The smallest of these dwarfs are gentians (Gentiana), but due to the brightness of the flowers, they attract attention more than large flowers. gentians as if they concentrated in themselves the blueness of the midday sky of the highlands,
and dark blue - the blue of the night sky.
A little higher gentian, but almost the same bright colors - bells (Campanula)... True, in addition to blue and blue, they are also pale yellow, almost white, like light clouds at the hour of sunset.
The whole gamut of pink, lilac, purple flowers was taken away primroses(Primula)... There are many types of them, some of them do not exceed in size gentians... There are among primrose and species with yellow flowers of different shades. And for all this variety of colors, the list of which could be increased many times, the name seems to be the most correct "carpet".
And around these lawns are monotonously green alpine meadows of highlands, kobrezivnye, sedge or cereal, they are all equally low and inconspicuous. Where it is warmer in the highlands, and they themselves are lower, such as in the Transcaucasus, and there is more snow in general, all high-mountain meadows become bright and beautiful. In places of snow blows, in which avalanches can also form, forests develop from small birches, aspens, mountain ash. Picturesque carpets of alpine dwarfs are the most beloved in "Retinue of the white death", and she pulls them down with her, in the belt of subalpine tall grasses and even lower, in the forest belt... And if on a hot summer day, passing along the bottom of a mountain valley among quietly rustling old forests, you suddenly come out into a clearing dazzling gentians and primroses- look for a snowfield left by an avalanche nearby. And remember that in winter it is dangerous to pass in this place - avalanches are possible.
Avalanches are undoubtedly a terrible ruthless enemy of people, forests, and engineering structures. However, it is thanks to avalanche activity that magnificent tall grasses grow in avalanche areas. Avalanches do not interfere with the development of grass. On the contrary, at the height of summer they sing with water from melting glaciers and meadows, and trees that have time to grow in the interval between avalanches.
Alpine meadows are mainly confined to flat areas, to the shoulders of troughs, i.e. to places on the slopes, carved by ancient glaciers. The avalanche suite is based on tall grass meadows, birch crooked forests, all kinds of elfin trees, usually confined to steep slopes of high mountains. They stand out in a special subalpine belt... This belt is a true decoration of the mountains, which in Baksan Valley presented
Caucasian rhododendron (Rhododendron caucasicum Pall.), endemic plant Caucasus, whose Latin name means "Rose tree", the brushes of its snow-white flowers, which delight tourists all summer, acquire a yellowish-cream shade in places,
in Western Cheget have pale pink petals, and in upper reaches of Chegem- orange-pink. In the lower part of the slopes, they bloom in early summer, and near snowfields - at the end. Therefore, visitors are sure to admire these flowers for several months. Overwinter rhododendrons under the cover of a snow mass. If the snowiness of winters decreases, the upper shoots rhododendrons that are not covered with snow freeze. Sometimes whole groups of these elfin, which reliably indicates that the snowfall in this place has decreased. However, in recent decades, on the contrary, rhododendrons in the highlands they grow beautifully, moving higher and higher. But at the same time, the weather stations do not register an increase in winter precipitation. What's going on here? Strengthening winds, especially unusually strong ones, lead to a redistribution of snow layers in the highlands. There is more snow in the hollows, it can reliably shelter the young that appear here rhododendrons... Since this situation has been repeated for more than one year, the shrubs grow and occupy the entire hollow. Perhaps the intensification of winter winds and a more powerful redistribution of snow in the highlands than a century or two earlier led to the descent of a number of unusually powerful avalanches that destroyed forests along the valley at the age of more than two hundred years.
Avalanches usually end their movement on avalanche cones that have been forming for many, many millennia, throughout the Holocene, i.e. the entire period after the last glaciation. And it is on these cones that magnificent meadows develop. The height of the grass stand here varies from one meter to two. A rider on horseback can hide in such grassy thickets. Botanists once argued whether these meadows are primary or secondary. They could have grown on their own, if not for the grazing. Livestock in such meadows, indeed, is present almost all summer. But if there were no cattle, these meadows would exist due to the activity of avalanches. Undergrowth of trees from birches, aspens, mountain ash always present among the herbs. But avalanches prevent these shoots from growing and forming forests.
Every citizen, finding himself on subalpine meadow, feels like in an abandoned flower garden, where a skillful florist, having planted beautiful plants, suddenly disappeared, and the flowers,
left to themselves, grew into an impenetrable jungle, as if in a fairy tale about a sleeping princess. High blue wrestlers (Aconitum nasutum Fisch.ex Reichenb.,Aconitum pubiceps (Rupr.) Trautv.,
Aconitum cymbulatum (Schmalh) Lipsky) alternate
with fighter oriental with pale yellow inflorescences (Aconitum orientale Mill.).
They are being squeezed hogweed giants, planted also often in parks among lawns of low grasses. Latin name hogweed - Heracleum (Heraclium) reminds us about Hercules, in honor of which these plants were named.
They do not want to give up in height and bells whose height exceeds a meter y broadleaf bell (Campanula latifolia L.).
And sometimes the entire space of the avalanche cone captures alpine buckwheat (Polygonum alpinum All.), a tall plant with lush, fragrant white buds. When it blooms, it seems from afar that this white cloud for some reason is in no hurry to leave the slope.
Above the hotel "Itkol" large avalanches do not form on the slope, but in places where snow accumulates in winter, glades bloom beautifully in summer tuberous anemone (Anemone fasciculata L.).
But the most remarkable plant of these places in the valley are tall lilies. They are represented here by the form lily monotonous (Lilium monadelphum Bieb.)... Large lemon-yellow, like wax, flowers of this lily are collected in a pyramidal cluster with 5-30 flowers, and are in no way inferior to garden forms. And although their aroma is pleasant, it is so strong that it is impossible to keep bouquets of these lilies in the room - the head starts to hurt badly.
The smell is pleasant and kupavka (Trollius ranunculinus (Srnith) Stearn), which is no different from the scent of her relative, whose yellow flowers delight the eye in the woods Europe... But in the Caucasian Kupavka, the petals are open and have a more intense yellow color.
From plants with a long lineage, which botanists call "relics" of warm Tertiary flora, on avalanche slopes along with rhododendron, you can often find daphne crowded
or crowded wolfberry (Daphne glemerata Lam.) with inflorescences of pale yellow, almost white flowers.
Less common wolfberry (Daphne mezereum L.). You can pay attention to it only in spring, when its fragrant, intensely lilac-colored inflorescences, appearing on the stems before the leaves bloom, are visible from afar among the still green forest.
Huge variety on avalanche cones of plants from the legume family (Lotus, Oxytropis, Medicago, Melilotus, Hedysarum, etc.). It is impossible to list them. Suffice it to say that some peas (Vicia) there are several species with yellow, lilac, white flowers.
Bright yellow is almost ubiquitous lily (Lotus caucasicus Rupr.),
sunflower (Helianthemum ovatum (Viv.) Dun.), common and in alpine meadows.
Varied and types clovers (Trifolium) with purple, pink and yellow heads of inflorescences.
Plants are carried by avalanches alpine belt down to the places where avalanches stop, and therefore you can often find bright blue and bluegentian(Gentiana), which have already been written about above.
A penny Caucasian (Hedysarum caucasicum Bieb.) with inflorescences of lilac flowers and with fruit-pods, as if divided into pennies, for which it got its name, it is found in places and where avalanches are just forming, in the alpic, and where they stop.
Also confined to avalanche habitats macrotomy(Macrotomia echioides (L.) Boiss.),
which cannot be confused with any plant, since neat black-purple dots-specks turn black on its bright yellow flowers, like freckles.
I bring to your attention amazing photos of the Caucasus Mountains and its environs from the eyes of an eyewitness and a person who conquered these peaks. Moreover, he has a special passion for climbing and overcoming himself. For difficult achievements, Mikhail Golubev was able to talk about the beauty of mountain peaks and dangerous glaciers, about flowering foothills and indescribable rainbows, about fogs and clouds, about mountain lakes and rivers, seething waterfalls and streams. About fauna and incredibly touching flowers that grow on heights and valleys. All photographs of different periods and years. Moreover, the author made wonderful panoramic shots and was able to convey his attitude and love for the mountains. Photos and descriptions to them, by the author himself.
Elbrus and rhododendrons.
Summer day in the Elbrus region.
In the Caucasus Mountains, in the first half of July, the altitude is about 3300 m. At this time, at this altitude, summer is still unstable and snowfalls may occur. In the photo - a flower thawed in the warm sun.
Bells in the area of the Kogutai glacier in the Elbrus region.
August 2004.
Dombay
Bezengi peaks in the distance. Central Caucasus.
In the mountains of Ossetia
In the distance, the top of Bolshoi Kogutai, view from the north. Elbrus region, summer 2006.
In the heart of the Caucasus Mountains.
Mountain river
A stream in the left moraine pocket of the Terskol glacier. Elbrus, July 2005.
Mountain hike 2 class according to Gvandra-Uzunkol (KChR, Caucasus) in July-August 2007
An extensive meadow in the headwaters of the Burnaya River. To the left - the Dorbun pass, to the right - the Poachers and Vorontsov-Velyaminov passes, to which we are going.
Mountain hike 3 class according to Zap. Caucasus in July 2012
Lake Ryndzhi
In the distance, the Zaramag glacier, North Ossetia, August 2011.
Traveling in the mountains of Svaneti (Georgia) in the summer of 2012. Going down the Gulichala valley, we constantly looked back to admire the formidable majestically two-horned beauty Ushba (4710 m).
Yellow violets. Mountains of the Caucasus, height about 3300 m.
Mountain hike 3 class according to Zap. Caucasus in July 2012. In the distance - Sulakhat peak from the west.
Floral Elbrus
Elbrus region, summer 2006.
View from under the top of Kogutai to Elbrus.
Mountain hike 3 class according to Zap. Caucasus (KCR) in the Aksaut-Dombay region in July 2012
In the upper reaches of the Kuban.
Dzhan-Tugan peak (about 4000 m) in the upper reaches of the Adylsu valley in the Elbrus region. July 2005.
Ullu-Muruju River. Hike 2 class across Teberda-Gvandra-Uzunkol (KChR, Caucasus) in July 2007
In the Mursaly valley in the KChR, May 2012.
Dzhangitau and Katyntau peaks (both above 5000 m) in the great Bezengi wall. Below is the largest glacier of the Caucasus - Bezengi. The difference in height from the glacier to the peaks is more than 2 km: four Ostankino towers. If you stood at the base of the Ostankino tower and looked at its top, quadruple the sensations and add huge glaciers for a creepy feeling!
Photographed from the top of the 50th anniversary of the KBASRR (4000 m), close-up.
Central Caucasus, August 2005.
Nahar river
In the valley of the Kurmychi River in the Elbrus region. July 2005.
Flowers by a stream in the Mursaly valley, May 2012.
There are unusual plants that live 150 years and only at the end of their life give amazingly beautiful flowers. How can the representatives of the terrestrial flora surprise?
Rare flowers
Edelweiss is a flower of loyalty and love. Its name alone sounds like music. The most touching and tender, about which there are many legends. Italians call it the silver flower of the rocks. The French are an alpine star.The flower loves the sun, but it grows high in the mountains at the very edge of the snow. Not everyone can see him. Legend has it that only a person in whose heart is pure love like dew can find this mysterious flower. It is not enough to be dexterous and strong to climb the top of the mountain. One must love sincerely and selflessly, be faithful to one's beloved.
There were so many people who wanted to get the flower that already in the 19th century it was almost impossible to see it. There were only a couple of dozen specimens left that were on the verge of extinction.
In Switzerland, where this flower grew, a special law was issued that prohibited the collection of this plant. Violators faced an impressive fine. There are special posts near the mountain borders that do not allow tourists to visit the habitats of this flower.
The Chinese mouse flower is the creepiest and most disgusting flower that Mother Nature could create. Even at close range, when its petals are closed, it resembles a bat that perched on a branch for the night. For an even more eerie appearance, it has long, ornate tentacles 30-40 cm long that resemble black snakes. The first impression of those who saw him is horror.
It is grown only by extreme flower growers, since not only the appearance, but also the touch to it causes a feeling of disgust in most people.
Middlemist red is the rarest flower in the world. There are only 2 copies all over the world. British gardener John Middlemist, traveling in China in 1854, was fascinated by a scarlet rose, which he accidentally discovered. He dug up a flower and brought it to Britain to plant in a United Kingdom greenhouse. He could not even imagine that thanks to this he saved the last instance of a flower in the world. This scarlet rose was named after him.
Our world is unusually rich in various types of plants, flowers of incredible beauty and mighty centuries-old trees, which are taken under protection all over the world. It depends only on the person to have as few pages as possible in the Red Book.
Rare tree species
The Methuselah pine is the oldest tree in the world. Its age exceeds 4850 years. And she received the name in honor of the biblical character, who was the only long-liver in the whole world. 
This majestic tree grows in the USA, in the White Mountains at an altitude of 3000 meters. Only botanists who observe the pine tree know its exact location. Such secrecy is connected with the fact that to protect this guard from vandalism. After all, there are thousands of tourists who want to take a picture with him or tear off a piece of the bark as a souvenir. Many go to the mountains to find this mysterious tree, but all their attempts end in failure. The Methuselah pine is not a tree, it is a symbol of eternity, which looks like dead, but life is hidden in each of its branches.
The tree of life is the loneliest tree in the world. Probably, like life itself, reminiscent of loneliness among a crowd of people. It is the only one on the sands of the endless desert of Bahrain, a hundred kilometers from any vegetation.
He is 400 years old, but the most important thing is not his age or the fact that this is a rare specimen of trees. Scientists are wondering how you can live for so many years in a desert, in the land of which there is absolutely no water, while "radiating" vital energy.
If you "move" from distant corners of the world to our land, with green meadows and the noise of birch groves, you can discover amazing and rare plants that are on the verge of extinction.
Interesting plants from the Russian Red Book
The Japanese beard is a beautiful and graceful plant with a large pinkish flower, which is popularly called the Spirit of the Meadows. It got its name because of the petals, which, bending at the bottom of the flower, resemble the beard of a dwarf.The bearded is a miniature orchid. The same gentle, graceful and beautiful. The flower can grow alone, modestly "peeping" out of the arrows of green meadow grasses. But most often the plant forms placers of flowers, where there can be up to 60 of them per 1 square meter. The plant is listed in the Red Book and is protected by law.
Rhododendron Fori is a plant with large pink flowers. Up to 15 delicate flowers with slightly curled petals can grow on one brush. It is called the flower of the gods. Its beauty is compared to the Greek goddesses - graceful, slender, gentle. You can endlessly admire its beauty, but only the lucky one can see it.
Legend has it that this flower was presented to a man by the Gods who wanted to conquer the heart of his beloved. The flower was as beautiful as the girl for whom it was intended. When the betrothed took her to distant lands, rhododendrons bloomed in the fields so that people would remember not only her beauty, but also believe that unearthly love exists in the world.
We can say about this plant that seeing it is to know the existence of life. To understand that life and death are far from each other, but at the same time, they are also inseparable, like two sisters.
The rarest plant in the world
Puia raimondi is a plant that lives for 150 years to gain vitality and die. Die forever, giving the world the unearthly beauty of your flowers. 
Growing out of a round and huge ball, the plant reaches a height of up to 10 meters. A powerful tree-like trunk develops from a thin stem. But a huge "bump", prickly in appearance, resembles a huge flower that slowly grows in height for 100 years. After living for 150 years and gaining vital energy, it gives the world a scattering of a thousand flowers and dies. Dies forever.
This plant is truly beautiful, but there are other amazing representatives of the flora. ...
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It should be noted that not only rhododendron, but also many other plants have healing power and, due to the limited area, are included in the Red Book. Moreover, here you can find poisonous plants that you also need to know.
Poisonous plants of the Caucasian mountains
A feature of many poisonous plants of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and its other areas is that in small doses and with a certain amount of caution, they turn out to be therapeutic agents. It is worth listing the most common of them.
- The hellebore is Caucasian.
It can only be used under the supervision of specialists. The properties of the hellebore can surprise anyone. It helps to cleanse the body of toxins, removes salts of heavy metals and even radioactive elements. Doctors prescribe hellebore for obesity because it helps in weight loss. The hellebore is truly unique among plants.
- Belladonna.
The fact that she is from the nightshade family already says a lot. It grows in the foothills, it is cultivated because it is irreplaceable as an antispasmodic. Belladonna preparations are also used in eye clinics, since they can help expand the pupil. However, despite all its useful properties and being a part of many drugs (both external and internal), belladonna is a poisonous plant, and the funds created on its basis are not dispensed without a prescription.
- Black henbane.
It has even become a well-known proverb ("henbane overeat" - they say about the crazy). Medicinal oil is made from it, which is essential in the treatment of neuralgia and rheumatism. Like other similar herbs, henbane must be dried and stored separately from other medicinal plants.
- Caucasian ash.
Another poisonous, but no less amazing representative of the flora of the Caucasus. What is its only popular name - the burning bush. This is the nickname for the ash tree because it contains so many essential oils that it is able to flare up on a hot day. Collect this herb with gloves, otherwise a burn is provided to the hands. However, the ash tree is able to heal the kidneys, help with epilepsy and cystitis, even expel worms.
All of these and many others are beneficial to people, but on condition that they will be used in very moderate doses. In order not to be mistaken, it is worth having their photos and descriptions at hand - especially poisonous ones. And yet there are much more medicinal herbs here, and you can add shrubs, dwarf shrubs, flowers, trees to them ...
The Caucasus is a wonderful place on Earth - it gives health by its very existence.
Home / Useful articles / Medicinal plants of the North Caucasus
A little about plant extraction
Back in the 6th millennium BC. the healing properties of plants were known, which are determined by the complex of biologically active substances contained in them. Currently, more than 5 million organic compounds are known, many of which are found in plants. These natural substances belong to different classes of organic compounds. depending on their structure and properties, these substances can be extracted (extracted) from plants using solvents (extractants). The general principle of extraction is as follows: if substances are polar, they are extracted with polar solvents; oils, fats and other non-polar substances can be isolated with organic non-polar solvents.
The most important difference between plant extracts and individual chemicals is that plant extracts contain hundreds of ingredients. Sometimes one or more ingredients are known or described, but the full composition of the composition is never known (Puchkova T.V. et al, 2005). The plant components work synergistically as in an ensemble. In order to have a consistently high quality of herbal extracts, plants are needed that are harvested in ecologically clean areas and developed production processes that guarantee a high content of biologically active substances.
Biologically active substances released from plants
Among biologically active substances obtained from plants, fatty acids, triglycerides of fatty acids (i.e. fats and oils), phospholipids, sterols, waxes, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, proteins, resins, vitamins ... Depending on the goals set, it is possible to isolate individual, thoroughly purified compounds from plants, as well as to obtain complexes of biologically active substances with full preservation of their natural properties.
Phospholipids are the main components of cell membranes. In terms of chemical structure, they are asymmetric diesters of phosphoric acid and polyhydric alcohols (glycerol, sphingosine, diols). Phospholipid molecules contain non-polar hydrocarbon "tails" and a polar hydrophilic "head". In water at low concentration, like molecules of surfactants (surfactants), they form micelles. At high concentration, they form bimolecular layers of lipids separated by layers of water. Phospholipids perform very important functions in the body: they stabilize membrane proteins, participate in the transport of cholesterol, and regulate intra- and intercellular metabolism.
Sterols are cyclic alcohols. They are solid, optically active substances, insoluble in water. They are isolated from vegetable oils and animal fats. The biogenetic precursor of sterols is squalene. Sterols are used to obtain drugs, steroid hormones, vitamin D. Cholesterol is a well-known sterol.
Alkaloids are organic nitrogen-containing substances. Usually these are non-volatile, bitter-tasting substances, often poisonous. They are widely used in medicine, but very limited in cosmetology. Examples of alkaloids include quinine, morphine, caffeine, papaverine, ephedrine, etc. Most of the alkaloids are found in plants of the legume, poppy, buttercup and nightshade families.
Glycosides are organic compounds of sugars. This is a very wide group of substances that are widespread in nature. The mechanism of action of glycosides on the human body is diverse and depends on the chemical structure of aglycone.
Saponins are glycosidic compounds widespread in nature, forming a stable foam when shaken in water. These are compounds of a complex structure, which form colloidal solutions in water, reduce the surface tension of water, like soaps.
Flavonoids are yellow and brown pigments in plants. They occur naturally in a free state or in a state associated with sugars. Contained in almost all plants. Flavonoids strengthen the walls and increase the elasticity of blood vessels, especially capillaries, retard the growth of neoplasms, and exhibit a powerful anti-allergic effect.
Tannins are polyphenolic compounds with a tart, astringent taste. They are non-toxic to humans, have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, hemostatic and astringent properties. Tannins from the bark of oak, willow, horsetail, oregano, string and other plants have long been used to treat skin diseases.
Resins are complex amorphous substances secreted by plants. They are insoluble in water, have a diuretic, aseptic, laxative and epithelial effect.
Vitamins are catalysts for the most important biochemical reactions in the human body. They play a huge role in the life of cells. Lack of vitamins leads to various skin pathologies, to premature aging, collagen degradation, etc.
Waxes are esters of higher fatty acids and high molecular weight alcohols, usually with an even number of carbon atoms. They are water-repellent. In plants, wax plaque on the surface of stems, leaves, flowers and fruits plays an important role in the regulation of water balance, protects against ultraviolet radiation, mechanical damage and pathogenic bacteria.
Medicinal plants
St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.)
It has antimicrobial, antifungal, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and capillary-strengthening effect. The extract contains flavonoids (hyperoside, rutin, quercitin, isoquercitin and quercitin), tannins, carotene, hypericin, essential oil, resins, nicotinic and ascorbic acids, vitamins P and PP, choline, anthocyanins, saponins, etc.
Sage officinalis (Salvia officinalis L.)
Contains flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and resinous substances, organic acids (oleanolic, ursolic, chlorogenic), vitamins P and PP, as well as a significant amount of essential oil containing pinene, zioneol, thujone, borneol, salvene and other terpene compounds.
Sage extract has antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial action (especially against gram-positive bacteria), inhibits perspiration. It is especially effective for the treatment of purulent wounds, with minor burns and frostbite.
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)
Chamomile inflorescences contain an essential oil consisting of the main biologically active substance - chamazulene and other monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Of the sesquiterpenes, the most important are the lactones of matricin and matricarin. Chamomile essential oil contains sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (farnesene and cadinene), sesquiterpene alcohols (bisabolol, bisabolol oxide, ketalcohol), caprylic acid. The flowers of the plant contain flavonoids, coumarins, sitosterol, choline, carotene, ascorbic acid, isovaleric and other organic acids and polysaccharides.
Calendula officinalis, marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)
Flower baskets of calendula contain carotenoids - carotene, rubixanthin, lycopene, citroxanthin, violoxanthin, flavochrom, flavoxanthin, etc., paraffin hydrocarbons (gentriacontane and sitosterol), resins, triterpene glycosides, mucous and pentadecyl, salicylic), ascorbic acid. Has a pronounced antifungal, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and antispasmodic effect when applied to the skin.
Three-part succession (Bidens tripartita)
The herb contains essential oil, tannins and bitter substances, ascorbic acid, carotene, flavonoids, pigments, trace elements (in particular manganese). Polyphenols have a more pronounced bactericidal effect in comparison with less active in this respect molecules of tannins such as tannin.
It has anti-inflammatory, antifungal and wound healing properties. When applied externally, the sequence dries out the wound surface and promotes faster healing of the affected skin areas. Burberry extract is especially effective in the treatment of psoriasis and eczema.
Walnut (Júglans régia)
Walnut kernels contain protein (18%), sugar, drying fatty oil (up to 75%), provitamin A, vitamins C, E, P, K, group B, minerals (iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, cobalt, iodine, copper), tannins. Fatty oil consists of glycerides, citric, stearic, oleic, linoleic, palmitic, linolenic acids.
Most of all vitamin C is contained in the shell of unripe fruits, and in terms of its quantity, it is not inferior to citrus fruits, black currants and rose hips. Therefore, vitamin concentrates are prepared from the shells of unripe walnut fruits. The pericarp also contains many tannins, organic acids, coumarins, quinones, provitamin A, and the dye juglone, which has a bactericidal effect. Betasitosterol was isolated from the shell.
The shell contains phenol carboxylic acids, tannins and coumarins, and the pelicula (a thin brown skin that covers the fruit) contains steroids, phenol carboxylic acids, tannins and coumarins. Walnut leaves contain tannins (3-4%), glycosides, flavonoids, essential oil, juglone, inositol, carotenoids, vitamins C, B1 and P and a lot (up to 30%) of provitamin A. May walnut leaves by vitamin content C and provitamin A are not inferior to rosehips.
Decoctions and infusions of leaves and fruit shells of walnuts have long been used in the treatment of wounds, ulcers, boils, and for frostbite as a wound healing, antifungal, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory agent. For lichens, purulent rashes, abscesses and boils, eczema, seborrhea, hair loss, acne, psoriasis, dermatitis, decoction of the leaves is used in the form of baths, washings, lotions, compresses.
Water extracts from walnut leaves also have bactericidal and wound healing properties. They are used to accelerate wound healing, in the treatment of tuberculous lesions of the skin and larynx. From the pericarp of a walnut, the drug juglone is obtained, which has bactericidal properties, which was previously used for skin tuberculosis, ringworm, eczema, allergies, streptococcal and staphylococcal skin diseases. Unfortunately, it has been undeservedly taken out of production and is used only in veterinary medicine.
Nut oil effectively heals wounds, burns and skin lesions. In folk medicine, it is also used in the treatment of conjunctivitis and otitis media.
Thyme (Thymus marschallianus)
Thyme has antiseptic, analgesic and antispasmodic properties. If you consider thyme from a scientific point of view, then you can see a lot of useful properties in its composition. Thyme contains gum, organic acids, carotene, flavonoids, vitamins B and C, resins, useful bitterness, tannins, cymene and thymol.
Laurel Noble (Laurus nobilis)
Laurel noble - an evergreen tree, less often a shrub from the laurel family. All parts of laurel contain essential laurel oil. It has been used as a medicinal plant since ancient times.
Laurel preparations have antimicrobial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, astringent, tonic, sedative effect. Modern folk medicine prescribes laurel preparations: for infections, arthritis, polyarthritis, rheumatism, fungal skin diseases and muscle pain. Laurel extract is useful for sensitive and damaged skin, as well as for oily skin, especially with acne and boils.
Melilotus officinalis L.
Contains 0.4-0.9% coumarin, coumaric acid, dicumarol, melilotin, essential oil and mucus. Melilot medicinal preparations are used as an external distraction for articular rheumatism and malignant tumors. Melilot is included in the collection, used externally as an emollient for abscesses. Coumarin inhibits the central nervous system, has an anticonvulsant effect, therefore, melilot preparations are used for convulsions and coronary thrombosis.
To describe in detail all the medicinal herbs growing in the steppes and alpine meadows of the North Caucasus, which can be used in medical cosmetics, a lifetime will not be enough, therefore we have proposed only those basic ones that we currently use in the production of our own original products by NPO SayTEK LLC. In the future, it is planned to significantly expand the types of used extracts of medicinal plants.
Rare plants of the Caucasus and the Black Sea coast from medicinal to poisonous
The vegetation cover of the Caucasus is extremely diverse. The significant separation of the territory and the location of mountain ranges helped to increase the importance of the geographical and ecological isolation of lonely vegetation zones.
This explains the significant local prevalence of Caucasian vegetation and the originality of the landscapes. The more ancient is the nature of this or that plant complex of the Caucasus. that is, its composition is distinguished by its enormous uniqueness. On the southern slope of the Western Caucasus, the profile crosses a sweeping belt of forest vegetation with luxurious evergreen shrubs and then, through thickets of subalpine crooked forests, goes to high-mountain meadows.
For the high-altitude zoning of the Eastern Transcaucasia, a decrease in the belt of forest flora to the east is characteristic in connection with an increase in climatic conditions. In the North Caucasus, at the bottom of the forest zone, forest-steppe groups are developed, changing on the plains in the steppe, and in sections in the semi-desert. In terms of the number of species, the flora of the Caucasus is approximately one and a half times more prosperous than the nature of the European part of Russia and is immensely negligible inferior to the vegetation of the Balkans and the Iberian Peninsula.
Flora of the Caucasus defies any comparison and diversity of species.
Vegetation of the Caucasus
Department of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic for the placement of republican state orders
Republican State Budgetary Medical and Prophylactic Institution "Karachay-Cherkess Republican Clinical Hospital"
municipal budgetary health care institution "Circassian City Children's Hospital"
Municipal Budgetary medical institution "Malokarachaevskaya Central District Hospital"
Federal State Budgetary Institution Tuberculosis Sanatorium "Teberda" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Municipal budgetary health care institution of Cherkessk "Circassian city clinical hospital"
Residents and guests of the capital of Karachay-Cherkessia will be able to declare their creative potential and test their strengths within the framework of the competition for the best drawing of social advertising.
Monument to dead traffic police officers unveiled in Karachay-Cherkessia
The memorial is dedicated to the employees of the State Traffic Inspectorate who died in the line of duty, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Karachay-Cherkessia said on Tuesday.
Vegetation of the Caucasus
The vegetation of the Caucasus is distinguished by a rich species composition and a variety of plant communities. The reason for this is the variety of physical and geographical conditions, the complexity of the history of the formation of landscapes.
In total, there are about 6,500 plant species in the Caucasus. Whereas in a much larger area of the European part of Russia, there are only about 3500 species.
Only evergreen forests are missing. Factors: the evolution of ancient flora, the introduction of immigrants and their transformation, settlement and formation in accordance with modern conditions.
Woody vegetation is represented by deciduous and coniferous (in the mountains) species. In the lower belt of the mountains around Colchis - Colchis forests - beech, oak, hornbeam, chestnut, ash, relics - hop hornbeam, sycamore and lianas - cherry, holly.
The Hyrcanian forests on the eastern slope of the Talysh mountains are similar to the previous ones, but there is also a chestnut-leaved oak, ironwood, silk acacia, and a majestic maple.
Moisture-loving species (beech, fir) gravitate towards the more humid West; to the east, dominance passes to drought-resistant (oak, pine), arid woodlands of deciduous (pistachio) and coniferous (juniper).
In the Western and Middle Ciscaucasia, the steppes previously dominated, now almost entirely plowed up; The Tersko-Kumskaya lowland is mainly occupied by semi-desert vegetation.
Within the Greater Caucasus, there is an altitudinal zonation of vegetation cover, and the forest zone and the zone of alpine vegetation - subalpine and alpine meadows - are especially widespread. On the slopes bordering the Colchis Lowland, there are relict deciduous forests with evergreen undergrowth.
The Colchis lowland itself was in the past covered with forests of the Colchis type with relict plants (now these forests are almost exterminated), among which there were also massifs of swampy alder forests, largely preserved. arising in the place of arid woodlands). The Talysh mountains are covered with forests, in the lower mountain belt with relict, Talysh, or Girkan, type.
On the northern and northeastern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus ranges, the mountain-forest zone is also most pronounced, below which, in the middle and eastern parts of the mountain system, a belt of shrub thickets of the Shiblyak type extends; Mountain-meadow subalpine and alpine vegetation is widespread on the ridges.
In the Javakheti-Armenian Highlands, mountain-steppe vegetation dominates, and in the highest areas, the high-mountain (mountain-meadow) Srednearaksin depression is occupied by dry steppes and semi-deserts; this is the lower altitude zone of the continental highlands.
Mountain meadows of the Greater Caucasus and the Transcaucasian Highlands are valuable pasture and hayfields.
Vast areas of dry steppes and semi-deserts of the Tersko-Kumskaya and Kura-Araksin lowlands are also used as pastures. The forests of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus and Talysh are not only a source of various timber, their water protection and anti-erosion role is no less important. In the wild flora of the Caucasus, there are many fruit trees and shrubs, valuable technical, medicinal and ornamental plants.
Shrub thickets play a noticeable role. The formation is associated with the Ice Age.
Steppe areas are represented by feather grass. Significant areas are occupied by meadow vegetation (clearings in the lower and middle-mountain forest belts, extended areas of river valleys and unplowed areas within the low-lying Transcaucasia). In the subalpine and alpine zones, meadows become zonal.
Many plants brought to the Caucasus from other countries have acclimatized here and are now an integral part of the landscape.
The vegetation cover in the subtropical regions of Transcaucasia has been greatly transformed. Intensive work is underway to promote subtropical plants to the north and into the mountains.
Cultural plants of the Caucasus
The most important cultivated plants in the Caucasian subtropics are the tea bush and tangerines.
Tea plantations consist of many low bushes, almost closely adjacent to one another.
These plantations are like a deep green sea with many rounded waves.
Top poisonous plants of the North Caucasus
The appearance of the plantations does not change throughout the year, as the tea bush is an evergreen plant. In the spring, in May, the harvest begins. Only young tender shoots are collected, which are called flushes. The homeland of the tea bush is Southeast Asia. From here it was brought to our subtropics and took root here well. Now the area of tea plantations on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus exceeds 70 thousand.
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Mandarins are a valuable fruit crop, but quite sensitive to cold (plants die at -12 ° C). Mandarin orchards are widespread in the warmest regions of the Caucasian subtropics - mainly between Sukhumi and Batumi. The trees in such gardens are low, with wide, always green crowns.
The fruits ripen in late autumn, in November. At this time, they stand out beautifully with their orange color against the background of dark foliage. It is in November that the tangerines are usually harvested. Each fruit is carefully cut with special scissors, leaving a very short segment of the stalk on it.
