Feather grass. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Feather grass. 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

Feather, Stipa. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Feather grass

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: Feather (Stipa)

Family: Cereals (Poaceae)

Origin: Eurasia, North and South America, Africa

Area: Widely distributed in dry and semi-desert areas, including Central Asia, Siberia, America and Africa

Chemical composition: Contains silicon, fatty oils, sugars and other carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, as well as flavonoids and other phytochemicals.

Economic value: The feather grass is used to create feed for livestock and sheep, as well as to make paper and other pulp products. Some types of feather grass are popular in landscape design due to their decorative appearance and shape.

Legends, myths, symbolism: In ancient Germanic mythology, feather grass was associated with the thunder god Thor and was considered a sacred plant. In English culture, feather grass is associated with strength and stability. In Chinese culture, feather grass is considered a symbol of abundance and prosperity. In ancient Slavic culture, feather grass was associated with magic, and in folk medicine it was used to treat many diseases. Also, feather grass has a symbolic meaning in Christian culture, where it is associated with the bread of life and Christ, who is the source of life for all believers.

Feather, Stipa. Description, illustrations of the plant

Feather grass. Interesting plant facts

Feather grass

"Feather grass, feather grass - silk grass!" - sung in old songs. Indeed, if you look at the southern steppe at the beginning of summer, it will seem that a silk fabric has been spread over it from edge to edge. It sways in the wind and shimmers now with silver, then with pale gold. Beautiful - you won't take your eyes off! ..

But one day a boy went out into such a steppe to graze a little white lamb. The lamb was happy. He runs, jumps, nibbles merrily on various stalks and leaves between dense feather-grass bushes ... Suddenly he sees a boy - something seems to have happened to his lamb: he stopped eating, and then rushed about and even began to cry: “Be! !!" However, this boy grew up in the steppe - he immediately guessed what was the matter, and rescued his pet from trouble.

We, too, will soon understand what happened to the lamb. We will understand if we learn something about the feather grass, at least what the boy knew about him.

This plant is a true steppe, strong and hardy. Let the sun rage, let the wind burn, but they cannot dry the feather grass to death. Its narrow, hard leaves are able to close, curl up along their entire length into a tube. And their stomata, through which the plant breathes, feeds and, of course, evaporates moisture, are located only on one side - just the one that is inside the tube. And besides, in the summer drought, the stomata open their feather grass only for two hours a day. All this greatly helps him to endure the misfortunes of the steppe climate, which is stingy with moisture.

But the feather grass has an even more amazing adaptation. Between its stiff leaves, light, flexible "feathers" grow in abundance. When the wind shakes them, they shimmer with delicate silvery silk. It is they who give the steppe an unforgettable beauty.

However, the boy who herded the lamb knew well how dangerous these silk feathers could be. They are called "osts". Each spine is like a thin wire. In the upper part it is densely pubescent with short, soft hairs, and in the lower part it is naked. Here, below, the awn turns into a pointed thickening like a spearhead. This is a grain. In it, behind hard scales, the fruit of the feather grass, its grain, is hidden.

Feather grass

When the grain is fully ripe in mid-June, the entire feather, along with the caryopsis, breaks off. The restless steppe wind picks it up and carries it, and circles above the ground until it subsides. Then the feather falls and invariably sticks the grain into the soil. A new gust of wind will no longer budge it: at the sharp end of the grain, a corolla of hard bristles is bristling - this is a reliable anchor.

And yet the most interesting happens later. The fact is that the lower part of the spine is twisted into a tight spiral. And when the air becomes at least a little wetter, for example, in the evening, the spiral begins to unwind. She rotates the grain and literally screws it into the ground. As soon as the air becomes dry, the spiral twists back, turning the grain in the other direction, but still driving it deep into the soil. Well, isn't it surprising!

The little lamb, already familiar to us, obviously caught a flying feather-grass awn with its curly fur. A sharp grain immediately dug into his skin and began to inexorably screw deeper and deeper. And who knows how it would have ended if the boy had not come to the rescue. After all, there were cases when the awns of the feather grass penetrated so deeply into the body of grazing sheep that they died.

Burrowing into the soil in such an unusual way, the grain reaches a place where it can safely overwinter. Next spring, it will rise as a green seedling - the beginning of a new feather-grass bush. In due time, he, too, will spread delicate feathers, which, under the wind, will also be beautifully cast in silvery silk.

Author: Margolin Ya.A.

Feather, Stipa. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology

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

Ethnoscience:

For the treatment of urinary tract diseases: brew 1-2 teaspoons of dry feather grass roots in 1 cup boiling water, let it steep for 10-15 minutes, then strain and drink several times a day. Grass contains diuretic properties that help fight urinary tract infections and also help cleanse the kidneys and bladder.
For the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: brew 1-2 teaspoons of dry feather grass roots in 1 cup of boiling water, let steep for 10-15 minutes, then strain and drink before meals. Feather grass contains anti-inflammatory properties that help improve digestion and reduce inflammation in the stomach and intestines.
For the treatment of diseases of the liver and biliary tract: brew 1-2 teaspoons of dry feather grass roots in 1 cup boiling water, let it steep for 10-15 minutes, then strain and drink several times a day. Stipa contains choleretic properties that help improve liver and gallbladder function.
For the treatment of rheumatism and joint pain: brew 1-2 teaspoons of dry feather grass roots in 1 cup boiling water, let it steep for 10-15 minutes, then strain and drink several times a day. Grass contains anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation and pain symptoms in the joints.

Cosmetology:

To strengthen hair: prepare a decoction of dry feather grass roots by brewing 2-3 tablespoons of raw materials in 1 liter of water. Let it brew for several hours, then use to wash your hair after shampooing. The feather grass contains biologically active substances that help strengthen the hair and improve its condition.
For acne and pimples: prepare a decoction of dry feather grass roots by brewing 2-3 tablespoons of raw materials in 1 liter of water. Let it brew for several hours, then use to wipe the skin of the face. Feather grass contains anti-inflammatory properties that help fight skin inflammation, as well as trace elements that help strengthen and regenerate the skin.
To moisturize the skin: add a few drops of feather grass oil to your favorite face cream or body oil. The feather grass contains oils that help moisturize the skin and make it softer and more supple.
To fight cellulite: add a few drops of feather grass oil to massage oil and use to massage problem areas. The feather grass contains substances that help improve blood circulation and fight cellulite.

Attention! Before use, consult with a specialist!

Feather, Stipa. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

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

Feather grass (Stipa) is a genus of herbaceous plants of the grass family, which includes more than 300 species.

Tips for growing, harvesting and storing feather grass:

Cultivation:

The feather grass prefers sunny places and dry, well-drained soils.
Reproduction occurs with the help of seeds.
Feather grass plants can grow up to 1 m tall, their leaves have a tough texture, and the flowers are bright and decorative.

Workpiece:

The feather grass is used in landscape design as an ornamental plant.
Feather flowers can be used in dry bouquets and compositions, and seeds can be used for decoration.
Harvest flowers when they are at their most beautiful and freshest to preserve their decorative qualities.

Storage:

Seeds of feather grass can be stored in a dry place at room temperature for up to 2-3 years.
To preserve the decorativeness of feather grass flowers, it is recommended to dry them by hanging them on a wire or pulling a net over the frame.
Flowers should be dried in a warm and dry place, avoiding direct sunlight.
You can store dried flowers in paper bags or containers, protected from moisture and dust.

Some types of feather grass can be poisonous to animals, so it is recommended that you take this into account and take precautions when growing plants.

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