Anchar. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Anchar. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

cultivated and wild plants. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

Directory / Cultivated and wild plants

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Content

Photos, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
Botanical description, reference data, useful information, illustrations
Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology
Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Anchar, Antiaris. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Anchar Anchar

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

The plant genus Antiaris belongs to the Euphorbia family (Moraceae). Plants of this genus originate from the tropical regions of Asia and Africa.

Some species of the genus Antiaris contain poisonous alkaloids that can cause death in humans, so they are of no economic importance and are not used in the food or medical industry. However, some species of the genus Antiaris are used in traditional medicine to treat a number of diseases such as malaria, skin diseases, and abdominal pain. Also, some representatives of the genus Antiaris are used for decorative purposes, for example, to create exotic gardens and parks.

Legends, myths, symbolism: In some African tribes, Anchar is associated with patronage over magic and death. In Indian mythology, Anchar is known as Strychnos nux-vomica and is associated with the goddess Kali and death.

Anchar, Antiaris. Description, illustrations of the plant

Anchar. Legends, myths, history

Anchar

In places where it grows, they call it "upas" or, more precisely, "epaulette upas", which means "poison tree". It is more widely known under the name "anchar".

"In the wilderness stunted and stingy,
On the soil, with the hot heat,
Anchar, like a formidable sentry,
Stands alone in the whole universe..."

Perhaps you know this poem by Pushkin. It's called: "Anchar". His sonorous stanzas are chased and severe, like sword blows:

And now we ourselves will get acquainted with the "poison tree" and for this we will be transported to hylaea, to a tropical rainforest ...

- Uh-uh-uh! - You exclaim, my attentive companion. - Eee! - you say. - There is something wrong here: after all, Pushkin clearly says: "IN THE DESERT, stunted and miserly ..." and the letter "U" sends us to the rainforest! Who is right?

But the anchar really grows in a tropical rainforest - in India, Burma, Indonesia, and Pushkin was mistaken. And there is nothing surprising in this. Scientific books of that time claimed that the anchar de grows in a desert area, and that everything around it is dead for five miles, and that a bird flying too close immediately falls lifeless.

These books even reported that the local rulers promised to save the lives of criminals sentenced to death if they brought the juice of anchar. And the unfortunates agree, but only one out of ten manages to return, and, shocked, he tells that the ground under the tree is littered with human bones...

Under the mood of these half-legends, half-truths, the lines were written: "But a man sent a man to the Anchar with an authoritative look ..."

Anchar

...And now we are standing in front of an ominous tree. However, as you can see, it does not look so terrible at all. Look: how slender and smooth its columnar trunk is, and how beautiful the crown is, raised high above the surrounding forest!

And yet, the anchar is indeed very poisonous, although not in the way that they wrote about it in Pushkin's time: birds do not fall dead, even if they sit on the thick branches of this tree, and human bones do not lie around, but various tropical plants merrily green. The muddy juice of upas-anchar is poisonous. From time immemorial, warriors and hunters of the rainforest have been making the strongest poison out of it, with which they lubricate arrowheads for their wind guns - "sarabakan".

Look look! Here a large vicious boar jumped out from behind a tree, the hunter pointed a long pipe of his sarabakan at him, took air into his lungs and blew out an arrow. With a barely audible whistle, it flew out of the pipe and stuck into the leg of a wild pig. And you see: a heavy animal fell to the ground like a mowed down one. It died instantly from heart failure. This is how the poison of the anchar worked.

Among the plants of the Earth, not one anchar is poisonous, there are many others - both in the tropical forest, and in deserts, and in the steppe - in all plant zones of the planet.

Poisonous plants can also be found in the neighborhood of our housing. These are, for example, grebe and fly agaric or unsightly henbane growing near roads, under fences, on garbage heaps. Whoever tastes her juice loses his mind for a while. Because of this, the expressions appeared: "henbane ate too much", "pissed off". In our middle lane lives a beautiful plant with large white flowers - dope, the very name of which indicates how its poisonous juice affects a person.

Animals bypass such plants, do not touch them, and plants need this: they have poison just like thorns, like thorns, a means of protection, a weapon to fight for their rights to life.

Author: Margolin Ya.A.

Anchar, Antiaris. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology

cultivated and wild plants. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

Anchar is not used in folk medicine and cosmetology, since all parts of the plant (roots, trunks, leaves, fruits) contain a strong poison that can cause serious poisoning and even death.

In some cultures, anchar is used for medicinal purposes, but its use must be carefully controlled and carried out only under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. It can be used to treat rheumatism, colds, headaches, and other ailments. However, at the moment there are no scientific studies confirming the effectiveness and safety of Anchar for medical purposes.

The use of anchar should be strictly controlled and carried out only under the supervision of specialists.

Anchar, Antiaris. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

cultivated and wild plants. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

Anchar (Antiaris) is a plant that can be dangerous to humans if used improperly, so it is not recommended to grow it at home. If you still want to grow this plant, you must take precautions and know how to properly care for it.

Anchar can be grown from seed or cuttings, preferably outdoors in tropical and subtropical regions. The plant needs moist and fertile soil, as well as abundant watering and top dressing. It is better to store anchar in a cool and dry place to avoid drying out of the roots.

However, it should be remembered that anchar contains toxic substances and it is not recommended to use it in traditional medicine and cosmetology without consulting a specialist.

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