2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43
Common lilac
Reproduction, care and use of the beneficial properties of lilac
Botanical characteristics of lilac
Lilac is a tree or shrub from the olive family. The crown of the plant is round or cup-shaped. Young shoots have a smooth yellowish-gray or olive-green color with lenticels. Older trunks are dark gray in color and peel off the bark in narrow strips. On short petioles, opposite leaves are located, the shape of which is broadly ovate. The leaves are dark green on top and light green on the inside. Lilac flowers - small, with a strong aroma, collected in panicle inflorescences. One inflorescence can contain about 400 flowers.
The fruit of the lilac is a two-celled capsule, flat, oval in shape, with 2–4 seeds with wings. The plant blooms every year and is very abundant. Lilacs are found throughout the CIS. Lilac prefers to grow in a garden, park, near residential buildings. The plant loves neutral soils and does not tolerate excessive moisture content in the soil.
Reproduction of lilac
Lilacs can be propagated vegetatively and by seed. The varieties and garden forms of lilacs are propagated by the vegetative method, using grafting, layering and green cuttings for this. Lilacs are propagated by seeds to breed a new variety or obtain rootstocks.
In August, you need to prepare lilac seeds for sowing. To do this, it is necessary to stratify the seeds for 30–45 days, after which they are sown in a furrow and embedded 1.5 cm into the soil. Further, the furrows (ridges) need to be mulched with sawdust, peat and humus.
Lilac seedlings grow slowly. They need a whole year to fully develop. In the second year, seedlings can be planted in the ground, after which they water and huddle the soil.
Lilacs are often propagated by green cuttings. Most often, for such reproduction, a greenhouse is chosen under a film or glass, into the soil of which manure and sand are introduced. When the lilac begins to bloom en masse, you need to prepare cuttings. They are cut with a sharp knife with existing kidneys. Before planting, the cuttings are kept under wet moss (since they will retain turgor). Then the cuttings are planted in a greenhouse, burying them in the sand by no more than 1 cm.
Cuttings should always be kept in moist air. In order to quickly form roots on cuttings, they are treated with root formation stimulants. At first, you need to remove the greenhouse frames in the late afternoon or in cloudy weather, and over time, the frames are completely removed. Now the cuttings need regular watering and feeding. Already rooted plants are planted in ridges, or you can leave them to grow and overwinter in a greenhouse.
Another well-known way to propagate lilacs is by layering. For this method, queen cells must be laid in the nursery. Ready and already grafted plants must be planted in an inclined position, pulling the main trunk with soft wire in a place slightly above the grafting. Further hilling is done. Closer to autumn, roots will appear above the constriction site, after which the root system of the rootstock itself is cut off. The mother bushes are planted in ridges, after which the above-ground part is cut off. Layers can be obtained after 3-4 years.
Useful properties of lilac
The useful raw materials of lilac are flowers, buds, bark and leaves of the plant. Lilac keeps its beneficial properties for two years.
Lilac is primarily used as a diaphoretic and anti-inflammatory agent. Due to the content in the plant of many useful substances, it is used as a means that lowers fever and reduces pain. Lilac helps in the treatment of febrile diseases. Lilacs can cure diabetes.
Lilac infusion is an antipyretic agent. To prepare the infusion, take 1 tablespoon of plant leaves, pour 100 ml of boiling water over them and leave to brew for an hour. Take the infusion warm, 1 glass three times a day.
Fresh lilac leaves have wound-healing properties, therefore they are used to prepare compresses for the treatment of wounds, panaritiums and boils.
Application of lilac
Lilac contains many useful substances, thanks to which it is successfully used in folk medicine. The plant is used in the form of infusions, teas, decoctions, compresses, preparations and ointments.
Lilac buds are used to lower blood sugar. The flowers of the plant help in the treatment of malaria, rheumatism and diarrhea. Infusion of flowers is used for stomach ulcers, whooping cough, shortness of breath, diabetes. The lilac decoction is an excellent cure for colds. Lilac tincture helps to get rid of diarrhea, leucorrhoea, bruises, wounds and neuralgia.
Tincture for rubbing in rheumatism and osteochondrosis. We take 10 grams of lilac flowers and fill them with 100 ml of vodka. Leave to infuse for 14 days in a dark container. We filter the finished tincture and use it in the form of rubbing on a sore spot.
Decoction of lilac buds for diabetes. Take 2 tablespoons of lilac buds and pour 500 ml of boiling water. Leaving to infuse for 6 hours, then strain. We take a ready-made broth, 1 tablespoon before meals.
Lilac tincture for laryngitis. To prepare the tincture, you need to take 50 grams of lilac flowers and pour half a glass of vodka. We leave the product to infuse for a week. Having filtered the tincture, it must be diluted with boiled water (pour 10 ml of tincture with 100 ml of water). Rinse the throat with the finished tincture three times a day.
Lilac bark for dermatological diseases. The affected areas of the skin should be washed with a ready-made tincture of lilac flowers. The clean bark of the plant is applied to the washed places, which is bandaged with a bandage. The dressing is changed after 3-4 hours.
Lilac tincture for malaria. To prepare it, take 20 grams of lilac leaves, add 1 teaspoon of bitter wormwood and half a teaspoon of eucalyptus oil. Pour this mixture with 1 liter of vodka and leave for 14 days. We filter the tincture and take 2 tablespoons before each meal.
Lilac tea for visual acuity. You need to take the fresh flowers of the plant and brew like any other tea. After the product has cooled down a little, take the gauze and fold it in several layers. We moisten it in lilac flower tea and apply it to the eyes. We hold for 10 minutes. We repeat this procedure before going to bed.
Ointment for neuralgia. Take lilac buds and grind them to a powdery state. Mix 1 teaspoon of lilac bud powder with 4 teaspoons of butter. Rub the ointment into sore spots, with exacerbations.
Tincture of lilac for joint pain. Take 1 tablespoon of lilac flowers (crushed) and the same amount of lilac leaves. Add 1 tablespoon of bay leaf powder. We also add 1 tablespoon of willow bark here. Pour this mixture with 500 ml of vodka. Leave it to brew for 3 hours and filter. We take gauze, moisten it in tincture and apply it to the sore spot for 2 hours.
Contraindications to the use of lilac
Inside, lilac preparations should be used carefully and only after consulting a doctor.
The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist
Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).
Recommended:
Black Elderberry - Description And Reproduction Of Elderberry. The Use And Beneficial Properties Of Elderberry
Elderberry blackUseful properties and use of black elderberry in traditional medicineBlack elderberry: plant descriptionBlack elderberry is a tall shrub or small tree. The shrub differs from others in its bark, which has a grayish-brown color
Black Pepper - Reproduction, Care, Benefits And Harms Of Black Pepper. Applying Pepper Recipes
Black pepperBenefits and harm, reproduction and care, black pepper recipesBotanical characteristics of black pepperBlack pepper is a perennial plant with a flexible and slender stem. The leaves of the plant are alternate, leathery, ovoid and heart-shaped
Common Oak - Description, Application And Benefits Of Oak. Oak Recipes
Common oakOak: descriptionOak is a deciduous tree that grows no more than 50 meters in height. Oak leaves are pinnate, located on short petioles. The bark of an oak tree is dark gray, strongly cracking. The oak has female and male flowers
Common Hyssop - The Beneficial Properties Of Hyssop Essential Oil. Applying Hyssop Recipes
Common hyssopUseful properties, cultivation, recipes and contraindications for the use of hyssopBotanical characteristics of common hyssopThis tall dwarf shrub with woody roots belongs to the lamb family. On long, thin and branched stems there are opposite leaves, which are small from above, and closer to the bottom are larger in size
Opuntia - Beneficial Properties, Reproduction And Care Of Prickly Pears. The Use Of Oil And Recipes For Prickly Pear
Prickly pearReproduction, care, useful properties and recipes for the use of prickly pearBotanical characteristics of prickly pearOpuntia is a perennial plant belonging to the cactus family. In nature, prickly pear is found in the form of a branching shrub, simply creeping plants on the ground and a tree reaching 6 meters in height
