Cornflowers are one of the most beautiful plants in your garden. Cornflower flowers - a description of famous species and medicinal uses

Centaurea cyanus L.

Cornflower Centaurea is a genus of herbs in the Asteraceae family. In Russia, it grows almost throughout the country, the most common species are blue cornflower and meadow cornflower, both types of cornflowers are medicinal plants.

Blue cornflower is found in all grain crops in our fields - among spring and winter crops of wheat and rye, grows along the edges of fields, along roads, in wastelands. A small number of cornflowers in the fields, according to research, increases the yield of grain crops. This is an annual or biennial plant with a straight branched stem up to 50 - 80 cm high.

There are many legends about the bright blue color of field cornflowers. An ancient Greek legend tells how one day heavy ears of rye turned to the blue sky with a complaint that they could not see it when they bowed under the weight of the grains. The sky promised that it would descend to them, and it descended to them, and when it rose again, the pieces of the sky that remained among the ears of rye turned into blue flowers over which now lean and look at them, rustling and whispering, grain ears.

Cornflower blue, probably spread along with rye and wheat, and in ancient times was brought to Central Europe from the Mediterranean countries.

Let's return to the description of the blue cornflower. The lower leaves of the cornflower are petiolate, pinnately lobed, higher along the stem are sessile, linear. The leaves are covered with hairs.

The flowers are collected in single baskets located at the ends of the stems and branches. Marginal flowers in baskets - funnel-shaped, enlarged blue, sometimes blue or white, barren. Inner flowers - blue-violet, tubular, bisexual, form fruits - oblong cylindrical achenes 3 ÷ 5 mm long, gray color with a thick reddish tuft, with the help of which they spread with gusts of wind.

Blue cornflower blooms in June - July, about 6000 seeds are formed on one plant. AT traditional medicine for medicinal purposes, marginal asexual flowers are used.

Cornflower flowers contain flavonoids, bitter glycosides, carotene, ascorbic acid, colorants. They are harvested by hand when the cornflowers are in full bloom, trying not to get inside, tubular flowers, which in some cases degrade the quality of raw materials.

Flowers are dried, spreading in a thin layer, protecting from bright light, stored in a dark place. The dried flowers are bright of blue color, odorless with a bitter astringent taste.

The healing properties of blue cornflower have been known since ancient times. The therapeutic effect of cornflower petals is due to the presence of tannins, mucous, resinous substances, organic acids, trace elements in them. Ancient manuscripts describe the treatment of deep wounds with crushed cornflower seeds, the removal of warts.

The scientific name of the blue cornflower Centaurea was given by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in honor of the mythical centaur Chiron, who widely used medicinal herbs, and cornflower juice healed his wounds and the wounds of the heroes of his time.

The specific name cyanuc is derived from the Greek word kyanos - dark blue, indicating the color of the flowers. Another of the legends of Ancient Rome tells about the young handsome Cyanus, who was very fond of the blue color. He died unexpectedly, he was found in the middle of a grain field. The goddess Flora, very revered by the young man during her lifetime, turned him into a blue cornflower, since then both the flower and the color have been called cyanus - blue.

And the Russian name of the genus cornflower - from the Greek word basilikon means royal potion in translation, this name is also associated with the popular name Vasily among the people.

Cornflower blue application

In folk medicine, an infusion or tea from the marginal flowers of the cornflower inflorescence is used for chronic kidney diseases, Bladder, with spasms, swelling, dropsy.

Cornflower blue finds use as a good choleretic agent for diseases of the liver, biliary tract, and jaundice; use an infusion of cornflower to stimulate appetite and improve digestion.

Cornflower blue is used as a diaphoretic, antipyretic, bactericidal remedy for fevers, colds, disorders of the nervous system, headaches, eye diseases, skin irritations.

Infusion of blue cornflower flowers:

One tsp flowers pour 1 cup boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Drink 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day 20 minutes before meals.

Infusion of blue cornflower soothes nervous system, has a good effect on the cardiovascular system, is used for uterine bleeding.

For conjunctivitis, barley, use an infusion of flowers in the form of lotions to wash the eyes with inflammation.

To improve hair growth:

One st. l. inflorescences-baskets of cornflower pour 200 ml of boiling water, add 200 ml of vinegar, leave for 30 minutes, cool, strain. Rub into the hair of the head, use for washing the head - rinsing the hair, stimulates hair growth.

In scientific medicine, cornflower is used in the treatment of the liver, gastrointestinal tract in case of metabolic disorders.

Cornflower flowers, as a cleanser, are part of many complex herbal preparations.

Collections of medicinal herbs with cornflower application

For diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract , especially with edema of renal and cardiac origin:

  • cornflower flowers - 3 parts
  • angelica root - 3

One table. l. mix pour 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes. Take 3-4 times a day for 1/4 cup as a diuretic. Store the infusion in the refrigerator for no more than two days;

  • cornflower flowers - 1 part
  • bearberry leaves - 3
  • licorice root - 1

One st. l. mix pour 1 cup boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Take 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day 15-20 minutes before meals as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Decoction for washing eyes with eyebright:

  • 1 tsp cornflower flowers,
  • 1 tsp eyebright,

Pour two teaspoons of the mixture with a glass of boiling water, boil for 2-3 minutes on low heat under the lid, cool, strain, filter through cotton wool. Instill 2-3 drops into the eyes, rinse the eyes with this infusion 3-4 times a day.

Baths with a decoction of herbs with cornflower petals are used for diathesis in children, local baths are used for diseases of the joints.

Contraindications:

  • Hypersensitivity, individual intolerance to drugs with cornflower.
  • Cornflower preparations are contraindicated to be taken orally during pregnancy.
  • Consult with your doctor before taking medications with cornflower.

Watch the video of cornflower blue application:

Cornflower blue

Blue cornflowers are a good honey plant, from the flowers they get thick greenish-amber honey with a pleasant almond smell.

Blue dye can be obtained from tubular cornflower flowers.

Cornflower meadow description application

Cornflower meadow Centaurea jacea L. is a perennial rough plant with an upright ribbed branched stem up to 1 m tall with lilac-purple flowers collected 1-2 at the tops of the stems. Grows along paths, roads, meadows and clearings in the European part of the country and Altai.

Marginal flowers - with a leukoid corolla, barren, designed for beauty and attracting insects, in the middle the flowers are tubular, bisexual, pollinated by insects, bees especially love nectar, this is a good honey plant.

Meadow cornflower blooms in June - July, inflorescences and grass are used for medicinal purposes. Cornflower inflorescences are harvested and dried during the flowering period, the grass is cut throughout the summer.

In folk medicine, an infusion of meadow cornflower grass is used for stomach pain, headache, jaundice, dropsy, and heart disease.

Externally, the infusion is used for bathing children with diathesis, for baths with rheumatism, as lotions for eczema and purulent wounds. Make poultices when stretching muscles.

The infusion is used in the form of lotions for irritation of dry skin of the face, neck, hands, for eczema and seborrhea of ​​the head. The infusion is used in the form of lotions for conjunctivitis, night blindness, and furunculosis.

Meadow cornflower flowers contain flavonoids, alkaloids, mucus, ascorbic acid, and mineral salts.

An infusion of meadow cornflower flowers has an antispasmodic, analgesic effect.

Preparation of an infusion from meadow cornflower flowers description:

One st. pour a spoonful of flowers with 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Drink 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day 20 minutes before meals. The same infusion is applied externally.

To stimulate appetite, improve stomach function:

One tsp flowers pour 1 cup of boiling water, boil over low heat or a water bath for 10 minutes, leave for 1.5 hours, strain, squeeze. Drink in small sips of 1/3 cup three times a day before meals.

From the inflorescences of meadow cornflower you can get yellow paint for dyeing fabrics.

Bright colorful flowers of cornflowers in the height of summer not only delight us with their beauty, but can also bring great health benefits if they are attentive to their healing properties!

Read also about the medicinal properties of plants:

If you liked the article Flower cornflower Description Cornflower blue Application Cornflower meadow about blue cornflower, meadow cornflower - bright unforgettable colors of summer, express your opinion, observations in the comments, share information with friends by clicking on the buttons social networks under the article.

Be always healthy and beautiful!

Surprisingly, the psychological perception of apparent simplicity by a person.

Admiring luxury varietal roses, dahlia or double tulips, he freezes in amazement when he sees a modest blue flower - a cornflower.

He is beautiful in the field, where he likes to settle, especially in rye, and in the garden. Well-groomed varietal or unpretentious "free" - any flower is good.

A blue scattering of cornflowers is a picture of appeasement, peace and endless space. Cornflower pleases the eye and soul, although you understand with your mind that this handsome man is a weed in the fields of spring and winter crops.

Beauty is not the only pleasant advantage of a plant. They can admire, if necessary - to be treated.

His “medical” name sounds officially: “Cornflower officinalis”.

In cooking, the blue handsome man is also used.

Where does the cornflower come from?

The origin of the representative of the aster family has different versions:

  • The homeland of a plant familiar from childhood to many is presumably southern Europe;
  • The Greeks declare that this is a primordially Greek flower, moreover, a royal one: “basilicon”;
  • Ukrainians are convinced that according to legend, a bright blue flower first appeared in their rye crops. Rejected handsome guy an angry mermaid turned her lover into a plant. And it blooms, turning blue in the field, like the eyes of that guy;
  • People who noticed the cornflower's addiction to rye crops decided that it arrived in antiquity along with cereal seeds - from Asia;
  • Believers have laid down their parables. According to one, it was the cornflower that helped find the cross buried after the crucifixion of Christ. The Romans ordered the servant Basil to sow henbane over the cross. And the Lord turned these seeds into others. Beautiful blue delicate flowers have risen. Several centuries later, these flowers showed the Christians where the cross was.

There are many legends. That's why the names, too.

This is both mermaid love and blueflower. They also call him a beaver, a rye patchwork.

Almost every flower name is supported by legends, interesting stories.

One thing is certain: the flower is really ancient. They say that the cornflower blue wreath was found even in the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Botanical description

Cornflower blue - annual or biennial. The stem can be straight, but it can also be branched.

The plant is herbaceous. The leaves are lanceolate, the shape is linear. Inflorescences - baskets. The flower in the middle is purple.

Marginal, similar to small bells, funnel-shaped flowers are blue.

Such cornflowers are presented in nature.

Beauty and nature do not save the plant from the "agricultural tag": a weed.

He loves grain, threshed with them, gets into seed stocks.

In gardens, even an ordinary field cornflower is a welcome guest.

Having appeared, it receives a permanent residence permit in the flowerbeds of flower lovers.

There are also other colors: white, red, purple, pink. There are yellow, burgundy.

This is the work of breeders, the original color is blue.

A favorite of flower growers grows up to a meter high. Some varieties are twice as low.

Biology

Cornflower is light-loving. In order for him to show himself in all its glory, he definitely needs light in abundance.

But it is not so demanding on heat, it even tolerates frosts. Cold hardiness allowed the flower to spread widely.

Its range is large: the plant did not reach only the northern cold (Far North) and did not adapt to the heat of the South.

The attitude to moisture in different plant species is not the same.

The root system of the annual is less developed, the root is shallow taproot, the bush itself is more compact.

Annual needs moderate, but regular moisture.

Perennial flower - rhizome. He has a powerful underground part, above-ground - too.

Greenery covers the ground, retaining moisture, rhizomes hold moisture - in the soil.

Therefore, such a cornflower will withstand a short drought without damage.

Perennial cornflowers can easily endure growing without a change of place for several years, or even constantly.

Regarding nutrition, the blue flower is the original. He does not like fertility. Modest even in nutrition.

If you “feed” it royally, like other cultures, it may not bloom. Or it won't produce seeds.

But sandy soils or tire-packed shoulders are its environment.

Although on light loose soils (sandy) it works better. Prefers neutrality - neutral acidity. Acidic soils are absolutely not suitable.

The plant blooms generously and for a long time - from spring to autumn cold.

Cornflower seeds are small numerous achenes. Fertility is decent - reaches 7 thousand seeds.

Healing properties

Pleasant looking cornflower medicinal properties He revealed his own to people in ancient times.

No wonder the flower was called royal. It was believed that he was extremely healing.

The official medicine of our time did not bypass the cornflower. The flower is studied, the ancient people were not mistaken.

The composition of the marginal flowers of the plant is rich and healing:

  • Anthocyanins - antioxidants - a powerful anti-cancer defense of the body. They also delay aging, prolong youth.
  • Flavones are precursors of flavonoids, biologically valuable substances. Natural flavonoids (there are also very expensive synthetic ones) are a treasure trove in terms of health effects. Cornflower blue:
    - Reduce pressure;
    - Act as an antioxidant;
    - Relieve spasms;
    - Soothe;
    - Stimulate the secretion of estrogen;
    - Give a diuretic effect;
    - Anti-inflammatory;
    - Heals ulcers.
  • Glycosides - helpers of the heart;
  • Pigments;
  • vitamins;
  • Minerals necessary for metabolism (iron, potassium, copper, calcium).

Traditional medicine uses cornflower in the treatment of inflammatory (blepharitis, conjunctivitis) eye diseases, edema (heart and kidney), diseases of the urinary system.

Folk has tried and implemented more blue-headed flower treatments over the centuries.

Carefully storing and passing on unique family recipes by inheritance, the ancestors brought the benefits of cornflower blue to us.

People treat, in addition to the above, with a blue flower:

  • Cough;
  • colds;
  • stomach pain;
  • Liver;
  • Angina, laryngitis;
  • gallbladder;
  • sluggish bowel;
  • tachycardia;
  • Allergies, especially children's diathesis;
  • fever;
  • Night blindness (when vision is impaired at dusk);
  • Reduce warts - make a powder from ground seeds, apply the powder to the warts on a gauze swab;
  • Pounded fresh flowers are applied to wounds, healing is faster.

For nursing mothers, cornflower blue infusion helps to increase the amount of milk.

Pregnant women relieve them of toxicosis.

Infusion. It is better to cook in a thermos, you can use a water bath.

Enough 1 tablespoon of raw materials in dry form. Pour the flowers with a glass of boiling water, stand for an hour (if in a thermos).

The second method is a water bath for 15 minutes, then wait for cooling.

The resulting strained medicine is suitable for both external and internal use.

Drink a spoon (table) three times a day with:

  • Gall-hepatic ailments;
  • bowel disorders;
  • diabetes;
  • Diseases of the urinary tract, kidneys.

Outwardly - treat:

  • Eyes. Buried, relieving fatigue, increasing vigilance. They make tricks.
  • Skin diseases.

Tincture. In a volume ratio of 1:10, dry marginal cornflower flowers are poured with vodka.

After 2 weeks, you can treat the liver, eliminate the problems of the gallbladder.

Dosage 20 (up to 30 - according to tolerance) drops, arbitrarily diluted with water.

The same remedy will soothe nervousness.

cosmetic application

The flower is good and useful in many industries. The cosmetics and perfumery industry would be poorer without the floral addition of cornflower blue.

Cosmetic effect will give self-cooked:

  • Lotion. For a glass of infusion - a spoonful of vodka, and homemade lotion is ready. With increased skin oiliness, the remedy will gently eliminate the problem.
  • Infusion (the recipe is the same, cook in a thermos) treats acne. You can wash it or wipe your face. Cornflower will also help with dandruff.
  • Infusion and baskets (completely, the whole flower) will help hair growth, stimulate it. Pour 200 g of vinegar with the same volume of boiling water into a bowl with a tablespoon of raw materials - baskets. Half an hour of infusion, and you can rub the original remedy into the scalp. Or wash your hair by adding cornflower blue infusion to water. There is no need to be afraid of vinegar: the recipe has been repeatedly tested.

In cosmetology use:

  • Industrially made lotions with cornflower. They are in demand: they cleanse the skin well, the pores narrow, become invisible. Biologically active components act rejuvenating, give a matte finish, removing oily sheen.
  • Creams containing cornflower extract ideally care for especially sensitive skin of the eyelids, remove swollen circles under the eyes.
  • Hair also responds gratefully to washing with cornflower blue shampoos. They return a healthy shine to hair tired of varnishes and other chemicals, stimulate active growth.
  • Bath products (shower gels) with medicinal plant not just cleanse - nourish the skin of the body.
  • Good and popular among connoisseurs are body lotions with an extract of blue healer flowers added to them. Healing components and aroma give, and tenderize the skin.

Food use

The collection of raw materials is laborious, only marginal, funnel-shaped flowers of the basket are used.

it handmade. The baskets are cut off first, but the tubular middle flowers should not be present in the harvested raw materials.

Therefore, the work is painstaking: each inflorescence (basket) needs to be “plucked” - pull out small healing bells, place them to dry.

But these fragrant flowers are grown, harvested and used even for food purposes.

The scale is industrial. These petals alone replace several seasonings at once.

Adding cornflower blue seasoning to sausages, canned food, meat products gives the product a range of flavors.

Cornflower combines lemon-mint and clove aromas, gourmets appreciate it.

Varieties of cornflower

An ancient flower, settled on different continents, has many types. More than five hundred of them are known.

Two species are widespread throughout the country: meadow and blue.

Both are recognized by medicine as medicinal, in this parameter they are not inferior to each other.

Other species are also healing and beautiful.

The most common:

  • Lugovoi loves forest clearings, meadows, thickets of bushes. He settles there. Perennial. The flowers are lilac, maybe white. In the marginal flowers - the beauty of the plant. It is interesting that they are barren: nature did not give them either stamens or pistils. But with brightness and aroma they “signal” to insects: here is a flower! And the bees fly to the tubular flowers of a wonderful honey plant. Yellow paint is obtained from the baskets.
  • Blue is a lover of cereals. It settles directly in grain crops. His favorite environment is rye, wheat, barley. If you saw blue baskets of a familiar flower along the roadside, it's blue. This species also settles close to housing. Blue cornflower is annual, but it can also be biennial. Blue is the species name. Its color varies: blue, blue, purple with a pink tint. This species was used earlier to obtain paint. Blue, unlike meadow.
  • White. Low (25 cm) plant with terry baskets of white flowers. rare plant- protected by law, listed in the Red Book. Perennial.
  • Oriental. Tall, more than a meter, wild perennial. Basket yellow color. Outwardly, it looks a little like a cornflower.
  • Two more yellow cornflowers - large-headed and yellow. Tall, spherical inflorescences, shaped like burdock flowers.
  • Bleached - the name suggests: there is White color. Only not at the flower, at the leaves located below. The upper ones are ordinary, green. Decorative. Flowers pink.
  • Pink. Name and color. Tall perennial.
  • Spreading. Undersized, but strongly branched. The flowers are white or pink.

Based on these species, breeders have created a kaleidoscope of cornflower varieties.

Popular:

  • Adigel - terry white;
  • Cherry crown - red terry;
  • Lady Florence - mountain. Perennial. Delicate openwork lace shape of a white basket;
  • Golden yellow. Perennial, tall, baskets are round, fluffy, like chickens;
  • Blue diadem - cut terry branched, light blue;
  • Glow. Pink terry perennial.

There are varieties - mixtures of different colors: Favorit, Compliment. Each has its own special color and shape of the petals.

Preferably, “fluffy”, terry varieties are grown, but ordinary ones are also very elegant.

Original pollination of cornflower

The pollination mechanism common to all cornflowers is very interesting.

Stamens and pistils of tubular flowers, ready for pollination, cannot do without insects.

The stamens shed the ripened pollen inside the flower tube. And at the bottom of this tube there are hairs.

It also contains a pestle. He cannot pollinate with the pollen of his flower - cross-pollination.

But when the insect takes nectar out of the tube, the hairs and filaments of the stamens immediately contract, pushing out the pistil column.

The pistil captures pollen along the way, “shoots” directly into the abdomen of the bee.

It doesn't bother her, but her belly is already full of pollen.

The pollinator, having collected nectar, will carry pollen to other flowers. And this pestle will wait for another insect.

Sowing (planting) cornflower

Annual varieties are cultivated only when sown with seeds.

Perennials allow variations - you can use seeds, or you can divide the rhizome, there will be material for planting.

seed propagation

Seeds are sown either in pots (seedling cultivation) or in the ground.

From this, the sowing dates are shifted: seedlings in closed ground are sown earlier. Spring: March, April - depends on the region.

Without shelters, cornflowers are sown later. It is cold-resistant, but sprouts better when it is warm, so it is recommended to sow on the border of April and May.

Annual cornflowers are propagated exclusively by seeds, seedlings or soil method.

Growing through seedlings, do not dive the growing plants. The root root, breaking it during transplantation, will get weak specimens.

The solution is simple: sow immediately in peat pots. By planting the finished seedlings together with the pot, protect the root from injury, improve survival.

The soil for sowing is carefully prepared: loosened, then it is desirable to compact the top layer.

They do this for two reasons: this way moisture is retained better, and the seeds are on the same level, they do not wake up deeply.

The seeds are small, the incorporation is minimal, no deeper than 2 cm. The soil is not allowed to dry out before germination, otherwise the crust will not allow tender shoots to break through.

Option: mulching. Suitable peat, plant remains. Mulch will retain moisture until germination, reduce labor intensity: watering - less often.

Cornflower sprouts densely, subsequent thinning will be required. The distance in the row is about 15 cm.

Weeding, loosening, watering - care operations of the initial period.

When the plants get stronger, they no longer require care, it remains only not to overdry or overmoisten the earth.

Vegetative reproduction

Perennial cornflowers are often planted in divisions of rhizomes.

When planting with root segments, it is necessary to divide them so that there is one kidney on the planting material.

The soil should be, if possible, sandy, loose, if you want the plant to please you, to reveal its full varietal potential.

The distance with this type of reproduction is greater: up to half a meter. Perennial cornflowers grow stronger, the rhizomes will go horizontally in the soil.

Divide and plant rhizomes either in spring or after flowering - in autumn.

In the spring, delenki are planted shallowly in the warmed soil.

They make sure that the kidney does not deepen, remains flush with the surface, and the roots are straightened, do not “look” up or into the middle.

Varieties that grow exclusively horizontally with a rhizome can be planted deeper. The kidney will take out a depth of 2 cm.

If the soil is wet, it is enough to knead it a little around the planted cornflower. If dry, water.

The earth will be evenly distributed around the roots.

The royal flower takes root well, it does not require special conditions.

Top dressing is usually not needed if the place for the cornflower is chosen correctly.

plant care

Cornflower, with all the variety and magnificence of varieties, will require almost no care.

You can say this about him: "it grows like grass."

Care steps:

  • Sowing (planting);
  • Watering - as needed, infrequent;
  • Loosening between rows before shoots;
  • Weeding and thinning seedlings.

The rest of the plant will provide for itself.

Cornflowers are not at all capricious: care is simple, the result is pleasing.

Pests and diseases

Cornflower is a happy flower. It does not have specific pests oriented towards it and is almost not susceptible to diseases.

He is loved by hares and deer. It is difficult to call them pests.

If the site is close to the forest, the hare may drop in, but hardly in the summer. Even less likely that behind the cornflower.

With the right watering regimen, the plant does not get sick at all.

If it is “filled in”, fungal organisms can take advantage of this, then Fusarium is not excluded.

The correct choice of soils and competent adjustment of moisture will exclude morbidity.

Cornflower has long attracted the attention of artists, needlewomen, craftsmen. Embroidery, paintings, painting of dishes, coats of arms of cities - wherever this flower is not present.

Place it in a well-lit spot in the garden. Whether field, high-quality, - anyone will certainly please with grace and unpretentiousness.

Perennial will become a familiar friend. Annuals will roam at your request.

Those and others will cheer you up, give you a charge of vivacity. And if needed, health care will be provided.

Make friends with the blue miracle - you will not regret it.


See you soon, dear readers!

There are about 500 types of cornflower, which are distributed mainly in the temperate and subtropical zones of Eurasia, Africa and America. Botanists distinguish different types of cornflowers by the shape of the leaves of the wrapper. Basal leaves of perennial cornflowers remain green all year round. This is explained by the fact that they have two periods of regrowth: spring, when the leaves formed in spring live until August, and autumn, when the leaves grow in September-October and remain until spring.

Cornflowers are unusually prolific honey plants, and each flower, as a rule, is the only one on the stem.

The flower basket is surrounded by leaves of several types: external (oval shape) and internal (in the form of a medical lancet). Both varieties are covered on the outside with a membranous coating. bright flowers and an abundance of nectar are traditionally a means of attracting pollinating insects. Cornflower reproduces by seeds that are able to remain viable for 10 years! Seedlings develop within 10 days.

Near a field where rye or wheat is earing, you can almost always find a very beautiful blue flower. Call it or field cornflower because it grows in the fields, or cornflower blue- for the blue-blue color of the flowers.

Although the field cornflower is beautiful, the grain growers do not favor it, they consider it a weed. This weed interferes with those plants that are sown on the field - it takes away their nutrition and moisture, and when it grows very strongly, it obscures and suppresses them. In addition, field cornflower is of little use for pet food. And in horses, this plant even causes disease.

Once the blue cornflower was the favorite flower of Emperor Wilhelm the First, and then it became a symbol of the German people. In France, the cornflower is the emblem of one of the political parties. Cornflower blue is grown as a medicinal and ornamental plant. According to one of the myths, the centaur Chiron was treated with this flower.

Medicinal properties. Galenic preparations of blue cornflower flowers have diuretic properties, which are due to the anicyans contained in them. In addition, blue cornflower flowers have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and minor choleretic properties.

In practical medicine, blue cornflower is sometimes prescribed as a diuretic for edema of renal and cardiac origin in the form of an aqueous infusion. Included in the diuretic tea.

Contraindications. Due to the content of highly active compounds with a cyanic component in the plant, it is necessary to be careful in its use.

Dosage forms, method of administration and doses. Infusion of blue cornflower flowers: 1 tablespoon of raw material is placed in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml of hot boiled water, cover with a lid and heat in a water bath for 15 minutes. Cool down at room temperature for 45 minutes, filter, the remaining raw material is squeezed out. The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted with boiled water to 200 ml. The prepared infusion is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Taken warm, 1 tablespoon 3 times a day as a mild diuretic, choleretic and antimicrobial agent.

Collection and drying of blue cornflower. Medicinal raw materials are the blue marginal flowers of cornflower blue. Fully blooming flowers are harvested. For this purpose, flower baskets are cut or torn off, and then marginal funnel-shaped blue flowers are plucked out of them, trying not to capture the inner tubular ones. The fewer the latter, the better the raw materials will be. The collected raw materials are sorted out, the receptacle, inner tubular and faded marginal flowers, as well as other impurities are removed and immediately dried in a warm, shaded room (the flowers fade quickly in the light and the raw materials are of poor quality). Drying is recommended under sheds, spreading it in a thin layer on clean paper, or in dryers at a temperature of 40-50 ° C. The shelf life of raw materials is 2 years. Dry raw materials are odorless, retain a bright blue color, and have a bitter-astringent taste.

Chemical composition. Marginal flowers contain anthocyanins and coumarins. Of the anthocyanins, cornflower is characterized by cyanine (the blue pigment of cornflower), and of the coumarins, chicorin.

But there is another cornflower, which everyone treats with great respect. This cornflower grows in the meadows, and therefore is called meadow. It is not difficult to recognize the meadow cornflower. Its flowers are collected in the same beautiful basket as that of the field cornflower. Only the flowers themselves are not blue, but purple or purple.

Meadow cornflower blooms in June and blooms until autumn, sometimes even in September you can find flowering baskets of this plant.

And fly to purple flowers meadow cornflower worker bees. And the honey collected from these flowers is light yellow and very pleasant in taste. Therefore, beekeepers are advised to specifically breed this plant.

If the field cornflower is of little use for livestock feed, then meadow cornflower is a good fodder plant. When there are many meadow cornflowers in the meadow, hay from such a meadow is considered very nutritious. The meadow cornflower is not afraid of the spit - one of the first after mowing will raise its leaves. The plant is a perennial, it has a rhizome hidden in the ground, from which new meadow cornflowers will rise and bloom every spring.

Cornflower blue, or sowing (Centaurea cyanus L.)

Description of appearance:
flowers collected in inflorescences. Inflorescences are baskets that end with stems and branches. Wraps 12-15 mm long and 5-9 mm wide. Marginal flowers in baskets are large, funnel-shaped, blue, barren; internal - smaller, tubular, purple, bisexual.
Leaves below pinnately lobed or trifoliate, with petioles, dying off early; middle and upper - linear, sessile.
Height 20-70 cm.
Stem branchy.
Fruit- oblong gray achenes up to 4.5 mm long with a reddish tuft.
Blossoms in June-August, fruits ripen in August-September.
Lifespan: One-biennial plant.
Habitat: Typical habitats: crops of rye, wheat, other cereals and tilled crops, young fallows, poorly cultivated fallows. It has a pronounced ability to time its development cycle to the cycle of development of the crops it clogs. In connection with the improvement of agricultural technology and the use of herbicides in many fields, the cornflower disappeared completely or its number decreased sharply.
Prevalence: It is found in many regions of Eurasia and North America. In our country, blue cornflower is widely distributed in the European part, southern regions of Siberia and Far East. AT Central Russia blue cornflower is common in all areas.
Medicinal properties: The marginal flowers have medicinal uses. An infusion of them is used as a mild diuretic in diseases of the kidneys and bladder. In folk medicine, cornflower flowers are used in the treatment of many other diseases, including in the form of lotions for some eye diseases.

Meadow cornflower (Centaurea jacea L.)

Description of appearance:
flowers lilac-purple or crimson. Baskets are spherical-ovate, collected in a common corymbose inflorescence. Leaflets of involucre at the top with light brown membranous unequally toothed appendages.
Leaves ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, spiky, green, rough on both sides from sinuous scattered hairs.
Height 20-100 cm.
Stem upright, branched in the upper part, rarely simple, often lilac-purple, ribbed-furrowed, noticeably thickened under the baskets.
Root short woody.
Fruit- achene without tuft.
Flowering and fruiting time:
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: Meadow cornflower grows in meadows, in the steppes, on the edges, glades, roadsides.
Prevalence: European species introduced to North America. In Russia, it is widely distributed in the European part, brought to the Caucasus, Siberia and the Far East. In Central Russia, meadow cornflower is found in all areas.
Addition: Good honey plant.

Phrygian cornflower (Centaurea phrygia L.)

Description of appearance:
flowers: Baskets are spherical-ovate, collected in a common corymbose inflorescence. Wraps 14-20 mm long and 12-17 mm wide; involucre leaves, except for the innermost row, with a black or brown recurved appendage, fringedly dissected into hair-like lobules; appendages of middle involucral leaflets almost black, wider than the leaflets themselves and separated from them by constriction. Flowers purple or dark pink.
Leaves: Leaves lanceolate, finely toothed at the edges, narrowed towards the base, but not amplexicaul.
Height: from 30 to 150 cm.
Stem: Stems are erect, branched in the upper part, rarely simple, often lilac-purple, ribbed-furrowed, noticeably thickened under the baskets.
Root: With woody rhizome and cord-like roots.
Fetus: Hemicarp with tuft of serrated bristles.
Flowering and fruiting time:
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: Phrygian cornflower grows in meadows, in light forests, on edges, glades, in thickets of shrubs.
Prevalence: European look. In Russia, it is found in the European part, as well as in the south-west of Western Siberia. In Central Russia, it is distributed, apparently, in all areas.
Addition: Good honey plant.

Phrygian cornflower (Centaurea pseudophrygia C.A. Mey.)

Description of appearance:
flowers: Baskets are ovoid, collected in a common corymbose inflorescence. Involucre almost spherical or ovoid, 15-20 mm long and 8-15 mm wide; appendages of middle leaflets of involucre brown, without constriction, continuing the leaflets themselves. The flowers are pink, pink-purple, rarely white.
Leaves: Leaves are green, broadly lanceolate or oblong, rough with stiff hairs.
Height: from 30 to 120 cm.
Stem: Stem erect, ribbed-furrowed, glabrous or slightly cobwebbed, noticeably thickened under the basket, pale green or lilac-purple, branching, rarely simple.
Root: With a woody rhizome and thick stringy roots.
Fruit: Achenes with pappus.
Flowering and fruiting time: Flowering from June to September, achenes ripen in July-October.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: The false Phrygian cornflower grows in clearings, forest edges, meadows, in thickets of bushes.
Prevalence: European look. In Central Russia, it is found in all regions, more often in the south.
Addition: In the Penza and Voronezh regions, and to the north as an adventive, a strongly branched Hairy-headed cornflower (Centaurea trichocephala Bieb.) with a densely hairy branched stem, narrow-lanceolate leaves and smaller baskets with oblong-ovate involucres 13-15 mm long and 6-10 mm wide.

Cornflower spreading (Centaurea diffusa Lam.)

Description of appearance:
flowers: Baskets are ovate-cylindrical, collected in a common sprawling paniculate inflorescence. Wrappers are cylindrical, 8-10 mm long and 3-3.5 mm wide; their leaves have three veins and a prickly point. The flowers are usually pale pink or whitish.
Leaves: Leaves are pinnately dissected into narrow-linear pointed segments.
Height: 10 to 50 cm.
Stem: Stems erect or ascending at the base, strongly branched, ribbed-furrowed, sharply rough, scattered cobweb like leaves.
Fruit: Brownish achenes with a barely noticeable tuft.
Flowering and fruiting time: Flowering from June to October, achenes ripen in July-October.
Lifespan: Biennial plant.
Habitat: Cornflower sprawling grows on mounds railways, wastelands, outskirts of fields.
Prevalence: European-Caucasian-Asia Minor species. In Russia, it is distributed in the southern half of the European part and in the Caucasus, brought to Eastern Siberia (Buryatia). In Central Russia, it grows in the chernozem zone, in more northern regions it is sporadically found as an adventive plant.
Addition: On river sands and railway embankments in Central Russia, two similar, but less branched one-biennial species are noted, in which 3-5 veins on each leaflet of the involucre, and the appendages of the leaflets of the involucre with membranous ears: Cornflower Mayorova (Centaurea majorovii Dumb.), registered in the Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Moscow, Saratov regions, having ovoid-conical wrappers and a ribbed stem, sharply rough at the top along the ribs, and Cornflower Sophia (Centaurea sophiae Klokov), indicated for the Voronezh region, with oblong-ovate wrappers and a stem rough from conical tubercles.

Cornflower false-spotted (Centaurea pseudomaculosa Dobrocz.)

Description of appearance:
flowers: Baskets are ovoid, collected in a common wide paniculate inflorescence. Involucre ovoid, 10-14 mm long and 10-13 mm wide; involucre leaves with five veins; appendages of outer and middle leaflets dark brown, with 6-9 fringes on each side. The flowers are pink.
Leaves: The lower leaves are twice leristorected, with petioles; upper - pinnatisected or whole, sessile; leaf terminal lobes linear, 1-4 mm wide.
Height: 30-70 cm.
Stem: Stems erect, branched, ribbed-striated, sharply rough.
Fruit: Brown achenes with light ribs and a short tuft.
Flowering and fruiting time: Blossoms in June-August, achenes ripen in July-October.
Lifespan: Biennial plant.
Habitat: The false-spotted cornflower grows in the steppes, in dry meadows, edges, clearings, roadsides. In the Non-Chernozem region, this plant comes across as adventive along the roads.
Prevalence: European species, slightly extending into Western Siberia. In Central Russia, it is common in the black earth zone.
Addition: In the Voronezh, Lipetsk, Penza and Tambov regions, a closely related species is occasionally found. Cornflower Bieberstein (Centaurea biebersteinii DC.), more densely cobwebby pubescent, its involucres are oblong-ovate, 10-11 mm long and about 7 mm wide, the appendages of the outer and middle leaflets of the involucre are light brown, with 4-6 fringes on each side; terminal leaf lobes narrow, 1-1.5 mm wide. Rarely found in the Bryansk region Cornflower of the Rhine (Centaurea rhenana Boreau), having a corymbose inflorescence and black appendages at the outer and middle leaflets of the wrapper.

Cornflower rough (Centaurea scabiosa L.)

Description of appearance:
flowers: Baskets are large. The outer and middle leaflets of the involucre have black-brown or almost black large (2-6 mm long) appendages and long cilia along the edge. The flowers are pink; marginal flowers in the basket are slightly larger than the median ones.
Leaves: Leaves pinnatipartite or pinnately lobed, lower ones with long petioles, upper ones partially sessile.
Height: 40-120 cm.
Stem: Stems erect, branched at the top.
Fruit: Achenes 3.5-4.5 mm long, pappus whitish with a brownish-gray tint, 4-5 mm long.
Flowering and fruiting time: Flowering from June to September, achenes ripen in July-October.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: Cornflower rough grows in meadows, in the steppes, on the edges, glades, in thickets of shrubs.
Prevalence: European-North Asian view. In Russia, it is distributed in many regions of the European part, in Siberia; brought to the south of the Far East (Primorye). In Central Russia, it is found in all regions.
Addition: Honey plant, quite decorative. In the steppes, meadows and fallow lands, the European Cornflower spiky (Centaurea apiculata Ledeb.), which has a small appendage in the middle leaflets of the wrapper, 0.8-1.8 mm long; his baskets are ovoid; the flowers are pink, the marginal flowers in the basket are somewhat larger than the median ones. Several other types of cornflower with pink flowers is introduced into the territory of Central Russia or have a narrow local area in the south of the black earth belt.

Russian cornflower (Centaurea ruthenica Lam.)

Description of appearance:
flowers: Baskets are ovoid. Involucral leaves are leathery, greenish, but with dark-colored veins; outer and middle leaflets of involucre without appendages, sometimes with narrow (up to 1 mm wide) membranous border. All flowers in the basket are light yellow.
Leaves: Leaves are pinnatipartite.
Height: 50-140 cm.
Stem: Stems erect, simple or branched at the top.
Fruit: Achenes with a whitish or brownish tuft.
Flowering and fruiting time: Blossoms in June-August, achenes ripen in July-September.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: Russian cornflower grows in the steppes, on limestone and chalk outcrops.
Prevalence: Predominantly European-Central Asian species. In Russia, it is distributed in the southern half of the European part, Ciscaucasia and in the south of Western Siberia. In Central Russia, it is found in the black earth zone and in the regions of the Non-Chernozem region bordering it.
Addition: A polymorphic species, within which several forms are distinguished, sometimes recognized as independent species. In the chernozem zone on chalk, perennial Eastern cornflower (Centaurea orientalis L.) With yellow flowers, thin-skinned and comb-ciliate leaves of the involucre along the edge.

Marshall's cornflower (Centaurea marschalliana Spreng.)

Description of appearance:
flowers: Single baskets. Involucre broadly ovate, about 15 mm long and 12-14 mm wide; appendages of the middle leaflets of the involucre are dentate-fringed along the edge. The flowers are purple.
Leaves: Basal leaves pinnately dissected, with long petioles; stem - whole or pinnatipartite.
Stem: Stems decumbent, ascending at the end, 7-35 cm long, simple or branching. The flower-bearing stems emerging from the axils of the basal leaves are densely covered with erect hairs.
Root: With ascending branched rhizome.
Fruit: Achenes with pappus.
Flowering and fruiting time: Blossoms in May-July, achenes ripen in June-October.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: Cornflower Marshall grows in dry pine forests, steppes, sands, outcrops of chalk and limestone.
Prevalence: European species, common in our country. In Central Russia, it is found in the black earth zone, as well as in many areas of the Non-Black Earth Region (except for the northernmost ones).
Addition: Polymorphic appearance; a form with a narrow ovoid involucre 15-22 mm long and 8-14 mm wide, having entire appendages at the middle leaflets of the involucre or with 3-5 short fringes, often isolated in independent view Sumy cornflower (Centaurea sumensis Kalen.), confined in the southern regions of Central Russia to pine forest sands, steppe and rocky slopes.

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Centaurea cyanus
Taxon: Aster family ( Asteraceae) or Compositae ( composites)
Folk names: voloshka, blue flower, blavat, patchwork, rye patchwork, blues, cyanosis, cyanosis
English: Cornflower

The generic name comes from the Greek kentaureion, which is associated with the name of the centaur Chiron, Greek kyanos- blue.

Description:
Blue cornflower is a one- or two-year-old plant with a thin taproot branched root. Stem erect, branched, up to 80 cm in height. The lower leaves are trifoliate or pinnately lobed, rarely entire, petiolate, dying off by the time of flowering. The rest of the leaves are sessile, linear, entire. Flowers in single large baskets about 3 cm in diameter on long leafless peduncles. Marginal flowers asexual, with blue funnel-shaped deeply five-cut corollas up to 2 cm long; median - bisexual, stamens 5, anthers fused into a tube, pistil with two stigmas with purple tubular five-toothed corollas up to 1 cm long. apex, tuft, equal in length to achene, consists of unequal reddish or purple hard bristly hairs, easily broken off. Blooms from May to August. Fruits in August.

Spreading:
Cornflower is unpretentious, grows everywhere, but best of all - on moist, lime-rich soils. It is a weed plant of rye fields and other plants (wheat, flax, alfalfa) of the European part of Russia. These flowers can be grown not only in the garden, but also in boxes on the balcony or outside window sills.

Collection and preparation:
For medical purposes, marginal blue flowers of cornflowers without baskets are used. They are harvested during flowering in June-July, as soon as the flower basket opens. Marginal and partly tubular flowers are plucked from the flower basket. Dry immediately after collection in the shade in a well-ventilated area or in a dryer, scattered in a thin layer at a temperature of 40-50 ° C, periodically turning over. At sunlight marginal flowers turn from blue to whitish and lose their valuable qualities. Such raw materials are rejected. The dried raw material of blue cornflower is odorless, it has a bright blue color and a bitter astringent taste. Humidity of finished raw materials is allowed no more than 14%, flower baskets no more than 1%, no more than 8% that have lost their blue color. Store in closed boxes or glass jars 2 years.

Chemical composition:
Main active substances- anthocyanins: diglucosides of cyanidin and pelargonidin, as well as derivatives of phenol and flavones - apigenin, luteolin, quercetin and kaempferol. The marginal flowers of blue cornflower baskets contain the glycoside centaurin. Pelargonin chloride, anthocyanins, coumarins, saponins, sterols, resinous, pectin and tannins, carotene and ascorbic acid were also found in the flowers. As well as salts of potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and trace elements: manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, chromium, nickel, vanadium, aluminum, selenium, lead, strontium, boron. Blue cornflower seeds contain up to 28% fatty oils.

Pharmacological properties:
Cornflower preparations have a diuretic, diaphoretic, antipyretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, mild laxative, anti-febrile, wound-healing effect. They relieve spasm of smooth muscles of internal organs, stimulate appetite and improve digestion.

Application in medicine:
Applied inside for colds, coughs, edema of renal and cardiac origin, inflammation of the bladder and kidneys, to improve digestion, constipation, stomach pain, palpitations. Blue cornflower is used as a lotion for eye diseases: night blindness, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, visual impairment, and also as an anti-febrile agent. Cornflower is useful for jaundice, colic, bilious fever, gout, scurvy, worms.

Medications:
Infusion of cornflower flowers: one tsp dry cornflower flowers are poured into a glass of boiling water, insisted without boiling for 30 minutes, cooled, filtered. Apply 2 tbsp. l. 3 times a day 15-20 minutes before meals for coughing, whooping cough, used as an antipyretic for acute respiratory infections, fevers, headaches, diseases of the kidneys, liver, bladder, biliary tract, pancreas, gastritis, colitis with, palpitations, for stimulate appetite and improve digestion.
Cornflower decoction: brew 1 liter of boiling water 5 g of herb with the root, boil until half of the original volume remains in the bowl. After that, strain the broth and take 1/2 cup 3 times a day before eating (drink warm). The course of treatment is 5-6 weeks.
For eye diseases
Infusion of cornflower flowers: brew 200 ml of boiling water 1-2 tsp. flowers (dry or fresh), leave for 1 hour, then strain and use as a lotion 6-8 times a day for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes.
Treatment will be more successful if 3 times a day, 15-20 minutes after meals, drink 50 g of infusion of flowers.
The same infusion can be used to treat "night blindness" - a disease associated with impaired twilight vision. Use as a lotion for conjunctivitis.
With eye inflammation, the following collection of herbs taken in equal parts is also effective: cornflower (flowers), snapdragons (flowers), medicinal eyebright (grass), herbaceous elder (flowers). From this mixture it is necessary to prepare an infusion: pour 2 tbsp. l. collection of 200 ml of boiling water and insist in a thermos for 6-8 hours. Use for instillation into the eyes and lotions. The course of treatment is several months.
For conjunctivitis, mix: cornflower (flowers) - 2 parts; wild rose (flowers) - 1 part; chamomile officinalis (flowers) - 1 part; large plantain (leaves) - 1 part; elderberry herbaceous (flowers) - 1 part. Pour 3 tbsp. l. of this mixture 200 ml of boiling water, insist until cool and strain through gauze and cotton wool. Instill 3 drops in both eyes once a day.
With lacrimation, pour 1 tbsp. l. cornflower flowers 400 ml of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, then strain. Use this infusion for lotions.
You can make lotions on sore eyes from the broth of cornflower flowers, brew 200 ml of boiling water for 1 tsp. flowers and insist in a thermos for 6-8 hours. With the same broth, filtered through cotton wool, instill eyes (4-5 drops).
Diuretic
Infusion of cornflower flowers: 1 tsp. flowers 200 ml of boiling water, insist 30 minutes and filter. Take 50-100 ml 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals as a diuretic for edema of renal and cardiac origin, as well as inflammation of the bladder and kidneys.
With edema due to heart failure, an infusion of a mixture of herbs is used as a diuretic: cornflower (flowers) - 10 g; beans (sashes) - 15 g birch (buds) - 15 g; corn (stigmas) - 15 g; (leaves) - 15 g; hernia (grass) - 10 g; horsetail (grass) - 10 g. Pour 4 tbsp. l. of this mixture 1 l warm water, insist 12 hours, boil for 10 minutes and filter. Drink warm 100 ml 4 times a day 1 hour after meals.
With dropsy an infusion of cornflower flowers is recommended, which is prepared as follows: pour 1-2 tsp. flowers 200 ml of boiling water, insist 1 hour and filter. Drink 50 ml 3 times a day 10-15 minutes before meals.
For diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract as a diuretic, an infusion of herbs is used: cornflower (flowers) - 15 g; bearberry (leaves) -45 g; juniper (berries) - 15 g. Pour 1 tbsp. l. of this mixture 200 ml of boiling water, insist 20 minutes and filter. Take 1 tbsp. l. 3-4 times a day.
With urinary retention due to inflammatory processes in the urinary organs, it is recommended to use a hot decoction of the following mixture of herbs: cornflower petals (10 g); grassy elder root (15 g); corn stigmas (10 g); bearberry leaves (15 g); horsetail herbs (5 g); herbs hernia (10 g); birch buds (15 g).
Pour 4 tbsp. l. (with top) of this mixture 1 l cold water, insist during the night, and in the morning boil for 5-7 minutes. The whole broth is drunk per day in 5 doses.
With urolithiasis in folk medicine, cornflower is used in the following collection of herbs: cornflower (flowers) - 15 g; walnut (leaves) - 10 g; stinging nettle (leaves) - 10 g; calendula (flowers) - 10 g; horsetail (grass) - 10 g; tricolor violet
(grass) -20g; string (grass) -15 g; veronica (grass) - 10 g. Pour 4 tbsp. l. (with top) a mixture of 1 liter of raw water, insist 8-10 hours, then boil for 5-7 minutes and filter. Drink per day in 5 doses.
Cornflower for cardiovascular diseases
With hypertension traditional medicine recommends the following collection: cornflower (flowers) - 15 g; hawthorn (fruits) - 15 g; chokeberry (fruits) - 15 g; horsetail (grass) - 15 g; yarrow (grass) - 15 g; white mistletoe (leaves) - 15 g; valerian (root) - 15 g. Pour 1 tbsp. l. of this mixture 200 ml of boiling water, insist 30 minutes and filter. Take 70 g 3 times a day after meals.
Cornflower in diseases of the liver and biliary tract
With stones in the liver folk medicine uses cornflowers as part of the following collection: cornflower (flowers) - 20 g; medicinal dandelion (root) - 10 g; nettle (root) - 10 g; calendula (flowers) - 40 g; sweet clover (grass) - 30 g. Pour 1 tbsp. l. of this mixture 1 liter of boiling water, put 4-5 pieces of sugar, stir and infuse for 1 hour. Take 200 ml 4-5 times a day before meals.
For diseases of the liver and biliary tract apply tincture of cornflower flowers. For its preparation, insist 30 g of cornflower flowers per 300 ml of 40% alcohol or vodka in a dark place for 10 days. Take 30 drops 3 times a day 15-20 minutes before meals.
Cornflower for wounds and fractures
Juice and essence from the blue cornflower stem has a wound healing effect. Cornflower leaf powder is also an effective wound healing agent.
In case of bone fractures, grass and cornflower flowers are finely ground and mixed with blackthorn juice. Take in the morning on an empty stomach 1-2 tbsp. l. within 8 days.
Cornflower for skin diseases
To purify the blood in case of skin diseases, abscesses and furunculosis, the following collection of herbs is used: cornflower (flowers) - 15 g; calendula (flowers) - 10 g; walnut (leaves) - South; nettle (leaves) - 10 g; horsetail (grass) - 10 g; tricolor violet (grass) - 20 g; string (grass) - 15 g; veronica (grass) - 10 g. Pour 4 tbsp. l. of this mixture 1 liter of water, insist overnight, boil for 5-7 minutes in the morning and filter. Drink the entire dose per day in 5 doses. The course of treatment is 6 weeks.
Cornflower is also used in the form of infusions and liquid extracts in 40% alcohol 1:10.
If you throw a flower into the fire and then look at the sky, it will begin to seem that the stars are moving. Inhalation of smoke from a burnt cornflower causes fear.

Contraindications:
Poisonous. The plant contains active compounds with a cyanide component. Therefore, when using raw materials, care must be taken.

Household use:
For household purposes, from the flowers you can get a permanent blue and blue dye for woolen fabrics. In nutrition, flowers and seeds of cornflower are used. Flowers are added to the first, second courses, gravies, sauces. Powder from the seeds serves as a seasoning for soups, borscht, gravy to meat, fish.

A bit of history:
In myths Ancient Greece it was told about Hekate - the progenitor of all poisoners, about the wise centaur Chirons, who knew the healing powers of all herbs and communicated this knowledge to Apollo. According to the myth, Apollo asked Chiron to raise his son Asclepius, the patron saint of doctors and medical art. On Mount Pelion, Chiron taught Asclepius to recognize medicinal plants, and soon the capable student surpassed his teacher. In memory of the first, albeit mythological herbalist, the centaur Chirons, two genera of plants belonging to different botanical families are called "centaurs". This is a cornflower - Centaurea and the centaury - Centaurium, and the family of gossamers in Latin is named after Asclepius - Asclepiadaceae.
Pliny claimed that this plant casts out evil spirits. From a magical point of view, the power of this plant is increased if the words of the spell are read over it before harvesting.

Photos and illustrations:

Today we are talking about flowers, but not about all, only about one - the flower Cornflower. Which secret meaning he carries and what lies behind his beautiful view?

Giving flowers is a wonderful and amazing tradition that has come down to us since ancient times. Now few people know the symbolism of flowers. And in the 18-19 centuries, with the help of these graceful and beautiful plants it was possible to express the whole gamut of feelings from all-consuming love to burning hatred.

Young people of Pushkin's age read with interest dictionaries and books about the meaning of plants, gave flowers and bouquets of them, putting at the same time a special and even secret, intimate meaning.

The method of transmitting information using colors is called the "language of flowers". It is believed that this extraordinary method of conveying emotions and feelings originated in eastern countries, where Muslim women and girls could not openly express their feelings.

Currently, the "language of flowers" is not as popular as it once was, and few people know the true meaning of flowers, their secret meaning. But, nevertheless, every year the interest in such an original method of conveying feelings is growing and gaining popularity.

This is due to the fact that by giving a flower, you can express a variety of feelings: hatred, sadness and joy, expectation and meeting. Flowers come to the aid of those who do not dare to openly express their feelings. One of these plants is simple, but at the same time beautiful flower cornflower.

Cornflower flower: the origin of the name

It is believed that the beautiful wildflower cornflower got its name from the Greek word "basilikon", which is close in meaning to the modern nouns "basilisk", "basil" and own name Basil. flower cornflower- This is an old Russian borrowing from the Greek language, which used to mean "royal flower". Initially, the cornflower flower played an important role among the southern Slavs in funeral rituals and funeral rites.


The botanical name of the cornflower is centaurea.- This is a Latin designation that comes from the Greek word "kentaureion". It is this name that is associated with the centaur Chiron, the famous Greek mythological doctor who knew healing properties many plants, including cornflower.

There is also a version that Latin name cornflower ("centaurea") means "one hundred yellow flowers". We associate cornflower with blue color, but in nature there are also yellow, purple, blue, white and pink cornflowers.

Botanical description of cornflower

Cornflower belongs to herbaceous plants aster family. Nowadays, there are more than 550 species of this beautiful wild flower. There are perennial, biennial and annual cornflower flowers.

Wildflowers are found in different parts of the world: Northern and South America, Eurasia, (tropics), as well as one species - in Austria. The height of cornflowers can reach one hundred and twenty centimeters. The flowering period of cornflowers is from June to September.

Symbolism of the cornflower

Currently, cornflower in the language of flowers means: "I do not dare to express my feelings to you!".


In addition, an elegant plant symbolizes trust, fidelity, openness, delicacy, grace and simplicity. Usually cornflowers are given to girls to show their sympathy and good location. Also, such a present is interpreted as an offer of friendship or a renewal of acquaintance.

The famous Russian translator and poet D. P. Oznobishin in the book “Selam, or the language of flowers” ​​highlighted the following meaning of cornflower: “be simple as he is.”

When compiling this edition, Dmitry Petrovich translated a German book published in 1823 in Berlin, supplementing it with new plant names. The publication was very popular among young people of that time.

Among the ancient Slavs, two flowers are associated with wild flowers cornflowers. interesting holiday: “an ear went to the field”, as well as “a birthday sheaf”. The first holiday was celebrated by our ancestors at the time when the first ears appeared on the field.


Young people gathered on the outskirts of their village near the rye field, standing opposite each other in two rows. Then the girls and boys firmly held hands, along which a girl decorated with blue flowers of cornflowers walked. After that, the couples moved from the last rows to the first. This action continued until the girl walked hand in hand to the field, where she descended to the ground.

On the field of rye, she plucked several ears of corn, after which the whole procession went home, singing ritual songs. The second holiday took place before the harvest. The first sheaf that women gathered in the field was decorated with cornflowers. He was called "birthday" and solemnly carried to his house with songs.

Our ancestors loved to make beautiful wreaths from cornflowers, which they then hung in the house. It was believed that these field plants were able to drive away crickets. Also, cornflowers were very often the main element in the embroidery of our ancestors-craftswomen.

Made from cornflowers and natural dyes: the plucked extreme petals of the flowers were used to create blue dye, and the tubular petals were used to create a beautiful rich blue dye. It is known that natural paints made from cornflower flowers are very resistant. This is also evidenced by the fact that the wreath of cornflowers found in the tomb did not lose its blue color after millennia.

Legends of cornflowers

There are many beautiful legends associated with wild flowers cornflowers. In Russian legends, the name of this marvelous plant is associated with an old legend about the love of a beautiful mermaid and an ordinary plowman Vasily.


Two hearts in love could not decide where it is better to live in water or on land. As a result, he turns his lover into a beautiful blue flower that resembles the blue of water.

According to German tradition, blue cornflowers are small fragments of the sky, in which a golden field of rye fell in love. And even now you can see that with every breath of the wind, the ears of rye bend towards the beautiful cornflowers, quietly whispering wonderful words of love.

Healing properties of the flower

Cornflowers have been actively used in medicine and cosmetology since ancient times. Due to its antiviral and antibacterial properties, a large number nutrients cornflowers irreplaceable assistants in the treatment of various diseases.

The plant is widely used in folk medicine as a diuretic, as well as a choleretic agent. In addition, cornflowers have anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effects. In cosmetology flower cornflower used as a tonic. It is believed that the plant also has a rejuvenating effect.

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