Petrov cross is a poisonous plant that heals

Traditional medicine is widely used in recipesthe most diverse plants. Some of them are considered poisonous, but they do not cease to be curative. One of the most interesting and unusual is the plant of the Petrine Cross.

Petrov cross - a plant-parasite

This species in Latin is called Lathraera squamaria - the petrine cross is an ordinary, or a scaly one. Sometimes it is also called the king-grass, earth grapes or a fire-place.

Its singularity lies in the fact that it does nothas its own green leaf - it does not contain chlorophyll, it receives nutrients from the roots of other plants, mainly trees. Petrov cross sucked to the rhizome of trees and gets everything necessary for life from them - by itself, it harms trees. Such vital activity allows this plant to rarely appear on the surface of the earth - only for the purpose of reproduction, only for a few weeks in the spring. All the rest of the time the crosses the crosses underground, sometimes not even showing for several years.

External structure and appearance

Petrov cross - the plant is remarkable, withfirst acquaintance makes a strange impression. You can not even immediately realize that these are flowers - the absence of greenery makes its appearance unusual. The flowers of the Petrov cross are pink, they can be almost burgundy. They fit tightly together, growing out of a thick white stalk.

The plant blooms for a short time, see it very few peoplesucceeds. The main part is the rhizome, it goes deep into the soil. In the plant Petra cross the root often develops at a right angle, this explains its name. During reproduction on the spot flowers form small boxes, in which the seeds mature. They look like poppies. After maturation, the capsules are opened, and the seeds fall to the ground - on this the external life of the plant ends, the stems die and the plant goes into the soil.

Special interest of biologists is caused by scales onleaves of this culture - they are a bit like the structure of predatory insectivorous species, and for some time it was believed that the Petrov cross belongs to them. Later it was established that the plant does not feed on insects, despite the fact that they periodically get stuck in these scales. The main purpose of this structure is the evaporation of water.

Where it grows

Petrov cross grows in the woods, prefersparasitize on bird-cherry, hazel, alder. In spring these saplings begin to sap, this gives the parasite an excellent opportunity for vegetation. Petrov cross grows slowly and unnoticed, the first 10 years it is not visible above the ground at all - the rhizome is growing. The plant is common in Europe, in the Caucasus. On the territory of Russia there is only one species - a scaly or ordinary Petrine cross. Occasionally occurs in Pakistan, India, Western Europe, Asia.

Kinds

Scientists-botanists distinguish several types of thisplants - petrine cross hidden, latin name Lathraea clandestina, purple (Lathraea purpurea), Japanese (Lathraea japonica), Balkan (Lathraea rhodopea) and scaly or common (Lathraea squamaria).

All these species differ slightly from each other in appearance and habitat.

Use in medicine

Petrov cross is a poisonous plant thatcauses the strongest poisoning. That is why it must be used with extreme caution in medical purposes - only after the recommendation of a doctor or an experienced herbalist. In folk medicine, the whole plant organisms are used - roots and flowers. Petrov cross - grass, which contains a lot of alkylating substances. They need a plant for a parasitic way of life - these substances destroy the cell, break it into separate pieces and build on its basis its cells. Due to this, their vital functions are preserved. This property is widely used in the treatment of various tumors, cancer - plant substances destroy cancer cells, since the bond between amino acids in such cells is weaker than in healthy ones. In addition to combating tumors, Petra cross is applicable in diseases of the kidney and liver, is widely used in gynecology - to normalize the ovulation process, to raise the muscular tone of the uterus or to stimulate the egg for fertilization. Sometimes used for swelling and dropsy.

Recipes of the application of the cross of the cross

Popular recipes of broths orinfusions on the basis of this plant. To prepare the broth the crushed roots are poured with boiling water or boiled for about 20 minutes (it is better to leave the lid closed at this time), and then filter. The received product is taken half the glass up to two times a day - up to one month. To prepare the tincture, a third of the jars are covered with roots, poured 60% with alcohol to the top. Tincture put for 3 weeks in a dark cool place, from time to time shake. When the tincture is ready, it is taken drop by drop - from 20 to 30, diluted in 50 milliliters of water, half an hour before meals 2 times a day. In addition, you can grind the rhizome of the plant in a meat grinder or blender and mix the resulting mass with honey in a one-to-one ratio. Drink 3 times a day.