Stonecrop ordinary, or, as the people say, "rabbit cabbage", is a perennial plant belonging to the genus Sedum, the family Crassulacease. This succulent culture is also known as a stone rose, or juvenile.
The plant has been known since ancient times, it was planted as a lightning rod on the roofs of the premises during the reign of Charlemagne. Widely distributed in Western and Central Africa, in Europe.
What does rabbit cabbage look like
The stalk of the culture is erect, 10 to 70 centimeters high, mostly purple-red in color. The plant is fleshy, the leaves are thick and opposite, with a waxy coating, a slightly grayish tint. Leaves are serrated and notched.
Flowering begins from July to September, depending on the region of growth. The flowers are star-shaped. They are very small, color - from yellowish green to reddish. Inflorescence is corymbose and dense. The fruits of the plant can be seen in September. Flowers always appear at the top of the stem.
Where grows
In our latitudes, rabbit cabbage grows in the European part of the Russian Federation, in Moldova and Ukraine. It prefers sandy soils; it can also be found on the coastline near fresh water bodies. The culture also grows on the edges and hills, in pine groves and in bushes, along the tracks.
Benefit
In folk medicine, underground, aboveground parts and flowers of rabbit cabbage are used. They prepare the culture for storage only in sunny weather, in extreme cases, cloudy, but in no case in rainy weather, and not when the plant is blooming. Roots are harvested from September to October.
After harvesting, the grass does not need to be washed, but only well cleaned of the ground and dried in a well-ventilated area, previously divided into small segments.
Structure
Stonecrop is rich in tannins, it contains vitamin C and organic acids, as well as:
- flavonoid glycosides;
- carotene;
- calcium salts;
- B vitamins
Use in traditional medicine
The healing properties of "rabbit cabbage" have been well studied to date, and it has been established that the plant belongs to the category of poisonous, so its use should be clearly dosed.
Fresh leaves are used in ointments for wounds that do not heal for a long time, with acne and other problems with the skin. Women use sedum to treat mastitis.
Infusions from youngsters help get rid of bronchitis and gastric ulcer; they help women with heavy menstruation. A decoction is used as a diuretic. It helps the plant as a painkiller.
By its biological activity, the culture is very similar to aloe, therefore it is used almost like this plant.
Contraindications
If you use a stone rose in the recommended dosages, then there will be no side effects. There are no contraindications to use.
Use in landscape design
The plant of rabbit cabbage is widely used in the design of flower beds, personal plots. The culture has about 40 species with a wide gamut of color flowers. The main thing is to take into account that stonecrop loves bright glades, in which the appearance of the plant immediately becomes more juicy, and the color of the flowers becomes brighter. In shady places, culture may not bloom at all, that is, completely lose all its decorativeness. Often with high humidity and a small amount of light, the plant is affected by pathogenic microflora in the form of spots on the foliage and stalk.
The decorative appearance of the plant will have to be monitored regularly, cutting off wilted inflorescences and breaking off dried leaves. It is necessary to feed the crop with complex mineral fertilizers, but in no case should you use fresh manure.
Young growth does not require watering, and in moist soil the lower leaves will generally rot. Therefore, it is better to plant a plant near those crops that also do not require watering.
