In the minds of most people, meadow and wildflowers are associated with the vast expanse of an emerald green field, and on it expressive splashes of white, blue, yellow, pink, and red natural flowers. The kingdom of herbs and colors! In the same way, touchingly delicate wildflowers are suitable for creating decorative meadows and Moorish lawns: being a successful addition to greenery, they at the same time know how to express themselves in a highly bright and unforgettable way. In addition to lawns on personal plots, simple meadow flowers can be perfectly used as a kind of grass “frames” and a beautiful background for country things and ideas. In addition, all this splendor has no equal in cultivation and care, since simple meadow and field plants are extremely undemanding in nature.
Many of the meadow flowers and plants are medicinal herbs that you can collect and then make healthy infusions and teas at home.
For example, in folk medicine flowers cornflower blue is used as an antipyretic, as well as for diseases of the kidneys, bladder and as a lotion for eye diseases.
Oregano vulgare can have a calming effect on the central nervous system, enhance the secretions of the digestive, bronchial and sweat glands, enhance intestinal motility and have some analgesic and deodorizing effects.
St. John's wort used in scientific medicine as an astringent, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent that promotes rapid regeneration of damaged tissues.
Clover used in folk medicine for exhaustion and anemia, and also as an expectorant, diuretic and antiseptic.
Everyone knows chamomile can be used as a sedative (in the form of tea), as an anticonvulsant, choleretic, diuretic and mild laxative.
The most popular meadow flowers and wild plants: names and photos
In all kinds of fields and beautiful meadows you can find the following wonderful plants. Remember their appearance (from the photo) and names, so that when you next go into nature and find a beautiful flower meadow, collect a bouquet of the most useful and wonderful flowers. Or, as an option, to make your garden bloom and smell all seasons, plant the plants you like most in your meadow or Moorish garden
Stork
Aquilegia (Catchment)
cornflower
Veronica (Dubravna)
Dianthus grass
Meadow geranium (field)
Gentian
Oregano
St. John's wort
Ivan-tea (Fireweed)
Kaluzhnitsa
Crocus
Coronaria (Cuckoo's adonis)
Swimsuit
Bells
Clover red
Lily of the valley
Linen blue (blue)
Burdock (burdock)
Buttercup
Field poppy
Daisies
Coltsfoot
Dandelion
Tansy
Snowdrop
Lumbago (Sleep-grass)
Chamomile
Meadow heartwood
Yarrow
Onion violet (field)
Chicory
Thistle
Chistets (Initial letter)drug
Chistyak spring
Celandine
Salvia twig-like (meadow)
Echinacea
Eschscholzia (California poppy)
Most of the field plants are so beautiful and fragrant that you want to quickly pick them and make an incredibly beautiful, fragrant bouquet. And simple meadow flowers can be used as part of meadow, Moorish and for purely practical purposes in a summer cottage. And, of course, we will be happy especially with meadow and wildflowers, because many of them are popular pharmaceutical medicinal plants growing within walking distance from our home.
Video: wildflowers with names and photos
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Celandine got its name for its ability to effectively treat various skin diseases. This is also evidenced by its popular names - warthog, warthog, chistets. The scientific name of the plant is “great celandine” (Chelidonium Major). Finding celandine is not difficult. This is a perennial plant with a tall (50–100 cm) branched stem covered with short hairs, medium-sized petiolate leaves and small golden-yellow flowers collected in umbellate inflorescences. When the stem is broken, dark yellow or orange-red juice is released.
The high healing properties of celandine are due to the fact that it contains significant amounts of alkaloids, vitamins, organic acids, flavonoids, carotene, saponins, bitterness, essential oils, and resinous substances. Preparations from celandine have pronounced anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, antimicrobial, antipruritic, cauterizing, local anesthetic, analgesic, choleretic, antispasmodic, and hypotensive effects.
Do not forget that celandine is a plant poisonous. When used externally, it is difficult to get poisoned, but with excessive ingestion, intestinal dysbiosis is possible, and in the worst case, poisoning, expressed in nausea, extreme thirst, convulsions, decreased blood pressure, slow pulse and even fainting. In this case, it is necessary to immediately rinse the stomach, followed by plenty of fluids and activated charcoal. As a rule, after this, the symptoms of poisoning disappear quickly and without consequences.
Traditionally, celandine juice was used to treat diseases. Pure juice treats various irritations and skin diseases, burns, including sunburn, wounds, abscesses, boils, herpes, scabies, cracks on the hands and heels, removes freckles, warts, papillomas, and dry calluses. You can also use crushed fresh leaves for this.
In many cases, the juice is used diluted in various proportions. Polyps, adenoids, tonsils, and gum inflammation are treated with such solutions. For the same purposes, you can use infusions and decoctions of celandine. It's not difficult to prepare them. There are many different recipes, one of the simplest is a tablespoon of dried herbs or two fresh herbs per glass of water. If you pour boiling water and leave for 1.5-2 hours, you get an infusion, and if you boil for 10-15 minutes over low heat or in a water bath, you get a decoction. They are used for rinsing, compresses and lotions.
Celandine ointment is used to treat skin diseases. It's not difficult to prepare. Dried herb powder is mixed in a 1:1 ratio with heated badger fat, rendered lard or butter, and Vaseline. This ointment keeps well in the refrigerator and is always ready for use.
Diluted juice, decoctions and infusions of celandine are taken orally to treat many serious diseases. I won’t give recipes; if you wish, you can find them in reference books or on the Internet. Please note that juice is usually taken no more than 5-7 drops, and infusions and decoctions, depending on consistency, up to three tablespoons. On the Internet you can find recommendations to use tablespoons of pure celandine juice for some diseases. I would not recommend conducting such experiments on yourself.
For the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, liver and kidneys, celandine has been used since ancient times, and in many countries. Previously, in Russian villages, celandine was used to treat kidney problems (hemorrhoids) and polyps in the large intestine. The diluted juice or infusion was taken orally, enemas were given, and external nodes were lubricated with the juice.
Modern medicine confirms that the substances contained in celandine slow down the development of cancer cells. Naturally, it is impossible to cure advanced cancer with celandine, but in the initial stages or after surgery, to prevent the development of metastases, it can be used along with medications; moreover, it acts as a mild pain reliever. Celandine is more effective in the treatment of skin cancer.
Most often, the juice obtained from the stems and leaves of celandine is used for medicinal purposes. It is believed that it is better to prepare fresh juice in May-July, when the plant contains the most useful substances. To do this, plant stems are cut at least 10 cm from the ground, crushed using a meat grinder or other device, squeezed and, adding 250 ml of alcohol or 500 ml of vodka per liter of juice, stored in a dark, cool place. Previously, in villages, fresh celandine juice was stored in tightly closed containers in ice cellars at a temperature of about 0 degrees. But first the juice was allowed to ferment for 5-7 days at room temperature.
In addition, celandine can be dried (it is better to use leaves and flowers for this) so that it can be used as needed to prepare infusions, tinctures, decoctions or ointments. Recently, dried herbs and preparations from celandine have appeared in pharmacies. On the Internet I came across recommendations for preparing preparations from celandine seeds. I have doubts about them, because by autumn the beneficial properties of the plant decrease.
Preparation of medicinal preparations
Decoction
The decoction is prepared as follows: the raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, filled with cold water, brought to a boil over low heat and kept on the fire for some time. The duration of this, as well as the proportions of water and raw materials, depend on the specific case.
The decoction should be filtered, squeezing the herb well.
A decoction of celandine herb has a bactericidal, sedative, choleretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, and anesthetic effect. It can be used for peptic ulcers and cholelithiasis, spasms of the pylorus of the duodenum, digestive tract and gall bladder, for renal colic, and for diseases of the bladder.
Juice is one of the most effective remedies obtained from celandine, because all the power of the miraculous plant is concentrated in it. During the flowering period of celandine, collect leaves and stems (roots can also be used) and pass them through a meat grinder. Place in a glass container and refrigerate for several days (this is necessary for the celandine to release juice). Usually three days is enough. Then squeeze the herb through cheesecloth. A bucket of grass produces 1 – 1.5 liters of juice.
After some time after preparing the juice, it begins to ferment, so do not forget to release the air from the container. After 2 - 3 weeks, fermentation will end.
Juice prepared in this way can be stored in the refrigerator for several years.
Celandine oil
Celandine oil is a drug that is used mainly for external use.
Take dry herb, chop it, place it in a glass container and fill it with oil (so that the oil level is 2 - 3 cm higher than the level of the grass). It is advisable to use peach or apricot oil, but ordinary vegetable oil will do. But before use, vegetable oil needs to be heated in a water bath for 1 - 2 hours.
Place the herb oil in a warm place for 30 to 60 minutes, then transfer to a cool, dark place for a week. Do not forget to shake the drug periodically. After 7 days, when it is ready, strain it through cheesecloth, add pure oil (1:1 ratio) and store it in a dark glass container.
Infusion of celandine
Preparation of celandine infusion. Celandine is used in the form of an infusion because of its bactericidal effect and ability to inhibit the growth of certain fungi and even malignant tumors. This is primarily due to the fact that celandine contains a large amount of alkaloids.
The infusion can be water or alcohol.
The best way to prepare an aqueous infusion of celandine is to take the amount of herb prescribed in the recipe, pour boiling water over it and heat in a steam bath for 15 minutes. Then cool well and strain. It would be a good idea to let the product sit before straining. You can completely skip the steam bath; just boiling water is enough. But in this case it is advisable to increase the infusion time. It is good to infuse celandine in a thermos.
An infusion of celandine can also be prepared with vodka. To do this, take the grass (fresh or dried), fill half a half-liter bottle or jar with it and fill it with vodka. Let it brew for two weeks. After this, the resulting tincture must be diluted at the rate of 150 ml of tincture per 350 ml of pure vodka. Take three times a day before meals. Remember that the tincture is very strong, and therefore if you need to take it orally, start with the smallest dose (5 - 10 drops), gradually increasing it by 10 drops every week.
The difference between a water infusion and an alcohol infusion is that the water infusion is much weaker. The main reason is that water dissolves only the salts of alkaloids, which are found in abundance in celandine, and alcohol dissolves the alkaloids themselves. Therefore, the alcohol solution will be much stronger and more effective.
However, the water infusion has one – and extremely important – advantage: it is less dangerous than the alcohol infusion. So in the vast majority of cases, in order to avoid poisoning, the use of water infusion should be clearly recommended. And the use of an alcoholic infusion of celandine is justified only in cases where the possible harm is less than the benefit it can bring. Even with cancer, when a person is ready to use any means and, due to the criticality of the situation, it would seem that God himself ordered the use of an alcohol infusion, it would be useful to think about the general exhaustion of the body, for which any “blow” is dangerous.
Ointment with celandine
Ointment with celandine is prepared with Vaseline, lanolin, pork or lamb fat. You can also use ordinary baby cream as a base. To obtain the ointment, it is better to use either celandine juice or dried herb, which is first ground very well (it is advisable to use a coffee grinder). The proportions in which the components are mixed depend on the specific case, the specific disease. However, the usual ratios are 1 part chopped herb and 2 parts base mass. Fresh juice is mixed with the base in a ratio of 1:4.
To prevent the ointment from molding, carbolic acid (0.25%) is added to it.
Such delicate plants can be planted in your summer cottage next to, for example, a lawn. They look unobtrusive and very cute. These flowers are quite unpretentious; you just need to initially create favorable conditions for them. Well, you've probably heard or read about the beneficial properties of many of them - so why not try growing meadow flowers closer to home.
Wildflowers: photos and names
Here you can see what a particular flower looks like in nature and read a brief description of it.
Stork
stork flower in the photo
Mainly used on alpine hills, it can outshine even edelweiss. One of the most spectacular summer blooming flowers, it looks great between stones. The most popular is Reichard's Stork, which has excellent decorative qualities. Blooms in June-July. Varieties differ in flower color. All storks are suitable for decorating mini rock gardens and crevices between stones.
Aquilegia
aquilegia in the photo
Another name is Vodosbor or Orlik. There are 35 cultivated species of this plant. It grows better in partial shade and becomes smaller in the sun. The exquisite combination of white, crimson, purple and yellow aquilegia flowers will be the highlight of any flower bed on your site. To ensure that the decorative value of the plant does not decrease, it needs to be replanted every 3-5 years.
Aconite
aconite in the photo
Be careful - the whole flower is poisonous. In ancient times, the Greeks and Chinese made arrow poison from it. Currently widely used in folk medicine. Some species of aconites are in the Red Book. Perennial plant, Ranunculaceae family.
The most popular Aconite is capillary (pictured). There is also paniculata, variegated, and Sterka bicolor cammarum. Most species are winter-hardy. They easily tolerate transplantation. Propagation by seeds, rhizomes, cuttings, dividing the bush.
Valerian officinalis
valerian officinalis in the photo
It is grown mainly as a useful plant with medicinal qualities. They are used both fresh and dry for the production of medicinal products. People often call it Cat grass. This is a tall herbaceous perennial, small flowers are collected in umbrellas. A distinctive feature is the specific smell imparted by the essential oils secreted by the plant. The flowering period of valerian is from late May to mid-August. Seeds need to be collected from July to the end of September.
cornflower
cornflower in the photo
The most popular wildflower that gardeners prefer to transfer to their summer cottage. Graceful and at the same time unpretentious Cornflower is a favorite of many. Cold-resistant, loves light areas. If grown as a cultivated plant, then you need to choose the sunniest places for it.
Veronica
Veronica flower in the photo
Several varieties have been developed that differ in flower color:
Icicle (White Icicle) - white flowers, Barcarolle - pink flowers, Blue Peter - blue flowers, Blue Carpet - bright blue flowers, low growing bush, Red Fox - dark pink flowers, Romiley Purple - dark purple flowers, Heidekind - pink - crimson flowers.
Dianthus grass
meadow carnation in the photo
In field and meadow carnations, the corollas of flowers consist of white or pink petals. In cultivated ones - often cream, salmon, yellow, red, purple.
Meadow geranium
forest geranium in the photo
Gentian
It grows in damp forest glades, edges, in both deciduous and coniferous forests. This is a light-loving plant, but quite decorative in light partial shade. Loves fertile soils. A good honey plant, has medicinal properties.
Spring adonis
adonis flower in the photo
Another name is Adonis spring or Chernogorka, Starodubka. Named for its bright yellow flowers. Often seen along the edges of birch forests, also in mixed-grass steppes. Used as a medicinal raw material. Propagated by seeds and rhizomes. All Adonis grow slowly and do not tolerate transplantation well. The soil must be kept loose and moist.
Oregano
oregano flower in the photo
A very useful plant with a delicate aroma. The beneficial properties of oregano make gardeners think about planting it in their summer cottages in order to always have a fragrant flower on hand for brewing tasty and healthy herbal tea.
St. John's wort
St. John's wort in the photo
Grows in light forests, on forest edges and dry meadows. This inconspicuous flower has won the love of the people for its ability to cure many diseases. In principle, St. John's wort looks good in mixborders as an accompanying element. It is undemanding to soils. Grown in one place for up to 8 years.
Ivan-tea (Fireweed)
Ivan Chai in the photo
Perennial herbaceous plant. It lives in dry sandy areas of light forests, also in clearings and forest edges, near railway embankments and ditches. People call it “willow-grass” and “willow-grass”, since the leaves of willow tea look like willow leaves. Tea from this plant is very popular, as it has a beneficial effect on the human body.
Kaluzhnitsa
marigold flower in the photo
There are 6 species of this plant growing on the territory of the former USSR. In the European part it blooms in April-May. Loves sunny and moist soils. In good conditions, flowering is very abundant. When grown in dry areas, it requires constant watering. Summer residents often use marigold to decorate the banks of garden ponds.
Crocus
crocus (saffron) in the photo
Another name is Saffron. The Iris family, a genus of corms of herbaceous plants. Low growing, usually no higher than 10 s. Crocuses can be planted in both sun and partial shade. The soil for planting should be well drained. Propagated by bulbs.
Coronaria (Cuckoo's adonis)
Coronaria flower in the photo
Popularly known as Cuckoo's color. Perennial, 30-90 cm high. Grows mainly in wet meadows and forest clearings, as well as along the outskirts of swamps. This flower has found use in folk medicine. Blooms in May-July.
Swimsuit
flower swimsuit in the photo
Ranunculaceae family. Translated from Latin as Troll Flower. In natural conditions, there are only 20 types of swimsuits. For summer cottages in the middle zone, the European, Asian, Altai, and Chinese bathing suit are recommended. There are hybrid cultural forms of this plant. It blooms in early to mid-May and blooms for an average of 20 days. Sow swimsuit seeds in the fall.
Bell
field bell flower in the photo
A very common type of wildflower. It is found literally everywhere - in meadows, forests and steppes, as well as in desert and rocky areas. Large-flowered species are usually used for transplanting to summer cottages and cultivation.
Clover red
red clover in the photo
In Russia it is found in the European part, Siberia, the Far East and Kamchatka. Grows in moderately moist meadows, forest glades, along roads and fields. Biennial, but more often perennial plant.
Korostavnik
bark flower in the photo
Purple, lilac or pink flowers in the form of fluffy balls on thin tall shoots - this is bark. This wildflower is medicinal and helps with diseases of the throat and lungs, genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract. Korostavnik is an excellent honey plant.
Kukol
Cockle flower in the photo
Another name is Agrostemma. Wreaths were woven from this wildflower. Often found in winter and spring grain crops. Flower growers grow this wildflower in high flowerbeds, in mixborders, arrays, and sometimes for cutting. Flowers last a long time when cut, without fading for up to seven days. Agrostemma looks beautiful mixed with cereals and meadow grasses, and is part of the Moorish lawn.
Lily of the valley
forest lily of the valley in the photo
This flower grows in pine and deciduous forests, in glades and forest edges. Loves moist soil. It reproduces very quickly by creeping underground shoots. If you planted it in your summer cottage, get ready; in a couple of years the lily of the valley will fill everything. Therefore, it is better to fence the planting sites along the ground - with pieces of slate or some other barrier. In fact, it grows like a weed.
Linen blue (blue)
blue flax flower in the photo
This is one of the most unpretentious varieties of flax. Suitable for beginner gardeners. The stems are thin but strong and quite long. Plant these flowers in sunny places. They don't like being overwatered.
Burdock (burdock)
burdock in the photo
In Russia it grows almost everywhere. In our country, this is a weed plant that is found along roads, on forest edges, and near housing. The plant is biennial. The photo shows a classic burdock. It has a strong stem and powerful roots. It is difficult to fight this weed; if the root is not completely removed, the plant will sprout again above the ground.
Buttercup
buttercup flower in the photo
The popular name is night blindness or toad. Ranunculus is another name, more scientific. More common in the European part of Russia. Buttercups are either annual or biennial. Flowering begins in June or July. Can bloom for a month.
Field poppy
field poppy in the photo
It is also called self-sown poppy, field poppy, wild poppy. This fire flower is an annual. Distributed in the Caucasus and the European part. Likes to grow on arable lands, fallow lands, near roads, on rocky slopes. In the south of Russia it is considered a malicious weed. The plant loves sunny areas. It looks very decorative.
Daisies
daisies in the photo
A perennial flowering plant from the Asteraceae family. It grows in fields and meadows, on arable land, in suburban forests and parks. Flower growers grow this flower both in flower beds and in pots on balconies and loggias.
Coltsfoot
flower mother and stepmother in the photo
Perennial plant, medicinal. The leaves are used in medicine, for the preparation of medicinal raw materials. Harvested and dried in the spring. It can be found on the banks of reservoirs, on the slopes of ravines, and in landfills. Flowering time is April. It is distinguished by a long creeping rhizome.
Soapwort
soapwort flower in the photo
The second name is Saponaria. They called it this because the plant’s decoction foams. The roots have medicinal properties and are used in medicine. This interesting flower grows in flooded meadows, along forest edges, in valleys and along sandy river banks. It runs wild in neglected flower beds. Terry species of this plant are especially decorative.
Digitalis
foxglove flower in the photo
Plantain family. Perennial flower. Grows in deciduous and mixed forests, clearings, and meadows. It is a food plant for checkerboard and cutworm butterflies. In horticulture, the most famous foxglove is the grandiflora, purple and woolly one.
Dandelion
dandelion flower in the photo
Everyone has seen a dandelion in their lives; it is the most common wildflower and meadow flower. It grows in clearings and meadows, near roads, often as a weed in fields and vegetable gardens. This is a medicinal plant whose leaves and roots are used. A good honey plant.
Tansy
tansy in the photo
A perennial plant from the Asteraceae family. What Tansy looks like - in the photo. It grows in fields, roads, borders, on forest edges, in bushes, in meadow steppes, and birch forests. This is a flower of the forest and forest-steppe zone. It infests meadows, pastures, vegetable gardens and orchards. Poisonous.
Snowdrop
snowdrop in the photo
From the Amaryllis family. There are 12 species of this flower growing on the territory of the former USSR. Flowering is very early, almost from under the snow. Flower growers cultivate snowdrops as ornamental ones. Planted in groups on ridges and alpine hills. Unpretentious, reproduce by seeds and bulbs. A transplant is needed every 5-6 years.
Lumbago (Sleep-grass)
lumbago flower in the photo
A perennial flower from the Ranunculaceae family. Grows in sparse birch and pine forests, in the steppes, and on dry southern slopes. The extract from the leaves has a strong bactericidal effect, also has a sedative effect and is used in folk medicine as a sedative and hypnotic, as well as an analgesic and expectorant. Used in veterinary medicine. The plant is poisonous, its juice can cause skin diseases. Look at the photo to see what the lumbago looks like.
Milk thistle
milk thistle in the photo
Popularly it is Mary's thistle. It is found as a weed, and a very aggressive one at that. A good honey plant. Milk thistle is edible and used in dietary nutrition. All parts of the plant are eaten, boiled or fried. The flowers can be dried and used as a seasoning for various dishes. The plant can also be brewed as tea.
Chamomile
chamomile in the photo
The simple name is chamomile. It is used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. It is found along the edges of fields, roadsides, wastelands and fallow meadows. Gardeners often grow it on their plots for medicinal purposes.
Meadow heartwood
meadow core flower in the photo
Grows in damp places. In folk medicine it is known as a food and medicinal plant. Dried and fresh leaves of this plant are used as a spice instead of pepper. Valuable honey plant.
Yarrow
yarrow flower in the photo
A perennial flower that has medicinal, spicy, decorative and honey-bearing properties. It grows on the edges, boundaries, along roads, along ravines, in wastelands, landfills, along the banks of reservoirs, along the edges of fields. Common yarrow is also used as a garden plant. Many varieties have been bred, differing in stem height and inflorescence color. As an ornamental plant, yarrow is valued for its unpretentiousness and abundant and long-lasting flowering. Usually grown in mixborders, used for edging borders; compact, low-growing varieties are sometimes used as lawn substitutes.
Field violet
forest and meadow violet in the photo
It grows in weedy places, along roads, in clearings, vegetable gardens, and crops. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively. Has medicinal value. Infusions are used as an expectorant.
Common chicory
chicory flower in the photo
Distributed as a weed. The popular name is roadside grass, petrov batog, shcherbak. Chicory grows in meadows, forest clearings, grassy slopes, often in wastelands. Look at the photo to see what a chicory flower looks like. A valuable honey plant, it gives bees a lot of nectar and pollen. Chicory root is used as a coffee substitute. The greens of this plant are used in salads.
Thistle
thistle in the photo
Prickly weed plant. A good honey plant. Some types of thistles are very decorative. You can judge the weather by the mood of the plant - in stable weather the thistle spines diverge to the sides, in cloudy weather they are pressed to the head. The thistle is a symbol of Scotland.
Chistets (Bukvitsa) officinalis
Chistets officinalis in the photo
Family Lamiaceae. In another way, Stakhis. Common in Russia are Chest annual and Chest straight, both with purple flowers, but leaves of different shapes. As an ornamental plant, Byzantine or woolly chistea is more often used.
Chistyak spring
spring flower in the photo
Celandine
celandine in the photo
Salvia twig-like (meadow)
meadow sage in the photo
Echinacea
Echinacea flowers in the photo
Eschscholzia (California poppy)
Eschscholzia in the photo
Hawkgirl
Hawkflower flower in the photo
What different wildflowers look like, video
What meadow or forest flowers have you “tamed” on your site? Which ones do you consider the most beautiful and tender? Which ones do you think are suitable for beginning gardeners who decide to bring forest beauties into their garden?
Useful materials
The touching charm of wildflowers still inspires poets and lovers and gives a romantic mood. Field flowers, whose names are varied, can be found today in the most prestigious flower shops, because they look incomparable in fresh, charming bouquets. And as soon as you imagine a boundless field strewn with blue cornflowers, yellow buttercups or white daisies, fatigue, problems and grievances recede.
Why are they called that?
Often the name of wildflowers speaks about the noticeable characteristics of the plants. Coltsfoot is so named because of its leaves - warm, terry on one side, smooth and cold on the other. The flowers of the crane bird resemble the beak of this slender bird and look like a bell. Oregano has a unique aroma, especially when dried. The tea made from it is very fragrant. Elecampane acquired its nickname because it helps well with weakness and fatigue: it gives a person “nine strength.” It also happens that the name of wildflowers is associated with myths and legends. They say that cornflower is named after St. Basil the Great, who had a special affinity for flowers, and is a symbol of kindness and spiritual purity. The flowers on the stems of Ivan da Marya received their name thanks to the legend of unhappy love. The girl and the guy, having learned that they were brother and sister to each other, so as not to be separated, turned into flowers of different shades. it is called so because at night the petals close tightly and the plant droops, as if falling asleep. Another name for this flower is lumbago. According to legend, an angel fired an arrow at a demon hiding in the thickets of this plant and shot through the leaves.
Two names
Each wildflower name has a second (botanical) name. In chicory it sounds like this: Cichorium intybys. Comes from the Greek kio - “I go” and chorion - “alienated by the field”. It is called so because the plant can often be found on the outskirts of fields. The species name intybus can be translated as “in a tube” - the flower has a hollow stem. The thistle plant has a Latin name, Carduus nutans, which comes from the word cardo, meaning “hook.” The white and pinkish flowers of soapwort are scientifically called Saponaria and come from the Greek sapon, meaning “soap”. The hairy leaves and stems of mullein, called Verbascum, come from the Latin word barbascum, which is etymologically related to barba, “beard.” Other names of the plant: royal scepter, ataman grass, fur leaf. The botanical name of sage, Salvia, comes from the Latin word salvus and means “healthy.” Sage is widely used as a medicinal plant.
Names of blue wildflowers. Blue linen
Among the flowers that delight us with a cool, heavenly hue, flax can be called the most delicate. Its Latin name - Línum - comes from the Celtic language, in which the word lin means “thread”: the flax stalk consists entirely of thin fibers. Since ancient times, the plant has healed, fed and clothed people. The remarkable quality of flax material is its resistance to rotting and increased strength at high humidity. Oil was made from this flax seed, which generously contains the essential linolenic fatty acid, which is involved in the metabolism of humans and animals and prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Charming doctor
There is no place where graceful and cute cornflowers do not grow. If no ears of grain are observed, it means that there certainly was a grain field here, which is now reminded of by little blue flowers. They bloom from May to September. The Latin name - Centauréa - arose from the Greek adjective centaureus, that is, belonging to a centaur. The myth says that with these flowers the centaur Chiron was cured of the poison of the hydra that bit him. Cornflower belongs to the Asteraceae family and is used medicinally as a decongestant. In folk therapy, infusion of flowers in snow water treats the eyes. In cosmetics, cornflower extract is used to produce cleansing, pore-tightening nourishing products.
How did forget-me-not get its name?
Simple forget-me-nots love moisture; they can be found along streams, in meadows, and along river banks. The scientific name of this flower from the borage family - Myosótis - comes from the name "mouse ear", because when the petals open, they closely resemble the ear of a rodent. And according to legend, the forget-me-not acquired a name when the goddess Flora descended to earth and bestowed names on the flowers. It seemed to her that she respected everyone, but then a weak voice was heard behind her: “Don’t forget me, Flora!” The goddess took a closer look and saw a tiny blue flower, called it forget-me-not and gave it the miraculous power to return the memory of people who had forgotten their homeland and loved ones.
Names of yellow wildflowers. Primrose
Primrose, or primrose, was popularly called “golden keys”. There is a legend. They hinted to the Apostle Peter, guarding the gates to Eden, that someone without permission wanted to get into heaven with fake keys. The apostle, in fright, dropped a bunch of golden keys; it fell to the ground, and flowers similar to it grew in that place. Lovely yellow inflorescences appear in early spring, as if opening the way to light and warmth. No wonder the botanical name - Prímula - arose from the Latin word prímus, that is, “first”. Another name for primrose wildflowers is firstborn. Corollas with five petals are collected in racemes-inflorescences on smooth long stems. They are dried and invigorating tea is brewed. There is a whole vitamin cocktail in primrose leaves. Healers prepare a cure for tuberculosis from its roots. And in the old days they cooked from the flower. Primrose can detect signals from the ultrasonic field that occurs during an earthquake. It accelerates the movement of juices in the plant and makes it bloom faster. So primrose is able to warn people about danger.
Priceless sweet clover
In the fields and meadows grows a magnificent honey plant and healer - sweet clover. Its Latin name - Melilótus - comes from the word “honey”. And in Rus', these yellow wildflowers, whose names - bottom, are etymologically related to the Slavic word “bottom”. Infusions and decoctions from the plant helped against illnesses, and a healing plaster was prepared from fresh leaves and flowers for wounds.
Dangerous and beautiful
What a gratifying picture is a field dotted with golden droplets of buttercups! This flower with silky petals is so sweet and touching. Why does it have such a formidable name? The answer is simple - buttercup juice is very poisonous. It was from it that a potion was prepared that plunged Juliet into a deep, death-like sleep. Scientists named the flower Ranunculus, from the Latin word for frog, because the buttercup loves damp places. The plant blooms several times during the summer, and if the season is rainy, the flowers will be large and lush, and the stems will grow waist-high.
Finally
The names and pictures of wildflowers given in this article are only a small part of the rich flora of our wonderful planet. The gentle inhabitants of meadows and fields are not afraid of either heat or cold; they generously give their healing powers to everyone who is ill. The famous thinker of the Enlightenment, Jean Jacques Rousseau, asked his friends to take him to the meadow if he became so ill that there was no longer any hope of recovery. Then, as the scientist assured, he would feel good again.
Anyone who has ever seen a flowering field will not be able to forget this wonderful sight: a continuous carpet of flowers and herbs that sways from the slightest breeze. And the smell cannot be described in words, the flowers heat up in the sun’s rays, and it seems that the smell is only intensifying.
The world of flowers growing in the meadow is diverse. In addition to cultivated plants, you can often find wild ones. Many of them, such as St. John's wort or chicory, have medicinal properties. In this article we will look at what meadow flowers are called and what they look like in photos and pictures.
Types of meadow plants
Meadow flowers are flowers of steppes, fields and meadows that need a lot of light and warmth. They are light green with a silvery tint, which seems to protect the plants from the sun's scorching rays and burns. This group includes the following plants:
Yellow dandelion and other wildflowers
Any person, whether a city dweller or living in a distant province, at the beginning of summer observes an invasion of yellow flowers, which cover many clearings, meadows, parks and squares with a continuous carpet.
This unpretentious dandelion conquers more and more new territories. This flower grows absolutely everywhere, literally. And it doesn’t matter that it will be a crack in the asphalt or a hole between bricks on the wall of a building. Sometimes, in cloudy weather, you can observe the phenomenon of the disappearance of all dandelions.
In reality, they simply close their flowers tightly in a green calyx, giving the appearance of disappearing into the green grass. On a sunny day dandelions are blooming and close at the same time.
The yellow part of a dandelion is not a single flower, but a cluster of many thin flower tubes. When the stem is broken, it oozes milky juice, which is effective against the pain and swelling caused by a bee sting. It is enough just to place the broken stem on the bitten part of the body.
At a certain time, all the yellow flowers disappear and transparent white round ones appear. These are ripe dandelion flowers. Each tube is a flower turns into a seed with an individual parachute on a thin leg. The dandelion will show off its cap until a strong wind carries the seeds to new places of growth.
St. John's wort
In ancient times, there was an opinion that St. John's wort was harmful to livestock. It was believed that animals that ate hay with St. John's wort would be poisoned by such food. It’s not for nothing that the flower has such a formidable name - St. John’s wort.
However, it later turned out that St. John's wort is not dangerous at all, and even vice versa has many healing properties. Since ancient times, these qualities of St. John's wort have been known to the steppe inhabitants - the Kazakhs. They called this plant “jerabai,” meaning healer of wounds. It was from the Kazakhs that the methods of treatment with St. John's wort were adopted.
At the present time medicines based on St. John's wort widely used in traditional and folk medicine. They are used for burns, wounds, and scratches. St. John's wort tinctures are used for respiratory diseases, colds, and are even simply used for prevention.
St. John's wort is propagated by seeds. After flowering. In place of the flowers, boxes with seeds appear, which open in dry weather and the seeds spill out onto the ground, where they germinate.
Wild phlox
Phlox - this plant is distinguished by its unpretentiousness. Blooms for many years in one place. During this time, wild phlox grows so much that it displaces almost all weeds.
People highly appreciated the wonderful aroma and abundant flowering of phlox, in connection with which various types of garden phlox were bred. This flower begins to bloom in the second half of June. The name of the flower means fiery.
And if you look at how phloxes bloom, it becomes clear where this meaning comes from. It's like the gardens are on fire when the phloxes bloom red, pink, white shades. It is worth noting the magnificent aroma of these flowers, which captivates many amateur gardeners.
Chicory
This is a plant from a genus of biennial or perennial herbs, part of the Asteraceae family. The genus includes two species cultivated by humans and up to six wild ones.
Cultivated species:
- Salad;
- Ordinary.
The swollen chicory root contains a large amount of inulin, reaching 75% of the share. Thanks to this, the root is often consumed instead of coffee. Dried and roasted chicory root is often added to natural coffee to improve taste.
Chicory can act as a sedative, astringent, choleretic, diuretic, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory agent. It is able to regulate metabolism, have a beneficial effect on digestion, reduce the amount of sugar in the blood and even improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Use of meadow plants in medicine
Chicory is used only in folk medicine. The root part is used to prepare a decoction, which helps with diseases associated with the gallbladder, liver, kidneys. Also, a remedy made from chicory roots is excellent for digestive problems.
Has a beneficial effect on gastritis, constipation, diabetes. Normalizes the general state of the body's metabolic processes.
Decoctions and tinctures from the ground part of the plant are used to stimulate appetite, improve the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, and in the treatment of anemia.
A remedy made from chicory stems and leaves has proven itself as calming and tonic for the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Decoctions are also used for external use to accelerate wound healing and treatment.
There are a huge number of wild plants that have medicinal properties. For example:
- Red meadow clover. It is an excellent diaphoretic, diuretic and choleretic agent. Has an anti-inflammatory effect. Helps stop bleeding. For colds it is used as an expectorant.
- Cornflower. A flower growing in a meadow. It is used for colds, as an antipyretic and diaphoretic. The flower is endowed with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, wound healing and laxative effects. Effective for stomach and colds. Helps in the treatment of constipation.
- Chamomile. A wildflower with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Effective for skin problems. Used for pain in the gastrointestinal tract.
This list can be continued endlessly. Nature has generously gifted our planet useful and beautiful field plants. In the meadow you can find:
- bells;
- meadow geranium;
- buttercups;
- dandelions;
- poppies;
- herbal cloves, etc.
It is very important to protect the environment. Since human activity often leads to the disappearance of both animals and plants.
