Sedge is an ornamental plant, how it grows and looks. Sedge: use in folk medicine Sedge grass description

Sedges of waterlogged onions and swamps . They require rich, moist to moist soils in sun to partial shade.

Although there are a great variety of sedges, both domestic and imported, from a gardener’s point of view, they can be divided into two groups.

Carex elata "Aurea"
Photo of Svetlana Polonskaya

hummock-forming . They have very short rhizomes and form dense, clear tussocks. O. high(C. elata) - a powerful plant up to 1 m tall with long, protruding spikelets, its variety "Aurea" or "Bowles Golden"- lower with yellow leaves, sometimes with green edges. O. soddy(C. caespitosa) forms round, high hummocks of; dark narrow leaves and low, inconspicuous inflorescences. O. fox(C. vulpina) with light green leaves is distinguished by large inflorescences from close ones; spikelets in which male and female flowers are mixed. O. pendulous(C. pendula) - about 1 m tall with wide pure green leaves and large drooping spikelets of a brownish color. O. reticularis(C. pseudocyperus) has very large, greenish-yellow pendulous spikelets, close together in a bunch. bluish O. millet(C. panicea) is small, elegant (up to 40 cm tall), decorated with small spikelets on high peduncles.

Sprawling . They have long rhizomes from which tufts of leaves emerge. They form dense or loose clumps. More difficult to use because they require constant monitoring. O. coastal(C. riparia) is usually represented by the variety "Variegata" with white longitudinal stripes on the leaves. There is also a variety "Aurea" with yellow leaves. O. aquatic(C. aquatilis) is a rather pale grayish-green plant. O. pointed(C. acutiformis) - with relatively wide (up to 1 cm) bluish-green leaves that turn brown in autumn. O. nosy(C. rostrata) grows into very loose clumps of hard bluish-gray leaves. O. acute(C. acuta) quickly forms large dark green thickets. O. vesicularis(C. vesicaria) has large spikelets with strongly swollen yellowish female flowers - sacs. O. black(C. nigra) - bluish, with tall inflorescences, the spikelets appear black due to the black scales accompanying the sacs.

Acute sedge, or slender - Carex acuta L= C. gracilis Curt. = Carex prolixa Fries= Carex fuscovaginata Kuk.= Carex sareptana V. Krecz Distributed in Europe, Siberia and Central Asia. Forms thickets along sandy and muddy shores of reservoirs. Lives mainly in the taiga zone. Photo of Elena Severyakova Rhizomes are creeping. Roots without yellow felt. The bases of the shoots have gray or reddish-light-brown leaf-bearing sheaths, but sometimes below there is a small admixture of scale-like sheaths. The leaves are bright green or sometimes slightly grayish, flat, 2-6 mm wide, equal in length to the stems. Stems are triangular, at the top b. m. rough, 30-100 cm high. The inflorescence consists of several b. m. arranged staminate (1-4) and pistillate (2-5) spikelets. Covering leaf of the lower hair b. m. is equal in length to the entire inflorescence. Pistil spikelets are cylindrical, 3-7 cm long, 0.5-0.7 cm in diameter, b. m. sedentary. The sacs are biconvex, obovate or narrowly elliptical, 2.5-3 (3.5) mm long. greenish or slightly brownish, mature with several converging at the top, ribbed protruding veins, on a stalk 0.2-0.7 mm long., Gradually narrowed into a short (0.2-0.3 mm) solid or notched nose. The scales are lanceolate, sharp, brown or dark brown, with a light back, longer than the sacs or b. m. are equal to them. The column sometimes protrudes from the bags. The stem and especially the leaves of acute sedge are very rough, they can easily cut you. The leaf skin is impregnated with silica. Its smallest particles give the sedge cutting properties. It has bright green leaves and decorative inflorescences with cylindrical spikelets hanging on long stalks. It grows with the help of creeping rhizomes. Grows well directly in water. Photo on the right M.Barbuhatti

Sedge Bohemian, or sieve-like- Carex bohemica Schreb. = S. cyperoides Murr. Along the sandy and silty shores of lakes and rivers, swampy and damp meadows of the taiga and warm-temperate zones of Central Europe, the European part of Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Siberia, the south of the Far East. Plants are 5-30 cm tall, densely turfy. Leaves are 2-3 mm wide. The inflorescence is capitate, very dense, 1.5-2 cm in diameter, bristly due to the very long spouts of the sacs, at the base with 2-3 involucre bracts, many times larger than the inflorescence. Extremely original and decorative. Suitable for damp sandy areas.

Gray's sedge - Carex grayi East coast of North America. Loose turf grass up to 30-60 cm high. The leaves are yellowish-green, narrow, grooved, almost vertically directed, hard. It is distinguished by very original fruits, for which it received the name “sedge of the morning star”. Large, up to 1.5 cm long, seed sacs form a beautiful, almost spherical star. The foliage is bright green and erect. It blooms from June to August, remaining green almost until late autumn. It grows well in damp places and along the banks of water bodies, but also tolerates fairly dry places and bright sun. Used for single plantings, creating borders, and in masses along the banks of reservoirs. Interesting to cut for arrangement, including as a dried flower. Zone 3. "Morning Star" - the diameter of the fruits is 2.5 cm. Photo on the left of Svetlana Popova Photo on the right of Mikhail Polotnov

Sedge palmifolia- Carex muskingumensis North America, Great Lakes. Grows in low forests and wet meadows. Perennial. The foliage, arranged in tufts at the ends of erect shoots, creates an exotic papyrus effect. Numerous narrow, pointed leaves arise from weak stems that grow to 60-80 cm in height. Because of the peculiar arrangement of the leaves, it is called palm-shaped sedge. Forms a slightly spreading hummock. Flowering in June - July is not of particular interest. The typical foliage color is light green. In winter, this sedge turns green and remains like this until mid-winter. At this time, huge green curtains look impressive against the background of low snow cover. The foliage does not persist in winter, and it must be removed in early spring, since the plant is cold-growing and begins to grow back quite early. Grows in full sun in moist soils or shade. Propagated by division in spring. 4 zone. Forms large masses, can be used as a ground cover plant, for decorating uninteresting bare trunks of bushes, as a high border, in this case it is necessary to support weak trunks at the end of summer. Muskingumen sedge is so original that even when it falls over from the wind or rain, it does not look sloppy. In cultivation, the variety is usually more resistant" Wachtposten" - almost the main species, but with stronger stems and therefore more erect." Silberstreif(syn. "Variegata") - on a green leaf there is a bright white stripe, smaller in height than the main species. Pale green leaves" Ohme"edged with a clear yellow stripe. Rare in Europe. Zone 3.

drooping sedge, or hanging- Carex pendula Huds= S. maxima Scop In shady damp forests, near streams in the warm temperate zone and Mediterranean region of Southern Europe, the Carpathians, Crimea, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and North Africa. A very graceful, densely turfy plant, 70-150 cm high. The leaves are bluish-green, 8-16 mm wide, flat. It has 4-7 cylindrical spikelets 5-15 cm long. Pistilate spikelets on long stalks, drooping. Blooms in late spring. It is recommended to plant in a place protected from winter winds in partial shade. Used for single plantings and creating borders along paths. Magnificent alone near water or in “dry” streams, so that the inflorescences are visible. Can be used when making dry bouquets. Cultivation group II, III. Drooping sedge is often on sale here, but it does not winter stably in the Moscow region, as it grows in areas belonging to zone 8. Numerous attempts by amateurs to grow it in the garden have not yielded lasting positive results. Photo by EDSR.

Plantain sedge- Carex plantaginea Lam In temperate forests of eastern North America. Evergreen perennial plant. The stems are up to 60 cm high. The sheaths of the bracts and spikelets are purple in color. The leaves are dark or bluish green, 1-3 cm wide, overwintering. Blooms in April-May. Grows well in shade and partial shade on forest and fertile sandy soils. Used in shady rock gardens. In the sun, the leaves turn brown and lose their decorative properties. Propagated by seeds or division in spring. Summer division almost always gives a negative result, even with abundant watering. It does not bloom profusely, the flowers are not of particular interest. Zone 5. An excellent companion for ferns and flowers with a simple, natural appearance. Photo by EDSR.

False sedge- Carex pseudocyperus L Along the banks of reservoirs from the taiga zone to the Mediterranean region of Eurasia and eastern North America. Small-sedge sedge without creeping rhizomes. The bases of the shoots have brownish sheaths that are not split into fibers. Stems are sharply triangular, highly rough, 40-80 cm high, up to 3 mm in diameter. Kutya are light green, flat, 5-10(15) mm wide, longer than the stems. The covering leaf of the lower spikelet is 2-3 times longer than the inflorescence, flat, with a short sheath (0.2-1.2 cm long). Female spikelets (3-6), dull, close to the male spikelet, cylindrical, 2-6 cm, 0.8-1 cm in diameter, on rough stalks up to 4-5 cm long, b. m. drooping. The covering scales of the sacs are subulate-lanceolate, spinous, with 3 veins and a rough edge, brownish-green, b. m. equal in length to the bags. The sacs are lanceolate, 4-4.5 mm long, pale green, sometimes brownish, horizontally or downwardly deflected, with ribbed veins, on a very short stalk, with 2 smooth and long (0.5-0.7 mm) straight teeth. Photo by Yuri Ovchinnikov

Coastal sedge-Carex riparia Curt. Along the banks of reservoirs from the taiga zone to the Mediterranean region of Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia, Central, Asia Minor and Western Asia, and North Africa. Plants are 60-150 cm tall, with thick creeping rhizomes. The leaves are bluish-green, 5-15 mm wide, hard, knotty-mesh. There are 5-10 spikelets, spaced downwards. The pistillate spikelets are cylindrical, 2-10 cm long, thick, blackish-olive, on thickened stalks, sometimes drooping. 2n=72. Suitable for growing along the banks of water bodies. 4 zone. In the photo on the right. "Variegata" - see photo on the right. A variegated form with creamy white stripes, it does not grow very well, this is not surprising for a zone 6 plant. It can be recommended for warmer areas and secluded sunny corners. Photo on the left EDSR. Photo on the right of Marina Shimanskaya

Rusty-spotted sedge- Carex siderosticta Hance Photo by Elena Akimova In the mixed rich forests of the warm temperate zone of the Far East, Northern, Central and Northeastern China, the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Such an eerie name, literally translated from Latin, is much more euphonious - “studded with stars.” The offensive epithet is explained by the reddish color of the young shoots. Towards the end of the season, rusty spots may appear on the leaves. Zone 5. A perennial with underground horizontal rhizomes, due to which groups of aboveground shoots form compact clumps. The lower scale-like leaves at the base of the shoots are brown-brown, the middle leaves are linear-lanceolate, 1-3 cm wide, narrowed towards the base into a sheath, soft, pubescent below. There are two types of shoots: vegetative 15 - 30 cm high and reproductive, lateral, i.e., arising in the axils of the leaves of the vegetative shoot. Reproductive shoots 15-40 cm tall have only lower scale-like and tubular-vaginal middle leaves. In the axils of the latter, 6-8 few-flowered androgynous (i.e., with female flowers at the bottom and male at the top) spikelets are located on long stalks. The covering leaves of female flowers are equal to or longer than the sacs, oblong or lanceolate, with three veins, green, with a wide membranous edge. The sacs are elliptical, narrowed towards the base, rounded-triangular in cross-section, green, with protruding thin veins, with a short nose; stigma 3. At the base of the ovary or nut, there may be an axial appendage inside the sac It is very decorative with rather wide oval leaves, blooms in late May - early June, forming a dense, slowly growing cover. The plant propagates by seeds (sown before winter) and sections of rhizomes in August. Very promising for borders and low groups in the shade on loose, well-moistened soils. The most decorative variety " Island Brocade" - with a creamy-white wide border. Can fully compete with hosts. Cultivation group II, III. Zone 4. "Variegata" - a broad-leaved form with clean white stripes along the edge. One of the most attractive ornamental sedges. Good from spring to autumn, as the foliage is constantly growing. Pale pink spots sometimes appear on young leaves if the nights are cold. Leaves die off completely in winter. Tussock height about 20 cm. Prefers moisture and partial shade. Spreads by rhizome. Divides easily in spring. Winters well under a layer of snow. Zone 6. An excellent accent or ground cover plant, a bright spot in a shady garden.

Location: It is better to keep spreading sedges in containers that can contain their pressure. Only in very large bodies of water can they be released into the wild. Hummock-forming plants are planted both directly in the ground and in containers. Sedges can withstand some shade: coastal sedge, bladder sedge, black sedge, and especially sedge, while others do not grow well in the shade. Almost all of the listed species (except for turf sedge, fox sedge, millet and black sedge, which will prefer a place on a damp or swampy shore) calmly tolerate immersion of up to 5-10 cm. Drooping sedge especially does not like stagnant waterlogging.

Care: sedges with vigorous growth must be kept under supervision and growth must be constantly limited. In spring, it is advisable to cut off dry leaves.

Reproduction: division. It is better to divide hummock-forming ones in the spring, while long-rhizome ones can be divided throughout the entire season. Sowing seeds in spring.

Usage: depending on size for decorating large and small reservoirs and streams. Many species are characterized by their own special shade of leaves, clearly visible on large clumps, so arrays of different types of sedges can create interesting color effects.

Many probably remember the Soviet cartoon about Little Raccoon, where the cute animal must overcome his fear of He-Who-Lives-In-the-Pond, because his mother instructed him to pick sweets for the holiday dinner. But in fact, this one, which grows in swamps and along, is not without reason a favorite delicacy of deer, elk and other living creatures; it has a lot of useful and even healing properties.

Chemical composition

It is necessary to immediately make a reservation that sedge is a unique grass in its own way. Traditional healers and herbalists have known and skillfully used its beneficial properties for a long time, while This plant is not used in official medicine. It is difficult to say which of these two facts is the cause and which is the effect, but no one has conducted detailed scientific studies of the chemical composition of this plant.

Did you know? Contrary to the existing stereotype, not all types of sedge grow near water. Some representatives of the genus grow in forests, steppes, deserts and even in the Arctic. Mountain species are considered the most useful; sometimes they can be found even at an altitude of more than three thousand meters. They contain the maximum amount of ascorbic acid and carotene.

In addition, in the world, according to various sources, there are from one and a half to two different types of sedge, which are scattered almost throughout the globe (about four hundred of them are found in Russia alone), so it is quite obvious that the chemical composition of these plants can differ significantly .

From the point of view, the main interest is not the aerial part, but the rhizome of the sedge. The following substances were found in it:

Did you know? The Latin name of the plant, sárex, presumably comes from the ancient Greek κείρω, that is, “to cut.” The obvious analogy is the razor-sharp leaves of this herb, which are very easy to injure thanks to the tiny teeth that cover their entire perimeter. The Slavic analogues of the name of the plant have the same roots: “sedge” in Russian and Ukrainian, “asaka” in Belarusian and, by the way, in Lithuanian and Latvian - from the Old Slavic verb “osechi”, that is, again still “cut”, “cut off”. Latin for "to cut"– seco, so perhaps the roots of the word are even more ancient.

The sweet shoots that Little Raccoon hunted so diligently contain up to 30% fiber (carbohydrates) and up to 18% protein, which makes the product quite nutritious and healthy (fiber, in particular, regulates blood sugar levels, removes cholesterol from the body and toxic substances, supports intestinal function, and protein is generally the main building material for all living things).

Alkaloids (harmine and brevicolline) are found in some types of sedge, which take part in controlling many processes in the body.

Medicinal properties

The herb is also very useful for the intestines, especially for constipation and bloating (flatulence). The plant’s ability to normalize metabolic processes, cleanse the blood and remove bad cholesterol, as well as various harmful substances, from the body has been noted.

The Germans have long used decoctions from the rhizome of the plant for digestive problems, as well as diseases of the lungs and bronchi. Bulgarians treat consumption and anemia with the same remedy. Due to the herb's ability to improve metabolic processes, it was often used as a cure for gout, and the expectorant properties of sedge make it useful for relieving lingering dry coughs.

Did you know? Before the invention of antibiotics, zemstvo doctors even treated syphilis with sedge. It has been noted that the root of sedge acts on the causative agent of the disease in the same way as the root of the exotic plant smilax (sarsaparilla), brought to Europe from Peru by the Spanish conquistadors.

Thanks to coumarin and other active substances, the plant has a beneficial effect on the skin, and therefore is widely used to treat dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, lichen, as well as systemic diseases such as lupus erythematosus.

We mentioned above that sedge is not used in official medicine, but this is not entirely true. There is only one species of this plant that is still recognized by pharmacologists. We are talking about sedge parva, in which chemists are interested in the alkaloid brevicolline, on its basis they prepare a drug used in gynecology for obstetrics.

Application

So, having found virtually no application in modern official medicine, sedge is widely used by traditional healers.

In folk medicine

As always, herbal medicine is characterized by the fact that the same plant is used to treat ailments of very different nature.

In particular, Herbalists recommend a decoction, infusion or tea from sedge rhizomes for:

In cosmetology

Important! Sedge oil is a rather expensive product; in particular, it is imported into our country from Egypt and Morocco. It is also used to prepare face and body creams, as well as depilatory products. Such products are especially popular in Eastern countries.

This amazing product has a lot of extremely attractive qualities for the fair half of humanity (and not only!), in particular:

• prevents hair loss and at the same time miraculously stops its growth in unwanted places;
• smoothes out small wrinkles;
• whitens the skin, removes age spots and makes freckles invisible. In addition, sedge oil is also used as a means for healing wounds and ulcers, as well as resolving tumors.

In the home medicine cabinet, decoctions and infusions of sedge are used for washing and rinsing hair. After using such products, the skin becomes young and smooth, and the hair becomes healthy and shiny.

Procurement of medicinal raw materials

As already mentioned, all the most valuable substances are found not in the leaves, but in the rhizome of sedge, therefore it is the underground part of the plant that is used as a medicinal raw material.

There are two possible preparation options - at the beginning of spring, before active sap flow begins in the plant, or, conversely, in late autumn, when the ground part has completely withered.

Important! To avoid causing irreparable harm to the population, it is possible to dig up sedge again in the same place no sooner than after two, or better yet, after three years.

The dug up roots must be carefully cleared of soil, then cut into strips about 10 cm long and dried. For drying, special dryers are used, but if they are not available, the prepared raw materials are simply laid out in one layer in a well-ventilated room (possibly in the open air). An indicator of readiness is the appearance of fragility in dry rhizomes. After this, the raw materials are laid out in paper bags.

Important! If the root is not dried enough, it becomes affected by mold during storage. In this case, the raw materials, of course, become unfit for consumption and must be destroyed.

The leaves of the most valuable Parva sedge are also used. They are cut with sharp knives at the turn of spring and summer, dried in the open air with constant turning, then packed into bales and stored for 12 months. At the same time, properly prepared roots can be stored three times longer!

Traditional medicine recipes

The three main dosage forms in which the plant is used are tea, decoction and infusion.

For making tea Pour two heaped teaspoons of chopped rhizomes into a glass of water at room temperature, bring to a boil, cover and leave for 10 minutes. Then strain and drink 2-3 times a day.

As a long-term therapy, tea is used to restore metabolic processes and treat diseases and pathologies caused by such disorders (for example, gout, excess weight). This tea is an excellent tonic for bronchitis, sore throats, and respiratory viral infections.

Sedge decoction prepared using slightly different technology. The same amount of raw material is poured not with cold water, but with boiling water, simmered for 20 minutes over low heat, then the container is tightly wrapped and infused for several hours. The cooled broth is filtered. You need to take the product 20 minutes before meals, a quarter glass 2-3 times a day.

The indications for using the decoction are the same as for tea. In addition to being an expectorant and normalizing metabolism agent, the product is used for diseases of the stomach and intestines, as well as rhinitis, skin irritations, conjunctivitis, and even as a hair rinse to get rid of dandruff.

To prepare the infusion two full teaspoons of crushed roots are poured into a glass of boiled water cooled to room temperature and, without heating, left to infuse for 12 hours, after which it is filtered (or another option is to pour one teaspoon into 0.5 liters of water, but just boiled, leave a couple of hours and strain).

It is taken in the same way as a decoction, but the single dose can be increased to 100 ml. The second method of administration is in small doses, but often: two tablespoons every two hours. The indications are still the same: flatulence, constipation, skin problems, cough, etc.

Sandy sedge is a perennial herbaceous medicinal plant belonging to the Sedge family, genus Sedge. Its root is long-creeping and has a characteristic odor. The stem of this grass is slightly curved, triangular in shape, well pubescent, with slight roughness. The leaves are narrow, vaginal, very hard. The edge of the sheet is sharp and can easily cause a deep cut if touched carelessly, which should be taken into account when preparing raw materials. Sedge flowers are small, greenish in color, collected in an inflorescence spike. Its fruit is a nut.

Sandy sedge is widespread in Northern Europe, Atlantic Europe, and European Russia. The plant chooses sandy soils in pine forests or on the banks of reservoirs.

Chemical composition of sand sedge

Unfortunately, despite the fact that the plant is medicinal, traditional medicine does not recognize it, and therefore practically no research has been carried out on its composition. Based on the results of a few studies of sandy sedge, the following were found in the plant: saponins, essential oil, bitterness, coumarins, silicic acid, tannins, glycosides, resins and starch. There can be no doubt that this is not the complete composition of the plant, since the herb has shown itself well in folk medicine. If classical medicine still becomes interested in sandy sedge, the composition of the plant will be fully studied and the list of medicinal substances in it, of course, will expand significantly.

What does sandy sedge help with?

Since ancient times, healers have used the medicinal properties of the plant for a variety of ailments. They prescribe sandy sedge to their patients as a diaphoretic, choleretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, emollient, expectorant, metabolism-boosting, diuretic and tonic. In many ways, these medicinal properties of the plant are similar to the effects of the sarsaparilla plant, which grows in the tropics and is highly valued in folk and traditional medicine.

As an expectorant and anti-inflammatory medicine, sedge is prescribed for bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, whooping cough, tuberculosis and bronchospasm. By activating the production of liquid mucus, the plant helps to liquefy viscous, poorly separated mucus and remove it. In addition, by eliminating inflammatory processes, the herb allows you to relieve attacks of hysterical cough and quickly improve the patient’s condition. The analgesic property of sand sedge is also very useful for pneumonia and tuberculosis. You just need to take into account that for these two diseases, sedge cannot be the main medicine and should be used only as an effective addition to traditional therapy.

In case of colitis, in which constipation and flatulence are observed, sandy sedge will also help. It not only treats diseased intestines, but also relieves two of the most unpleasant symptoms of colitis as quickly as possible. By improving digestion and reducing the production of gases, sandy sedge can significantly improve the patient’s condition in a few days, and with consistent use, completely eliminate any manifestations of the disease. The plant can also treat flatulence that occurs for other reasons.

Vasculitis is another indication for treatment with sedge. Due to the fact that the herb has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, it can easily cope with the disease in the initial stage. In the event that only small vessels of the skin are affected by inflammation, sandy sedge can even become the main treatment.

Sandy sedge is also effective as a blood purifying plant. It is able to bind and remove toxic substances, bad cholesterol and, to some extent, heavy metals from the body. To cleanse the body, herbalists advise taking a course of sedge once a year.

In the case of neurodermatoses and psoriasis, herbalists also advise the use of plant-based preparations. They will eliminate discomfort and relieve inflammation, which will improve the appearance of the skin. In some cases, these diseases can only be treated with sedge products.

Joint inflammation is also a reason to think about medicinal herbs. Having a positive effect on metabolic processes in the body, sand sedge helps to launch the process of self-healing of articular cartilage; and its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects can significantly improve the patient’s condition in a minimal period of time. Improvements are observed even when the disease is very advanced.

The plant's ability to restore healthy metabolism can be used to treat problems such as being overweight or underweight. By normalizing the processes of assimilation of certain substances, sandy sedge, although not quickly, returns weight to normal.

The herb also has a positive effect on the thyroid gland. It effectively strengthens it, helps normal functioning and protects the organ from tumors.

For diseases of the kidneys and urinary system, sandy sedge has also found its use. In case of cystitis, inflammation of the ureters and the formation of sand in the kidneys, the grass will be simply irreplaceable. Thanks to it, you can improve the urinary system without resorting to medications.

Due to the fact that the plant helps to quickly replenish iron deficiency in the body, it is successfully used in the treatment of anemia. Positive changes in the patient’s condition can be seen after just a few days of treatment.

Sand sedge is also an effective remedy for strengthening the immune system. Many healers compare its effect with the effect on the immune system of the popular echinacea.

Contraindications to treatment with sandy sedge

There are not very many contraindications for the treatment of sandy sedge, but they are serious and cannot be neglected. You will definitely have to give up this medicinal plant if you have:

• pyelonephritis;
• glomerulonephritis;
• diarrhea;
• stomach ulcer;
• allergic reaction to sand sedge medications.

In addition, mandatory consultation with a doctor requires the use of sandy sedge for internal use in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children under 3 years of age and elderly people over 80 years of age.

Medicines from sand sedge

As a rule, the root of the plant is used for medicinal purposes.

Medicine for diseases of the respiratory system and joints, as well as for external use for skin diseases

30 grams of crushed plant roots are poured with 800 milliliters of water and boiled over low heat until the volume of the medicine is approximately 500 milliliters. After this, after removing the drug from the heat, it is infused, covered with a blanket, for 120 minutes. Next, the strained product is drunk or used to wipe the affected areas of the skin. The drug is taken orally before meals, 60 milliliters 4 times a day for 20 days.

Medicine for problems with the intestines and urinary system

2 small (teaspoons) of the plant are poured with 500 milliliters of just boiled water and, having been insulated, left to infuse for 10 hours. Next, after filtering the medicine, drink 120 milliliters before meals 4 times a day until the symptoms of the disease completely disappear.

Preparation of medicinal raw materials

The root of sandy sedge is dug up in late autumn or early spring until the above-ground part of the plant appears. Having cleaned the rhizome well, cut it into small pieces and dry it, spreading it in a thin layer on a linen in a warm, dry room where direct sunlight does not reach. The roots are removed for storage when they become brittle. The raw materials are kept in a hermetically sealed glass container for no more than 24 months. The optimal period for consuming harvested raw materials is a period of 18 months, since later the healing properties of the plant begin to gradually decrease.

When thinking about the landscape design of a garden or park, various herbs and grains are often undeservedly forgotten. One of the very spectacular plants, which can serve as an interesting background for other representatives of garden flora - sedge. Many people believe that this grass is a weed, but there are many decorative species that will decorate borders, flowerpots, flower beds, lawns, rockeries and alpine slides with their presence. Thanks to it, you can create very beautiful compositions; it goes well with ferns, flowering shrubs, various flowers, emphasizing their advantages or, conversely, hiding their shortcomings, for example, the lack of foliage.

In contact with

Classmates

Sedge exists comfortably in almost any conditions - it tolerates wintering well, adapts to the sun with regular watering and to the shade. It takes root even where other plants are unable to survive. Some varieties can even be grown as a houseplant - on a windowsill or balcony. It does not require any special hassle in growing.

Habitats

Sedge belongs to the genus of herbaceous annuals and perennials of the Sedge family. More than 2 thousand varieties of this plant can be found in almost every corner of the globe with a temperate climate. The largest number of species grows in the Northern Hemisphere, quite a lot of varieties can be found in the forests of North America; in Russia there are at least 400 species of this plant.

There are sedges that live in the tropics of South Asia, and there is also a species that lives in Africa. Most representatives of this family love humidity, so they can often be found near bodies of water and in damp and marshy areas. Some species grow directly in the water. But there are also sedges that live in mountains, steppes, forests and meadows.

Differences from other plants

Sedge is divided into two groups:

1. Sprawling.
2. Hummock-forming.

Plants of the first group have long rhizomes from which rosettes extend. Taking root, the rosettes form clumps. These include black sedge, acute sedge, aquatic sedge, etc.

Tussock-forming sedges look like dense bumps. They have short rhizomes without rosettes. These include drooping, millet, tall, etc.

Many people confuse sedge with other plants, such as cereals. It is especially difficult to distinguish them in the photo. But sedge has many features that are unusual for cereals; first of all, they differ in their stems. Sedge stem:

• filled;
• has no nodular thickenings;
• triangular in cross section.

The height of the stem depends on the type and variety: there are plants more than a meter tall, for example, tall sedge, and there are very short ones - up to 30 cm, like Bohemian sedge.

Leaves of the plant long, hard, flat, arranged alternately, lanceolate or linear, up to 30 cm in length and 2–15 mm in width, of various colors - many tones of green, bluish-blue, brown and others, with and without a border. The shape of the leaves in different species may differ - they can be erect, they can bend into an arc and even curl in curls. The leaves are very sharp - they are easy to cut or break - that’s why the plant got its name.

Despite the fact that this grass is planted as an ornamental plant mainly for its leaves and bush shape, its flowers are also not without a certain attractiveness. These are dioecious or monoecious spikelets of all kinds of colors - from light green shades to dark olive, brown and even black. In shape they can resemble a narrow cylinder or cone; in some species they look up, in others they droop.

Types and varieties

Decorative sedge has been used to decorate gardens since in Ancient Japan on a par with traditional chrysanthemums and irises. Currently, there are many decorative species and varieties with different properties and characteristics. They differ in leaf colors, height, size, shape, preferences for light and humidity.

The most common types that are used for growing in gardens, parks, etc. are the following:

• drooping– one of the tallest varieties, reaching 1.2 m. This species loves moisture and feels best on the banks of reservoirs. The inflorescences in the form of earrings make it especially decorative;
• palmifolia- a smaller plant that grows no higher than a meter, having variegated and dwarf varieties. It gets along well in damp places and even in shallow water, the only drawback is that the leaves are very brittle;
• sedge morrow– evergreen, winter-hardy, loves partial shade, as its leaves can burn in the sun, forms a tussock up to half a meter in height and diameter. This species can be grown as a house plant;
• winged– rare, but very effective, especially the variety with bright yellow leaves “Aigea”; winter-hardy, moisture-loving species, forms loose hummocks up to 30 cm high;
• mountain– thin-leaved species with black stripes in early summer; forms dense hummocks no more than 35 cm high; does not tolerate dampness and drought, prefers dark areas, is winter-hardy, looks very decorative in borders and rock gardens;
• rusty spotted– a species that forms a clump, blooms in May with spikelets with pink anthers, adapts to both sun and shade, has variegated varieties;
• ornipodosa– the smallest species, grows as a bush up to 10 cm in height, this species has very beautiful long leaves, arranged in curls around the bush; This is a tender evergreen plant - it tolerates winter well, but does not like dampness and drought.

Brick sedge with brown leaves, sharp sedge, false sedge, Gray sedge also look very decorative - these plants grow well in damp areas. You can plant dioecious, hairy, pendulous or black sedge in ponds for decoration. Plantain sedge feels good in shaded areas and under trees. In rockeries and rock gardens, medium-sized species, for example, sandy or strong, look most advantageous.

Growing and care

Growing cultivated sedge species is not difficult. The best place for planting will be a well-lit place, but without direct sunlight. Some species, such as black, coastal or bladder, requires some shading, but most representatives of this family are not suitable for dark places.

Sedge requires a large amount of fresh air, so for growing you need to choose well-ventilated areas or take the plant out into the air in the warm season if it is grown as an indoor plant. But drafts must be avoided! This grass loves cool weather - 15–18 C; during the dormant period it should be kept at a temperature of 5–7 C.

Sedge prefers to grow in neutral or slightly acidic, very moist soil. Different species have their own requirements for soil moisture: some species, for example, graceful and pendulous, do not tolerate strong stagnation of water, but leafy or shore grass is a marsh grass that feels great in wetlands.

Feed the plant twice a month, with the exception of the dormant period in the winter months.

Like almost any cultivated plant, sedge is susceptible to attack and infection by various diseases. Most often, sedge is affected by gray rot and powdery mildew. Among the pests that are dangerous to the plant are aphids, scale insects, spider mites and mealybugs.

The plant reproduces:

• dividing the bush;
• seeds.

Instances from a sprawling group can be divided at any time; tussock-forming varieties are best propagated in the spring. Propagation by seeds is not recommended, since most species grown from seeds lose their decorative properties.

With the timely removal of dry leaves and inflorescences, the sedge will grow healthier and retain its attractive appearance.