Aralia high or Manchurian (lat.Aralia elata) is a low medicinal plant of the Araliaceae family (Araliaceae). It has two life forms - wood and shrub. In Russia, this plant is otherwise called the damn or thorn tree.
In some biological reference books, Manchu aralia is distinguished as a separate species. The name of the genus "Aralia" has a native American origin (it was invented by the tribes of the Indians).
Biological description
Aralia can reach a height of 3 to 7 meters. This is a deciduous plant with a straight, low-branched trunk covered with dark brown bark (gray in young trees), on which short and thick sharp spikes are located. The latter are also found on petioles of leaves. The diameter of the trunk at the tree can reach 20 cm. The shrub form is much less common.
This plant has panicle inflorescences, which are usually located in the upper part of the trunk. The ovary consists of 5 nests. The flowers are small, yellowish-white, with petals of an oblong-ovate shape and relatively long non-fused stamens.
The leaves of aralia high are very large (from 40 to 80 cm), doubly pinnate (rarely thrice), located horizontally on long (up to 20 cm) petioles, stipules absent. Each leaf blade consists of 2-4 opposite shares, numbering from 3 to 13 leaflets with serrated edges. Leaf arrangement - the next, spiral.
Aralia blooms high in August, and fruiting occurs in September. The fruits are spherical in shape and usually contain 5 seeds, which are flattened laterally. Reproduction occurs due to seeds or root offspring. The color of ripe fruits is dark purple or black and blue.
The root system is pivotal (the main root is well defined), branched. In addition to the usual adventitious roots, there are rhizomes. The roots lie shallow, leaving the trunk in the radial direction.
In the photo, the high aralia looks like a very beautiful tree with a peculiar spreading crown up to 3 meters in diameter, resembling a fern or palm tree in shape. The foliage of the crown is bright green and very dense.
Aralia has a high life expectancy of 25 years, of which 7-8 are fruit bearing. Flowering begins in the 5th year of plant development.
Habitat halo
Aralia high is prevalent in the following geographical regions:
- Japan;
- China;
- Far East;
- peninsula of Korea;
- Primorsky Krai;
- Kurile Islands;
- Sakhalin.
Under natural conditions, aralia grows mainly in the undergrowth of mixed forests, in fern fir trees or bamboo stony birch forests. It prefers well-lit places, can grow both singly and in groups.
Position in taxonomy
In the system of plant classification, aralia high (Manchu) occupies the following systematic position:
- The kingdom is plants.
- Division - angiosperms.
- Class - dicotyledonous.
- Family - Aralievs.
- Genus and species - Aralia is high.
In addition to this plant, the genus Aralia includes another 34 species, among which there are trees, shrubs and perennial grasses. The shrubby form of Manchurian Aralia is a plant with several vertical trunks.
Chemical composition
Aralia is high - a plant with a high content of biologically active substances, which is due to its pharmacological value. The following chemical compounds were discovered in it:
- alkaloids;
- flavonoids;
- coumarins;
- saponins;
- cardenolides;
- steroids (sitosterol, stigmasterol);
- essential oil;
- triterpenoids;
- aliphatic hydrocarbons and their esters;
- cerebrosides;
- organic acids;
- fatty oil;
- vitamins (B, C);
- higher fatty acids.
The main medical valuable component are triterpenoids (triterpene glycosides), which are derivatives of oleanolic acid. Aralia roots contain many compounds of this group, including:
- 4 types of aralosides (A, B, C in the core and G in the root cortex);
- acandoside D;
- araloside A methyl ester;
- 6 varieties of oleanosides (B, D, F, G, H, I);
- 2 glucopyranoside oleanolic acid;
- sylphoside A;
- narcissiflorin.
The content of aralosides in the roots is 4.5-9.4%, in the trunk - 2.8-4.7%, and in the cortex - 4.8 -7.5%. Triterpene glycosides are also present in fruits and leaves. The roots contain not only biologically active compounds, but also a large number of minerals.
Decorative qualities and features of cultivation
Aralia high - ornamental tree and shrub, which are actively used in landscape design. Beautiful hedges are made from this plant, and both group and single planting are used in parks. In a private area, it can be grown for decorative purposes or for medicinal raw materials.
Aralia high has high frost resistance (it tolerates temperature well - 45 ° C). However, in harsh winters, annual shoots may suffer. This plant is shade tolerant and undemanding to soils, but develops better on fertile soil with good lighting and moderate humidity. Nevertheless, in regions with very hot summers, it is better not to plant aralia on a site located in the open sun. In this case, it is desirable that a certain part of the day the plant was in the light, and the rest of the time in the shade.
Important advantages of growing Manchurian aralia as an ornamental plant are very rapid growth (up to 25 cm per year) and low maintenance requirements. The main labor activities are carried out during planting and reproduction.
Landing and care
Before planting aralia high, it is necessary to carefully dig up the soil to a depth of 30 cm, and leave to ventilate. Before the event itself, you can moisten the soil if it is too dry, and immediately fertilize it.
For the seedling, you need a pit 40 cm deep and 80 cm in diameter, where the prepared soil is poured with a 15-cm layer. Placed on the bottom of the plant carefully you need to straighten the roots, water and sprinkle with soil to the top of the pit. As an additional measure, immediately after planting, the soil can be mulched.
Measures for plant care come down to periodic loosening of the soil, elimination of weeds and top dressing. Due to the superficial location of the roots, digging is absolutely not allowed. To give the plant a more accurate look, you can carry out sanitary pruning of branches in the spring.
The most effective method of plant propagation is cuttings, which are usually formed close to the trunk and grow up to 25 cm during the summer period. They can be used as seedlings that are placed in holes 6 to 10 cm deep. For planting, you need to choose instances with a well-developed root system.
Propagation by seeds is a more labor-intensive and time-consuming undertaking, since they germinate no earlier than three years after planting.
Application
Among ornamental trees and shrubs, high aralia occupies a special place as a plant with valuable medicinal properties. It is used both in folk and traditional medicine. Various vegetative parts of the plant (roots, bark, leaves) are harvested as therapeutic raw materials, each of which has its own pharmacological value. In folk medicine, fruits and kidneys are also used.
From high Aralia they prepare tinctures, decoctions and medical preparations. In addition, the leaves of this plant in raw and boiled form can be eaten.
Harvesting raw materials
Aralia roots are harvested either in spring (before foliage blooms) or in September. They dig out from the trunk to the periphery. Only specimens with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm are suitable as raw materials. Only plants older than 5 years are acceptable for harvesting.
After digging, the roots are thoroughly cleaned from the ground and roots with a blackened central part, and then subjected to drying. The latter can be carried out in several ways:
- dryer (temperature 60 ° C);
- well-ventilated room;
- open air (only in dry weather).
Bark and leaves should be collected only in dry weather during flowering or after it. Drying of the material should be carried out at a temperature of from 50 to 55 degrees.
Therapeutic properties and contraindications of Aralia high
Aralia preparations have many useful properties, including:
- anti-inflammatory;
- tonic;
- diuretic;
- sugar lowering;
- hypotensive;
- restorative;
- respiratory stimulation;
- cardiotonic effect.
Galleon preparations are made from this plant, which have a strong stimulating effect on the central nervous system. Tinctures and decoctions from Aralia are widely known. Root extract lowers sugar levels in people with diabetes. Bark tincture is used for chronic fatigue syndrome.
The use of drugs based on high aralia has a number of contraindications, which include hyperkinesis, pregnancy and the period of breastfeeding, hysteria, age up to 10 years, epilepsy, insomnia. In all other cases, subject to dosages, the plant is safe. In order to avoid sleep disturbances, the use of aralia in the evening is not recommended.
Tinctures
Tinctures and decoctions are made from the roots of the plant. To prepare the tincture, you need to fill in 20 grams of crushed material with 70% alcohol in a volume of 100 ml. This mixture needs to be insisted for 15 days in a warm dark place, periodically shaking. The result should be an amber solution with a pleasant taste and smell.
The use of tinctures of aralia is advisable for the following pathologies:
- recently suffered traumatic brain injury;
- depression;
- impotence;
- mental and physical overwork;
- recent flu;
- post-influenza arachnoiditis;
- low blood pressure (hypotension);
- asthenia.
This tool stimulates the central nervous system well.
Drink tincture of 30-40 drops with meals 2-3 times a day for two to three weeks. If the body is prone to high blood pressure, the dosage should not exceed 20 drops, and the duration of treatment is 2 weeks.
Decoctions
A decoction of the roots is useful in disorders such as:
- gastrointestinal tract diseases;
- cold;
- diabetes;
- inflammation of the oral cavity;
- kidney disease
- enuresis.
This tool also has a tonic effect. Preparing a decoction at the rate of 20 grams of raw materials per 1 glass of water. The mixture is boiled for half an hour in a water bath, then it cools for 10 minutes, filtered and squeezed, after which it is brought to its original volume with boiled water.
Such a decoction should be stored only in the refrigerator and not more than three days. The duration of treatment, as in the case of tincture, is 2-3 weeks. You need to drink the broth three times a day before meals, one tablespoon each.
