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Fern Orlyak is a beautiful perennial. The plant is not only an original decoration of the garden, it is used as a food product, in folk medicine. It got its name from the shape of the leaves. Many in triple fronds see the wing of an eagle located on the country's coat of arms. And there are those who noticed the initials of Jesus Christ in a herbaceous plant.
What does the bracken fern look like?
Fern Orlyak is a perennial herb of the Fern class, of the Dennstedtye family. Height 30-100 cm. The trunk is smooth, without scales.
The root system is well developed, spreading in all directions. Consists of vertical and horizontal underground shoots in black. New shoots appear on the creeping rhizome every year.
The foliage is light green in color. Size in height - 70 cm, feather-shaped, triangular. The structure is dense and tough. The stepchildren are located at a distance of 10-20 cm from each other. At first they have a swirling shape, similar to a snail. Orlyak's leaves are arranged in pairs on the stem, only the upper shoot is single.
The leaves are lanceolate, obtuse at the ends, and lobed at the base. The dense edges of the segments are wrapped. On the bottom pair are nectaries. They secrete a sweet liquid that attracts ants.
Fern species Orlyak
Some botanists believe that the Orlyak fern is a monotypic species. Another part is inclined to believe that there are about 10 subspecies. All of them are quite similar to each other. However, the vast majority grows in their natural environment.
Pteridiumaquilinumvar. latiusculum
Found in pastures in Ireland. A perennial herb has a main stem, which is 1 cm in diameter. The leaves are large, triangular. In autumn, the green part dies off. It was discovered by the American botanist Merritt Lyndon Fernald, who specialized in ferns and seed plants.
Pteridiumaquilinumvar. Feei
The description of this subtype of the Orlyak fern became known thanks to the American pteridologist William Ralph Maxson.
Pteridiumaquilinumvar. Pseudocaudatum
This herbaceous plant was isolated from the general species by the writer, botanist and naturalist from America - Willard Nelson Klute. The plant prefers to grow in sunny areas, open glades.
Pteridiumaquilinumvar.latiusculum
Bracken is common in Mexico, China, Japan, Canada, USA, northern Europe. The first to describe the species was the teacher of geology, botanist, mycologist - Lucien Marcus Underwood.
According to the encyclopedic portal for 2013, in addition to the four varieties already described, there are two subspecies of the Orlyak fern:
- Pteridiumaquilinumsubsp. Decompositum (Gaudich.) Lamoureux ex J. A. Thomson;
- Pinetorum.
How to distinguish bracken fern from other species
It is believed that the bracken fern is an edible plant, so as not to confuse it with other, poisonous species, it is important to know the differences.
- The size reaches 1.5 m, while the herb does not form a bush.
- Fern sprouts make their way one by one from the ground. The distance between them is 10-15 cm. In the ostrich or shitnikov, shoots emerge simultaneously from one point.
- Fern stems are smooth, clean. There are no villi, leaves, scales.
It is difficult to recognize an edible plant in the spring in the forest. Outwardly, the shoots are very similar.An additional sign will be the old, overwintered leaves of the Orlyak fern. On them, you can clearly see the geometric pattern, which is different for each type. In this variety, the edges of the leaves are more rounded.
Does the bracken fern bloom
There are many legends about the fern flower. They say that he appears on the night of Ivan Kupala. According to legend, this place hides a treasure. Protects from prying eyes and keeps the flower of evil spirits. Whoever finds it will be happy all his life. People still believe in giving, but no one has ever found a fiery flower.
Scientists, in turn, reject beliefs. They claim that the bracken fern does not bloom. The plant does not reproduce by seeds, but by spores. There are brown or green balls on the underside of the leaf. These are sporangia in which spores mature.
How the bracken fern reproduces
Fern is naturally asexual plant. Therefore, there are several ways of its reproduction: spores, division of roots, shoots.
The vegetative method of reproduction of the Orlyak fern involves the formation of rooted layers, which can later be separated from the mother and transplanted to a permanent place. The first step is to pick up long fluffy shoots. They are bent to the surface of the earth and pressed down with a stone. This procedure should be carried out in the spring season, during the period of active vegetative growth. After a while, the arrow takes root.
In the natural environment, lichens multiply by spores. At home, this method is long and painstaking. In September, cut off the leaf and dry it. Then peel off the spores onto a piece of paper. The dried seed is stored in sealed packaging until winter. In January-February, containers are prepared for seedlings. Fill with peat mixture. After it is thoroughly moistened, spores are poured out and covered with glass. For germination, the containers are placed in a warm, bright place, regularly ventilated and sprayed with warm water. After 2 months, green moss forms on the surface, then the glass must be removed. The grown seedlings can be seated in separate cups. In May, the seedlings are ready for planting in the ground.
The easiest, but at the same time effective method of reproduction of the Orlyak fern is by dividing the rhizome. An adult bush with a developed root system is suitable for the procedure, which quickly recovers after pruning. In the spring, when the weather is warm, you can dig Orlyak. The rhizome is divided into sections with one or two buds. Places of cuts are treated with crushed activated carbon. And immediately planted in moist soil.
Where does the bracken fern grow
Light forests are the favorite habitat of the Orlyak fern. The plant can be found on all continents except Antarctica. Does not grow in steppes and deserts. The herbaceous plant prefers sandy soils, like coniferous forests, as well as deciduous ones, where birch trees grow. Often, the culture chooses open hills, forest edges, thickets of bushes.
The bracken clogs up the grass at the edge, creating solid thickets in a small area. Often, the plant develops clearings, abandoned fields, plantations, pastures. On hayfields in some countries, the fern is difficult to hatch weed... In the mountains it is able to grow at a level not higher than the mid-mountain zone. In Russia, Orlyak can be found in Siberia, the Urals, the Far East, and in the European part.
When the bracken fern is harvested
The collection of the bracken fern is carried out in the middle of spring. According to popular beliefs, this necessary period begins when the lilies of the valley bloom or the bird cherry blossoms. You need to collect young shoots that break easily. If the sprouts have become denser, they began to bend - stop collecting.
The stem length is 15-25 cm, the thickness is 10 mm.Cut at the base so that the plant can continue to develop. Shoots are tied in bunches. Fern sprouts harden quickly and should be cooked quickly for this reason.
The collected shoots are salted in clutches. Sprinkle each layer abundantly with table salt. Cover and set the oppression on top. In this position, the sprouts should be 10-20 days.
After the tub is opened, the brine is drained. Now the upper layers are laid down, the lower ones up. Pour brine again, however, the salt concentration is reduced by 5 times.
In the Leningrad region
Harvesting of the Orlyak fern in the Leningrad region begins around May 15 and lasts a month. Although the date may vary depending on the weather in the region. A kind of crunch serves as a signal about the appropriate state of the plant.
The harvesting season of the herbaceous plant is short. Therefore, the fern can be frozen in batches if it is not possible to immediately process it. Salting is needed for long-term storage of the product.
In outskirts of Moscow
In the Moscow region, the Orlyak fern is found everywhere: in parks, pine forests, deciduous plantings. Only young shoots are suitable for blanks. Therefore, it is necessary to collect at an early stage of the growing season. It is important to be in time before the leaves have blossomed, and the shoots are still soft. A good time to harvest is mid-May or early June.
In Siberia
Collecting the bracken fern in Siberia begins at the end of May. It is necessary to monitor the sprouts in the spring forest, as there is no definite date. Shoots break out of the ground at the same time as the first flowers. This is when the sprouts reach their optimum size.
In the Urals
As already noted, the herbaceous plant is found throughout the territory of Russia. Fern Orlyak also grows in the Urals in the forests, on light slopes. For food purposes, the collection begins in the second decade of May. The period lasts 20-25 days.
Is it possible to grow a bracken fern on the site
Despite the fact that the Orlyak fern is considered a forest plant, many gardeners plant it on their personal plot. When creating landscape design, the plant directly fits into any composition. You just need to familiarize yourself with the basic rules of care.
- When buying an adult, you need to pay attention to its appearance. Leaves should be green, intact, with no dry or yellowed lobes. Before landing, it is better to leave the purchased Eagle for 24 hours in a darkened place. Thus, the plant will regain its strength.
- The ideal place for a fern is a darkened part of the garden. There the foliage takes on a richer, greener color. In the sun, the color becomes pale.
- Light, medium fertilized soil is required. A mixture of deciduous soil, sand, peat is suitable. The growth of the plant is well influenced by the presence of lime in the soil. It is not recommended to plant Orlyak in loam.
- In the open field, a herbaceous crop can do without shelter for the winter. The leaves fall, the root is so deep that the bracken fern does not care about frost.
- It is important to keep the soil moist. Water immediately after the soil dries. Eliminate stagnant water.
- Fertilizers are required to be dosed. The first feeding is carried out when the first young shoots appear. For this, special mineral complexes for ferns are used. Observe the dosage for the Orlyak variety as indicated in the instructions.
Diseases and pests
The bracken fern is resistant to diseases, but often suffers from attacks by harmful insects. The main enemies are:
- whitefly;
- thrips;
- shield.
You can get rid of these parasites by means of insecticides. It is only necessary to use it without exceeding the specified amount, otherwise you can harm the plant.
Conclusion
The bracken fern is often called "Far Eastern".In the Far East, culture is highly valued. It grows there everywhere, as well as in Siberia, the central part of Russia, in the Urals. The herbaceous plant is harvested and harvested for future use. However, in order not to go to the forest, you can grow on your own plot. Care is required uncomplicated, the plant is able to grow on its own, without outside help. The spreading crown develops quickly enough.
