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

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Content

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

Snowdrop, Galanthus. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: Snowdrop (Galanthus)

Family: Amaryllis (Amaryllidaceae)

Origin: Europe and Asia.

Area: Snowdrop is found in most countries of Europe and Western Asia, as well as in the Caucasus.

Chemical composition: The bulbs and leaves of the plant contain the alkaloid galanthamine, which is used medicinally to treat Alzheimer's disease and other diseases of the central nervous system.

Economic value: Snowdrop is used in landscape design and as an ornamental plant in gardens. Galantamine, obtained from certain types of snowdrops, is used in medicine.

Legends, myths, symbolism: In folk legends and mythology, the snowdrop is often associated with the renewal and rebirth of nature. Its white flowers appear in early spring, when the snow is still on the ground, and symbolize hope for new life and rebirth. The snowdrop is also associated with purity, light and spiritual purity. In some cultures, the snowdrop is considered a symbol of joy, while in others it is a symbol of sadness and sorrow.

Snowdrop, Galanthus. Description, illustrations of the plant

Snowdrop. Legends, myths, history

Legends about the earliest spring flowers - snowdrops, which include numerous species of corydalis and goose onions, anemone, chistyak, lungwort, compost, cuff, as well as crayfish necks, or serpentine, etc.

We traditionally call all the first flowers "snowdrops", although in fact the snowdrop is galanthus - only one species of many primroses. Since ancient times, primroses in the face of a snowdrop have been considered an emblem of hope and, of course, a snowdrop often became the hero of various legends and tales.

One day, the old woman Zima with her companions Frost and Wind decided not to let Spring come to earth. All the flowers were frightened by the threats of Winter, except for the snowdrop, which straightened its stalk and forced a gap in the thick snow cover. The Sun saw its petals and warmed the earth with warmth, opening the way for Spring.

According to one ancient legend, snowdrops were the first flowers on earth. When God drove Adam and Eve out of paradise, it was winter on earth and it was snowing. Eva froze and began to cry. The snowflakes took pity on her and several of them turned into flowers. Eva was very happy about this. She had hope for forgiveness, and flowers - snowdrops - have since become a symbol of hope.

Another legend tells that the goddess Flora distributed costumes for the carnival to flowers and gave a white snowdrop. But the snow also wanted to take part in the carnival, although he was not supposed to wear an outfit. And he began to ask the flowers to share with him a garment. Flowers, afraid of the cold, did not respond to his request, and only the snowdrop covered him with his chiton. Since then, snow and snowdrops have been inseparable as friends.

There is another old story, which in its plot resembles a fairy tale.

Long ago, there lived a brother and a sister. Their parents died early, leaving a house on the edge of the forest, and the children were forced to take care of themselves. The brother hunted in the hunting craft, and the sister busied herself with the housework. And then one day, when my brother was not at home, my sister decided to collect cleaner snow in order to wash the floors in the upper room. Spring was just coming into its own, and therefore there was still a lot of snow in the forest. My sister took two buckets and went into the forest. She wandered quite a distance from home. But the girl knew the forest well, and therefore was not afraid to get lost.

But another misfortune lay in wait for her here: the old goblin, driving around his possessions on a lame wolf, saw a girl, and realized that such a neat mistress would not interfere with him. He grabbed her and took her to his lair. But the girl was not at a loss - she pulled a string of beads from river pearls left over from her mother and began to mark her path with beads. But they fell without a trace into the snow. The girl realized that her brother could not find her and wept bitterly.

The clear sun took pity on the grief of the orphan, melted the snow, and in the place where the pearls fell, the first spring flowers grew - snowdrops. Through them, the brother found his way to the goblin's lair. As the goblin saw that his shelter had been discovered, he squealed and took to his heels. And the brother and sister returned to their home and lived happily ever after.

And here is another beautiful Polish legend about the origin of the snowdrop.

It was a harsh winter outside. A family lived in a hut in the mountains. The father of the family went around the world in search of work, and his wife and two children were left to wait for him. At the end of January, the boy suddenly fell ill and the sorceress determined the ailment, but fresh flowers and leaves were needed for his treatment. Then his sister went in search of plants and saw that everything around was iced and covered with snow. She threw herself on the ground and began to weep bitterly.

These hot and hearty tears of the girl broke through the snow cover, reached the ground and woke up the delicate flowers - snowdrops. They began to fight their way through the thick layer of snow and finally crawled to the surface. And wherever the girl cried, white flowers rose from the ground. The young beauty picked them up, brought them home, and the little brother was saved.

There is also a German version of the story of the origin of the snowdrop.

When the land was first shrouded in snow, it really lacked green grass, flowers, and beautiful plants. And then the white snowdrop went to the cold winter and prickly snow, as a harbinger of the outgoing frosts. The snow was so happy with the snowdrop that it allowed it to bloom right under its cold coverlet.

In Romania and in some other countries there is one beautiful spring custom. On the first of March, all people give their loved ones or relatives and friends a small gift - martisor. These are two silk cords with tassels at the ends, woven together (one should be white and the second red) and a flower (most often it is a snowdrop), a heart or something else. Thus, people celebrate the arrival of spring, considering the first of March a kind of holiday of spring and love.

And the legend on this occasion is as follows. One day the Sun descended in a village in the form of a young man to have some fun. The Evil Serpent guarded him for a long time, and then stole it from among the people and closed it in his palace. The world became sad, the birds stopped singing, the springs stopped flowing and ringing, and the children forgot what fun and laughter are. The world plunged into darkness, sadness and despondency. And none of the inhabitants dared to fight the terrible Serpent.

But there was one brave young man who volunteered to save the Sun. Many people equipped him on the road and gave him their strength so that he could overcome the Serpent and free the Sun. The journey continued all summer, all autumn and all winter. The guy found the palace of the Serpent, and a fight ensued.

The young man defeated the Serpent and freed the Sun and it rose to the sky. Nature revived, people rejoiced, but the brave young man did not have time to see the spring, as he was mortally wounded. His warm blood dripped from the wound and flowed onto the snow. Where the snow melted, white flowers grew - snowdrops, heralds of spring. The last drop of blood fell on the white snow. A brave young man has died.

Since then, in honor of the liberator of the world from darkness and sadness, young people have been weaving two thin cords with tassels: one white and one red. They give them to the girls they love, or to relatives and friends. The red color means love for everything beautiful, reminiscent of the color of the blood of a young man, and the white color symbolizes the health and purity of the snowdrop - the first spring flower.

Author: Martyanova L.M.

Voronov's snowdrop, Galanthus woronowi A. los. Botanical description, habitat and habitats, chemical composition, use in medicine and industry

Synonyms: sliver.

Perennial bulbous herbaceous plant of the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). Bulb up to 3 cm in diameter with yellowish outer scales.

The flower arrow reaches a height of 10 - 30 cm and bears one drooping white flower at the top. The leaves are broadly linear, arranged in 2, 1,5-2 cm wide, gradually tapering towards the top, bright green, flat, folded along after flowering.

Blooms in February-March. The fruit is a box with three wings.

Range and habitats. Voronov's snowdrop is an endemic of the Caucasus. The range covers the eastern coast of the Black Sea, including Turkey. In the northern part of the coast, it occurs in places located at sea level, not moving far from the coast. With the advancement to the south, it can be found in the mountains at a distance of 40 km from the coast: 60. Grows along the edges of deciduous forests. It occurs from Tuapse to Batumi, in the humid forests of the lower and middle mountain belt.

Chemical composition. The bulbs contain alkaloids, including 0,1% lycorine and 0,07-0,15% galanthamine, and were originally proposed as medicinal raw materials. However, the plant does not have a secured raw material base and is not harvested.

Application in medicine. Galantamine is used to treat residual effects of poliomyelitis and movement disorders caused by diseases and disorders of the central nervous system, myasthenia gravis, myopathies, atony of the intestines and bladder. Lycorine is used as an expectorant in the treatment of acute and chronic diseases of the bronchi and lungs; can replace apomorphine.

Contraindications to the use of galantamine are epilepsy, hyperkinesis, bronchial asthma, angina pectoris, bradycardia, intestinal colic.

Other uses. Grown as an ornamental plant.

Authors: Turova A.D., Sapozhnikova E.N.

Snowdrop, Galanthus. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology

Ethnoscience:

• Headache treatment: chop the snowdrop bulb and add boiling water. Leave to brew for several hours, then drink the resulting infusion. This recipe may help reduce headache symptoms.
• Cold treatment: mix the crushed snowdrop bulbs with honey and glycerin. Take this mixture every day to boost your immune system and prevent colds.
• Treatment of nervous disorders: chop the snowdrop bulbs and add to the honey. Take the resulting mixture every day to reduce anxiety and relieve tension.
• Treatment of skin diseases: chop the snowdrop bulbs and apply them on the affected areas of the skin. Snowdrop contains alkaloids that can help reduce inflammation and itching.

Cosmetology:

• Moisturizing face mask: mix finely chopped snowdrop bulb with honey and apply on face. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. This recipe will help hydrate the skin and improve its texture.
• Firming and nourishing hand cream: mix finely chopped snowdrop bulb with olive oil and honey. Apply the resulting mixture on your hands and massage the skin for 5-10 minutes. This recipe will help strengthen the skin of the hands and prevent dryness and flaking.
• Antioxidant Facial Toner: Chop the snowdrop bulb and add it to your green tea. Apply the resulting toner to your face after washing to protect your skin from the environment and reduce inflammation.
• Purifying face mask: mix finely chopped snowdrop bulb with clay and apply on face. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. This recipe will help reduce inflammation and clear the skin.

Attention! Before use, consult with a specialist!

Snowdrop, Galanthus. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Snowdrops (Galanthus) are small bulbous plants that are common in many regions of the world. They have graceful white flowers and are often considered the first flowers to appear after winter.

Tips for growing, harvesting and storing snowdrops:

Cultivation:

• Placement: Snowdrops love sun or partial shade and prefer soil that is well-drained.
• Soil: Use well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH to grow snowdrops.
• Watering: Snowdrops do not need frequent watering and can survive even in the absence of rainfall.
• Repotting: Snowdrop bulbs should be repotted every few years to keep the plant healthy.

Workpiece:

• Picking: Snowdrops can be picked in the spring when they are in bloom.
• Drying: Snowdrops cannot be dried, but their flowers can be preserved by making garlands or wreaths.

Storage:

• Bulb storage: Snowdrop bulbs can be stored in a cool, dry and ventilated place until the next planting.
• Flower storage: If you want to keep snowdrop flowers, you can dry them and store them in a dry place.

Some types of snowdrops can be toxic when consumed, so it's a good idea to consult your doctor before eating.

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