather sharp and large thorns on their branches. Often gooseberry thorns are triple. Gooseberry spines can be up to 2 cm long. In addition to spines, gooseberries have many small spines on young branches. These small spines grow all over the young shoot right up to the leaves.

An article about gooseberries and a photo of gooseberries.

Lemon- citrus evergreen tree of the southern countries. The tree bears juicy sour fruit yellow color. On the branches and young shoots of a lemon there are sharp spines up to 3 cm long. The spines of a lemon are green while young, with age they take on the color of the tree bark. There can be quite a lot of thorns on the branches of a lemon, but occasionally there may not be thorns.

burdock, he is burdock or burdock, is a biennial herbaceous plant, medicinal plant and weed growing everywhere. Burdock spines are small, in the form of a large number of sharp curved hooks on the inflorescence. These hooks are the leaves of the wrapper of the burdock inflorescence. The spine of burdock is about 10 mm long. These hook-shaped spines in burdock are very tenacious, at the slightest touch they immediately cling to clothing. No wonder they say, stuck like a burdock. However, not all types of burdock are prickly.

All about burdocks, photos of burdocks.

loch- deciduous or evergreen tree or shrub with fruits. The spines of the sucker are long, up to 3 cm in length, sharp and strong. Thanks to such thorns, goof is often planted as a hedge. Some plant species do not have thorns.

Raspberries, the sister of the blackberry, is a low, thorny shrub with tasty and juicy red or yellow berries. Raspberry is a well-known medicinal plant. Like blackberries, raspberry bushes have many spines ranging in size from 1 to 10 mm. Raspberry thorns are sharp and anyone who dares to climb into the raspberry bush for raspberries will definitely feel the sharpness of raspberry thorns.

Description and photo of raspberries.

Mandarin an evergreen citrus tree bearing juicy and sweet orange fruits of small size. Like many citrus fruits, the mandarin can have spines on its branches. The spines of the mandarin are sharp, dark green in color, about 30 mm long. However, tangerine spines are quite rare, unlike other citrus relatives.

Sea ​​buckthorn, a medicinal plant, is a berry tree or shrub that produces small bright orange berries with a high content of vitamins and oil. Very powerful, long and very sharp thorns sit on the branches of sea buckthorn. The length of sea buckthorn spikes is usually from 1 cm to 3, but there are spikes in sea buckthorn and up to 7 cm in length. Thorns can be rare in sea buckthorn up to 3 thorns per 10 cm of a branch, and very dense up to 5-6 thorns per 10 cm of a branch. Sea buckthorn spikes can be single, double or triple.

An article about sea buckthorn and a photo of sea buckthorn.

Sea buckthorn oil photo and article.

climbing rose or in another way climbing rose is a relative of an ordinary rose, grows up several meters and winds along the supports. Climbing roses have thorns that are sharp and prickly, just like ordinary roses. However, some types of climbing roses do not have thorns. The length of the thorns of a climbing rose ranges from a few millimeters to a centimeter.

Description and photo of a climbing rose.

pomelo- citrus evergreen tree. The pomelo bears the largest citrus fruits weighing about 5 kg. Pomelo fruits are juicy, have a very thick peel. Fruits can be of different colors, most often yellow. On the branches of the pomelo there are thorns of small sizes.

Article about pomelo.

Pomeranian is a small evergreen citrus tree. The fruits of the tree are juicy, orange in color, similar in shape and taste to orange and tangerine. The branches of the tree have long, thin and sharp spines.

In the photo, the thorns of a rose

Rose comes with and without spikes. Rose thorns grow on the stem. The density of rose thorns is very diverse, as is the shape of the thorns. Some types of roses are so densely covered with sharp thorns, and such a rose cannot be called anything other than a prickly beauty. The size of the thorns of a rose is from a few millimeters to a centimeter in length.

Article about roses, photos of roses.

turn, blackthorn or blackthorn is a small thorny berry bush. The branches of the plant are densely covered with thorns. The turn forms dense, thorny and difficult thickets and is often used as an ornamental hedge.

Hop- climbing herbaceous plant. Outside, the hop stem is covered with sharp thorns. The spikes of the hops are curved, hook-shaped, thanks to which the hops cling to the supports when they curl and grow. On the side branches there are the same spikes, but smaller. The length of hop spikes varies from a few millimeters to a centimeter.

Article about hops, description and photo of hops.

Rose hip or otherwise wild rose, is a perennial thorny shrub, the fruits of which are useful and widely used in medicine. Rosehip is the ancestor of all roses. Just like a rose, the wild rose is covered with thorns. different lengths, from a few millimeters to a centimeter. Some types of rose hips have not so many thorns on their stems. But in general, rose hips got their name due to the presence of thorns on stems and branches. Thorns and rose hips are inseparable friends.

All about the rosehip. Description and photo of wild rose of different types.

thistle prickly it is a very thorny weed that is difficult to get rid of. The leaves and stem of the thistle are densely covered with sharp and strong spines. The length of thistle spines is from 1 to 15 mm. The thistle is so prickly that it is very difficult to touch it with bare hands and not prick at the same time. We can say that the thistle is one solid thorn.

Thistle article. Thistle photo and description.

That's actually all about thorns flora. But this is not all thorny plants with thorns, there are many other, less well-known plants with thorns and thorns, dangerous and not very. Prickly plants are found everywhere.

Golden thorn (Xanthium spinosum), woolly hairweed or fire-grass has been widely used in informal medicine since ancient times, although it has not been studied enough by official medicine. Healers use the plant to cure a large number ailments. The plant is used as a means of reducing the thyroid gland in endemic goiter. Golden thorn oil is an effective remedy that helps in the treatment of skin ailments. Grass is also valued as a medicine that normalizes iodine metabolism.

Another plant is called common cocklebur, iodine-grass, sheep burdock. It is used not only in traditional medicine, but also in other areas. Sheep burdock is an essential oil crop. The oil obtained from it can be eaten. The plant is also valued in aromatherapy. It is used to prepare baths with a sedative effect. Leaves and rhizomes enriched with iodine are used to make drying oil and dye.

Goldenthorn is a herbaceous annual of the Astrov family, which reaches a height of sixty centimeters or more and has a gray-green color. The plant is equipped with branched, rough, hairy, slightly reddish stems, large ten-centimeter heart-shaped green leaves with sharp coarsely toothed lobes, small five-flowered (male) and two-flowered (female) flowers collected in inflorescences.

The fruits are tenacious, prickly, rounded achene. In the wild, the plant is found in Asia, Europe, America, Australia, Africa. Wet places, sandy soils, banks of reservoirs, wastelands - places of growth.

For the manufacture of medicines, rhizomes, leaves, seeds of the plant are used. It is recommended to collect the tops of the spines during the period of intensive flowering. Next, the raw material is dried. As for the collection of seeds, it is carried out as it ripens. They begin to collect seeds in the middle of the summer period. Sheep burdock seeds are used to make butter.

The most suitable period for collecting rhizomes is after the flowering of the plant. First they need to be dug up, cleaned from the ground, washed under running water, and then spread out in a thin layer on paper and dry in the fresh air, preferably in the shade or under a canopy. When collecting, you must be as careful as possible, because the thorn is poisonous.

Dried blanks are poured into cardboard boxes or paper bags and stored in a cool place with good ventilation.

Healing properties and composition of the plant

The use of grass and its popularity is determined by its composition. The plant contains a considerable amount of useful substances:

• alkaloids;
• vitamin C;
• glycosides;
• coloring matter;
• tannins;
• thymol;
• essential oils.

Medicinal properties: antimicrobial, decongestant, antitumor, analgesic, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic.

Plant preparations contribute to:

• elimination of spasms;
• relaxation of smooth muscles;
• lowering blood pressure;
• improving the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, psoriasis, dermatitis, asthma, furunculosis, scabies, lichen.

Recipes for effective medicines from the golden thorn

1. Goiter: tincture therapy. Pour the dried chopped grass of the plant along with the thorns into a glass container. Fill the container to the top with quality vodka. Keep the composition in a dark, cool place for three weeks. Take twenty drops of the filtered tincture half an hour before meals. On the treatment of goiter, read the article "How to cure goiter with traditional medicine".

2. The medicinal properties of the juice help to stimulate digestion, eliminate spasms, colic, restore intestinal function, eliminate inflammation in the liver, increase peristalsis, and treat bronchitis. You can use the fresh juice of the plant, or you can apply the tincture.

Squeeze the juice from a fresh plant and combine it in equal proportions with medical alcohol. Seal the container tightly and set aside for a week. Take thirty drops of the filtered drug four times a day. Recipes folk treatment Read GI here.

3. Golden thorn extract. This drug helps in the treatment of painful menstruation, goiter and cancer. In addition, the remedy has a calming effect and is therefore indicated for use in disorders of the central nervous system. The extract contributes to the treatment of uterine fibroids and mastopathy. To prepare it, brew 20 grams of fresh, finely chopped grass of the plant with boiling water - 300 ml. Simmer the composition over low heat until half the volume is evaporated. Drink a quarter cup of strained drink at least three times a day.

4. Scabies, eczema: application of healing ointment. Mix in equal amounts the dried crushed fruits of the golden thorn with grass and melted pork or duck fat - 200 ml. Simmer the composition over low heat for a quarter of an hour. Filter the product and store in the refrigerator. Lubricate the affected areas of the skin with ointment.

5. Preparation of a decoction. The drug is used to treat rheumatism, pathologies of the thyroid gland and the genitourinary system. Steam the dried grass of the plant in freshly boiled water - two hundred milliliters. Infuse the composition throughout the night, preferably in a thermos. Drink 50 ml of the filtered drink three times a day.

Who is not recommended to be treated with iodine grass? Contraindications

Since the plant is considered poisonous, it is necessary to strictly observe the dosages indicated in the recipes and in no case exceed them. An overdose of drugs can cause gastrointestinal upset, nausea, vomiting, malaise, dizziness. If symptoms of poisoning occur, flush the stomach and seek medical attention.

You should not take thorn-based products during pregnancy, lactation, individual intolerance, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.

Apricot ordinary (Armeniaca vulgaris Lam.) has short twigs-thorns Japanese quince high (Chaenomeles japonica) has spiky twigs

White acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia L.); branches, and in young plants and stems are densely covered with sharp spikes, which are stipules that have turned into spikes.

Acacia New Mexican (Robinia neome-xicana Gray); the branches are covered with numerous sharp thorns.

Acacia (caragana) prickly (Caragana spinosa D. C); stipules and petioles are spiny.

Acacia knife-shaped (Acacia cultriformis Cunn.) (evergreen, true acacia); with very long (up to 8-10 cm) strong and very sharp spines.

Aralia prickly (Aralia spinosa L.); stems and branches are densely covered with strong spines. Aralia Manchurian (Aralia mandshurica Rupr. et Max.); the trunk and branches are covered with woody thorns.

Barberry common (Berberis vulgaris L.); shoots and branches are covered with tripartite spines up to 2 cm, sitting at the base of the petioles of the leaves.

Barberry Vicha (Berberis Veitchii S with h n e i d.) - an evergreen shrub with three-parted spines 2-5 long cm.

hawthorns (Crataegus)(all types); in common or prickly hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacanika L.) spines are up to 1.5 cm, in hawthorn single-petal (S. tnonoguna Jacq.)-up to 2 cm. American species have especially large spines: scarlet hawthorn (C. coccinea L.) - up to 3-4 cm and hawthorn (C. crus-galli L.) - up to 10 cm.

grapes of david (Vitis Davidii Loex.) has straight or slightly curved spines.

Gledichia three-thorned (Gleditschia tria-canthos L.) heavily armed with spines; on the branches (and shoots of young plants) the spines are tripartite (with the average longest) up to 10 cm, on trunks - many times branched, reaching a length of up to 50 cm.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.); branches are prickly (short shoots).

Pear (Pyrus)(almost all types); the ends of shortened shoots on young branches are pointed in the form of thorns.

Dzelkova Chinese (Zelkowa Davidiana Bean); branches with spines up to 10 cm.

Dereza vulgaris (Lucium halimifolium Mill.); branches are long, thin prickly.

hold the tree (Paliurus spina christi Mill.) - a very prickly shrub; at the base of the petiole of each leaf there are (on a branch) two stipules, which have turned into spines, of which one is straight and the other is curved.

Whiplash tree plier (Celastrus flagellaris Rupr.). Branches with stipules that have turned into spines.

Blackberry (Rubus under the genus Eubatus Focke) (all types); the stems are planted with numerous thorns bent down. Leaf petioles also have spines.

Collection cruciform ( Collecia cruciata Gill.) is a very thorny leafless shrub (green branches perform the function of leaves) with pointed spines flat at the end crosswise.

prickly collection (Collecia splnosa Lam.) - a leafless shrub, densely covered with shortened, round, very sharp shoots-thorns -

Buckthorn laxative (Rhamnus cathartica L); most of the branches end in thorns.

Three-leaf lemon (Poncirus trifoliata Raf.) is a deciduous shrub heavily armed with thorns.

Goof prickly (Elaeagnus pungens Thunb.) - evergreen shrub with thorny branches.

Goof narrow-leaved (Elaeagnus angustifolia M - deciduous shrub with thorns (short shoots); sometimes without them.

Maclura (Madura pomifera Schneid.); branches and shoots with short straight spines.

medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) is a shrub with sparse thorns.

slinky (Hippophae rhamnoides L.); branches and shoots are prickly (thorns are short pointed shoots).

Common holly and its forms (Ilex aquifoliutn L.); leaves are prickly.

Pyracantha red (Pyracantha coccinea Rom.); branches (short shoots) are prickly.

Roses and wild roses (Rosa); in all types of wild roses (rose hips) and in most cultivated shoots and branches with straight or curved very sharp thorns.

Smilax (sarsaparilla) tall (Smilax excelsa L.) is a deciduous high-growing shrub with very strong and sharp curved thorns on the branches and smaller ones on the petioles of the leaves. In the Caucasus, it forms impenetrable thickets.

Turn (Prunus splnosa L.); branches with thorns (short shoots).

Gorse (Ulex europeus L.) is a branched, very thorny shrub.

For gardeners are of particular interest. There are many varieties of them. Photos of thorny plants demonstrate that some of them have a very exotic look and become a decoration of a garden plot, flower beds. Such plants enhance the decorative effect. They are indispensable in designer compositions, making them especially stylish. Very fond of such unusual specimens and home flower growers. The name of thorny plants, as well as a description of their species, will give an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe unsafe, but very common inhabitants of flower beds and window sills.

Functions of spines

Spines in plants are hard, sharp formations. The functions of spines are different for different plants. One of the most important is the condensation of water vapor. The plant is supplied with water through the spines. Another equally important role is to protect the surface of plants from being eaten by animals, as well as from the hot sun.

Conditions for their cultivation

characteristic feature thorny plants is their unpretentiousness. They do not require the creation of special conditions for their maintenance. In most cases, plants are photophilous and do not like excessive watering. Let's take a look at some of their types.

Eringium

Sinegolovnik is another name for it. These plants have a thorny flower. Currently, eringium is very popular and is a decoration of the garden. Its blue and blue spiky inflorescences are very showy. The most common types of steel and alpine. They are widely used in garden landscape design. The height of these specimens reaches from 70 cm to 1 meter. Alpine eringium, compared to flat-leaved, has larger inflorescences.

In modern landscape design, the flat eringium, the so-called tumbleweed, is also used. It is a very thorny but showy plant. The eryngium grows well in stony and dry soil.

Thistle

These are annual thorny weeds. There are more than a hundred types of them. Among them is milk thistle. It belongs to one of the species grown by people. Its height is 1.5-2 meters. Her spines are long and sharp. The stem is erect, strongly branched at the top. Flowers are collected in prickly baskets. It does not lose its decorative effect throughout the season, delighting with flowering until late autumn. Milk thistle is a photophilous and drought-resistant crop that can do without watering. long time. She is not afraid of temporary cold, diseases and pests. Milk thistle is usually planted at a distance of at least 1.5-2 meters from paths and other plants.

In addition to bright decorativeness, this plant has healing properties: diuretic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant. Its shoots with foliage are widely used to treat various diseases, including diseases of the liver, thyroid gland, sciatica, hemorrhoids, psoriasis and many others. This amazing plant is also used in cooking in the form of flour and butter.

Teasel

This biennial plant is a stem, which reaches a height of 0.8-2 meters, with a rosette of oblong leaves. At the top and side branches prickly cones are formed, covered with white and lilac buds.

The plant looks spectacular in the garden. You need to plant it in the background of the flower bed, against the background coniferous plants or shrubs, as well as near a wooden fence. It easily tolerates winter even without shelter. Cones, when ripe, do not crumble, retain their shape. Stems do not bend from wind and rain. It is no coincidence that pile is the favorite material of florists. It is used as an independent plant in a bouquet, and as part of stylish decorative compositions.

Cleoma prickly

Herbaceous annual, forming powerful bushes. Its height is on average 1 m. The stems are branched in the upper part. Cleoma flowering is very spectacular. It comes in different colors: white, yellow, pink, purple.

This plant is one of the most original flowering plants in the garden. It is used in flowerbeds, to create hedges, to decorate groups of shrubs. When using cleoma, there is a basic rule - it should be planted only in groups.

Mordovnik

This is a perennial plant from the Astrov family. The round head of its inflorescence looks like a mace. Mordovnik stem single erect. The leaves are pinnately toothed or entire with teeth, depending on the species. Blooms in the second year of life from May to August. Blue flowers are collected in prickly inflorescences, which have a spherical shape.

It is a hardy plant that is disease resistant. Doesn't like a lot of moisture. Mordovnik is used to decorate flower beds, as its blue color is in harmony with the warm bright tones of other plants.

cacti

These are thorny plants of different sizes. Basically, cacti are inhabitants of deserts and semi-deserts, where there is a very low level of humidity. But some species grow in the tropics. Cacti easily adapt to sudden changes in temperature. They live on sandy and gravel soils. The spines of these plants grow instead of leaves, their maximum length can be up to 25 cm. This helps cacti prevent moisture loss.

Currently different kinds These exotic plants are very widely used in landscape design.

Features of home cacti

These thorny plants are unusually tenacious, as they can be without watering and fertilizers for a long time. In winter, they can not be watered at all. But cacti definitely need sunlight. There are many types of them. Home flowering cacti are covered with buds, as a rule, annually, but when they reach 3-4 years of age. It happens in the spring. But some species can delight with flowers at other times of the year.

For a cactus to bloom, it is necessary to create conditions for it that are close to natural. First of all, it concerns lighting and moisturizing. In autumn, you need to water less often. In winter, it is advisable to refuse watering altogether. And start spraying with water only in March, resuming irrigation. In winter, the lighting should be subdued, and the room where the cacti are kept should be cool. If the buds are already born, this prickly houseplant should not be transplanted and fertilized.

Domestic coniferous thorns

Currently, for home flower growers, the passion for coniferous prickly plants has become very popular. Keeping such cultures in the room is problematic: many of them need low room temperature, which should not exceed 12 degrees. Therefore, the list of prickly conifers indoor plants small. These are cypress, araucaria, legcarp, cryptomeria and others.

Araucaria

This is a coniferous evergreen plant, its bark is flaky. Grows very slowly. Its branches are located horizontally, the crown is pyramidal. The leaves are subulate, light green in color, up to two centimeters long. Gives the design of the room an elegant chic. Araucaria is unpretentious in care. Likes good lighting, but is afraid of direct sunlight. In the warm season, it requires abundant watering, and in winter, moisture must be reduced. Likes daily sprays.

Cryptomeria

Its other name is Japanese cedar. This is an evergreen plant of the Cypress family. Its crown is dense, the color varies from light to dark shades of green. Japanese cedar is quite common in landscape design and park gardening. At home, dwarf forms are used. They are grown in winter gardens, on a balcony or terrace. These plants are photophilous, but cannot stand direct sunlight. The best place for him - in the open air. Watering requires special attention. Water should be warm, settled or boiled. Likes spraying.

pandanus

This screw palm is widely used by home flower growers. It is a plant with spiny leaves and a lush crown.

The leaves are narrow and oblong, with thorns at the ends. They grow in a spiral. This is a very showy plant. It naturally grows in the tropics. As a home inhabitant, the pandanus is very unpretentious. It is usually recommended to beginner gardeners. It quickly grows to a large size, becoming like a real palm tree. But if there are small children or pets in the house, it is better to refuse this plant.

There are several theories about what thorns are, including one of them that it is nothing but modified in the process of adaptation to conditions environment leaves in which only the median fibers are preserved. But it is more correct to consider the needles as evolved kidney scales.

Why are they a plant?

Cacti acquired their amazing form in order to ensure their own survival where other species have failed.

There are a lot of purposes for which thorns are needed, here are some of them:

How do the needles of different types of plants look in the photo?

Cacti of the Mammillaria family are not covered with the usual needles, it is not even immediately believed that this is a cactus. So, for example, the spines of Mammillaria lasiacantha resemble feathers in structure, those of Mammillaria egregia look more like snowflakes, and Mammillaria bocasana seems to be wrapped in a white downy cloud. Nevertheless, all these are precisely various forms of thorns that have adapted to the needs of specific plant species (read about how not to prick yourself with a cactus and what to do if this happens).

In less arid regions, spines are mainly directly protective., therefore grow longer and can be located much less often. For example, in Cereus jamacaru and Corryocactus brevistylus, the length of the needles can reach 25 cm.

The more arid the climate, the shorter and closer to each other are the spines of the cactus. This is due to the fact that the protective function goes by the wayside, and protection from overheating and excessive evaporation of the liquid becomes much more important.

Non-thorny flower species

Despite the fact that most people associate it exclusively with something prickly, this is far from always the case. There are certain ones that do not have spines, for example:

• Ariocarpus Fissuratus (stone flower);
• Astrophytum caput-medusae (jellyfish cactus);
• Ophophora williamsii (Peyote cactus).

The adaptive mechanism of cacti, created by nature itself, never ceases to amaze. Thanks to the delightful colors, amazing, sometimes almost alien, forms and harsh character, it is simply impossible not to pay attention to cacti.

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In the literature on cacti, where there is a section on morphology, spines are divided into several types according to their shape. In fact, this is a rather thankless task, it is impossible to combine the entire kaleidoscope of “prickly” diversity in 8-10 types given, however, following the tradition, we will perform such sorting.

1. Glochidia:

1) very thin, fragile, barely noticeable spines with small notches along the entire length - inherent only in pereskian and prickly pear cacti.

2. Straight or curved spines with sharp straight ends:

1) needle-like thin, straight, strong or soft, radial or central spines;

2) subulate thicker, stronger and longer, straight or curved spines, which can be radial or central;

3) spear- or dagger-shaped - powerful, thick spikes, more often central, although radial ones are also found; round, elliptical in cross section, less often flat, straight or curved, often having a textured pattern on the surface;

4) short conical - small but very strong spines;

5) pseudopectinate - small, thin and short spines, formed on an elongated areole in the form of a bilateral ridge.

3. Spines with a crochet end:

1) hook-shaped central spines - located one or more in the areola, have a sharp, more or less curved end, can be quite long or short, thin and flexible or strong and elastic.

4. Hair- or wire-like spines:

1) hairy - soft, thick, hanging with a "beard" from the stem or enveloping the stem like a fur coat of thorns; very actively perform the function of absorbing water vapor;

2) more elastic and thick wire-like spines, several pieces located in the areola, of different thickness and curvature, more often directed upwards or sideways, less often downwards.

5. Paper-Like Thorns:

1) a rather rare type of spines, can be from 1 to 20 cm long, more often curved, convoluted, trough-shaped.

6. Horn-like spines: 1) mostly short, arcuately curved, non-rigid, with a transverse "notch" spines, often flattened or trough-shaped.

7. Feather spines:

1) original spines, reminiscent of a bird's feather in structure; one of the main functions is the absorption of water vapor, so they are soft and very thick, creating a kind of cocoon around the stem.

8. Pectinate Thorns:

1) are an elongated oval plate, "lying" on the same elongated areola. The plate has a central longitudinal groove and blades divided into small “needles”.

9. Specialized spines:

1) nectariferous spines - sometimes shortened, almost invisible, thick or elongated, with a thickening at the ends, secreting sweet juice.

In nature, there are two types of camels: one-humped and two-humped. Only the second one lives in the wild, while people have long tamed the one-humped camel for their own needs. The body of a camel can retain water for a long time and not overheat in 50-degree heat. Huge calluses on the legs allow this animal to walk calmly on hot sand.

A camel can go up to two weeks without a single sip of water. It is covered with thick wool, which prevents the evaporation of moisture from the skin. The surface of wool at noon can heat up to 80 degrees, while on the surface of the skin the temperature will not be higher than 40 degrees. The camel does not open its mouth when it breathes so that excess moisture does not evaporate. This animal cannot exist in areas with a humid climate.

In the body of a camel, fats are able to turn into water, which is deposited in the humps. It can contain up to 50 kg of fresh water. He can spend it within two weeks. People who got lost in the desert often killed a camel and drank water from its hump in order to survive and get to the oasis.

When traveling, a camel replenishes its water reserves by eating camel thorn. This plant lives up to its name. It is covered with many sharp spines of various sizes, which are modified axillary shoots. A camel can eat such a plant due to the special structure of its oral cavity. The inner side of the cheeks is equipped with many hard tubercles, protrusions that are not damaged even by the sharpest spines. In addition, he has a very rough and rough tongue.

Camel-thorn

This plant is found only in deserts and semi-deserts. It belongs to the legume family. Camel thorn is a low shrub with a powerful root. Thanks to him, the plant can absorb moisture from the deep layers of the soil and not die in the harsh conditions of the desert.

Camel thorn, in addition to life-giving moisture, also contains a lot of useful substances. No wonder Avicenna considered her a real storehouse of vitamins. A tincture of this plant helps relieve fatigue and cleanses the body of toxins. Camel thorn secretes a special substance - manna, which is a surrogate for sugar. It is a powerful diuretic and choleretic agent. Perhaps it was her that God sent to Moses and the Jews who fled from the oppression of the Egyptian pharaoh.