eryngium (eringium)

The eryngium belongs to plants from the genus Umbelliferae. Sometimes some other plants are also called eryngium if they have blue flowers in the form of heads. In another way, the plant is also called sea holly. This name was given to him because of the cultivation on the Mediterranean coast.

Titles in other languages:

• lat. Eryngeum foetidum;
• English Sawtooth coriander.
• German Mexicanischer Coriander.

The eryngium has a fairly thick stem. In the upper part, it branches and acquires a blue-violet hue.

The leaves of the plant can be sessile or grow on short petioles. They are quite rigid and are complemented by prickly teeth along the edges.

In height, the plant can reach up to 0.7 m, but, on average, eringium grows up to 0.5 m. However, there are species that can be more than a meter in height, for example, the giant eryngium.

The root of the plant is straight. Leaves growing closer to the roots have petioles. Their length can reach 15 cm.

The inflorescences are presented in the form of umbrellas and have petals of blue hues. The flowers are usually small and come in blue or light blue. They gather at the very tops of the stems in ovoid heads. The fruits are covered with scales.

According to known data, there are over 250 types of eringium. Mostly they are collected in the territories of South America. About 15 species are grown in Russia. At the moment, the eryngium is bred not only as a medicinal plant, but also as an ornamental plant.Most often there are alpine, field, marine, giant eryngium.

Most types of eryngium are perennial, but there are those that only bloom for a year or two.

The eryngium is common in the tropics, subtropics and mid-latitudes. The plant is unpretentious, so it can be seen in the steppes, on the roadsides as a weed. Eringium grows quietly in sandy soil. It is distributed in Europe, in the southern Siberian territories, in Mexico, in the Caucasus, in the countries of North Africa and in the Baltic states.

The eryngium has a rich chemical composition.

It includes:

• essential oils;
• acids (malic, citric, malonic, glycolic, oxalic, ascorbic, chlorogenic, rosemary);
• phenol carbon compounds;
• tanides;
• flavonoids;
• fructose;
• triterpene saponins;
• polysaccharides;
• sucrose;
• coumarins;
• tannins.

Useful properties of the eryngium come down mainly to medicinal use:

• when consumed as part of food, the plant strengthens the stomach;
• improves the production of gastric juice;
• the roots of the plant have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and diuretic properties;
• infusions from it have an excellent sedative property, therefore they are used for insomnia and nightmares;
• the plant has an analgesic effect;
• decoctions remove toxins from the body and help with poisoning.

The eryngium does not harm the body, since no side effects have been identified, but there are some contraindications to the use of infusions or decoctions.

It is not recommended to use drugs, infusions or decoctions containing eryngium in the following cases:

• during menstruation;
• during pregnancy;
• with high blood pressure;
• with individual intolerance.

It is known that decoctions of the plant increase bleeding during menstruation, so during it you should not use preparations based on eringium. The same applies to hypertension, decoctions and infusions based on eryngium can increase blood pressure.

The benefits of eryngium juice have been proven for a long time:

• If you drink a teaspoon of freshly squeezed juice three times a day, you can remove excess water from the body, which helps in the fight against edema and kidney disease.
• The juice of the eryngium has a slight diuretic effect.
• You can clean the roots of the plant, grind them and squeeze the juice. Honey is added to it. A tablespoon of juice diluted with cool water helps with menstrual problems and impotence, as well as lung diseases.
• Juice lotions help with skin rashes, psoriasis.

The eryngium is quite often used in cooking:

• The plant has a sharp taste, so sometimes it can be added to a dish to spice it up.
• Leaves, stems and roots are used in cooking.
• Fresh eringium stalks are good when added to a salad or marinade.
• Boiled roots can be added to almost any dish.
• The candied roots of the eryngium are very palatable.
• Boiled and then fried roots will be an excellent substitute for a side dish.

To prepare candied roots, you must: boil syrup from a glass of sugar and 2.5 glasses of water. Separately, boil the roots of the eryngium to a semi-finished state and discard them in a colander. Dip half-cooked roots into boiling syrup, boil them in syrup for at least 6 hours. Pat dry and sprinkle with powdered sugar when serving.

You can also make a salad from eringium: for this you need one bunch of dill, parsley, several sprigs of green onions, 120 g of leaves and shoots of eryngium. All greens are crushed, salted to taste and seasoned with vegetable oil.

The leaves of the eryngium are also tasty in pickled form.. To prepare the marinade in a liter of water, dilute 2 tbsp. l. sugar, salt and vinegar 9%, as well as spices to taste. The leaves of the plant are poured over with boiling water for a few seconds, then they are put in pre-sterilized jars and poured with marinade. Banks cover with lids and put in a water bath. Then they are hermetically sealed, turned upside down and cooled.

The eryngium is considered a medicinal plant. Therefore, it is often used for medical purposes. They can treat the following diseases:

• headache;
• insomnia;
• bronchitis and whooping cough (helps as an expectorant);
• toothache;
• kidney disease;
• mental disorders;
• stomach ulcer;
• rheumatism.

A decoction of eringium helps induce menstruation. It also acts as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. Separately, decoctions are prepared for external use, they help with eye and skin diseases.

Each individual type of eringium has its own varieties. Consider this with examples of the most popular types. In the alpine eryngium, varieties are distinguished:

• "Amethyst";
• "Blue star";
• "Blue Jackpot";
• "Sleve Donard";
• "Opal".

These varieties differ in color and in the splendor of inflorescences. The foreign eryngium Bourget has the most famous variety - "Oxford blue".The famous giant eryngium is popular for its 'Silver Ghost' cultivar.

Flat-leaved eryngium has varieties:

• "Beslehem";
• "Blaukappe";
• "Blue Ribbon";
• Blauer Zwerg.

They differ to a greater extent in the size of inflorescences and heads.

The hybrid eryngium has famous varieties:

• "Sunny Jackpot";
• "Jud Frost";
• Sapphire Blue.

You can plant a eryngium in any soil, but if you want the plant to feel most comfortable, then it is better to plant it in clay, moisture-rich soil. To make the inflorescences brighter, several handfuls of ground eggshells are added under each of the planted plants.

Eringium care is not difficult:

• it is necessary to weed the soil around the plants as needed.
• those species that have a long and thin stem are tied to some kind of support at the beginning of summer.
• the plants are quite resistant to cold weather, so they can take root in the middle lane.

The eryngium propagates by seeds and bush division. However, it is not recommended to transplant it, since the separated plants do not take root well in a new place, and the roots of the eringium are quite long, so they can be easily broken.

If propagated by bushes, then division should begin in May, and plants should be planted at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other. This is because the eryngium has an extensive root system and this often helps prevent soil erosion.

It is better to use the seed propagation method. In open ground, seeds are planted closer to winter. Seedlings are sown in early spring. In warm air, after the nineteenth day, the first sprouts may appear. While the seedlings are still small, they are already transplanted to their permanent place.

During the flowering period, grass is harvested. The roots are harvested for medicinal purposes either in early spring or autumn. After harvesting, the grass is cut and dried in a dark place. Dry grass is stored for up to two years. The roots are first cleaned from the ground, then cut into two parts and also dried. They can be stored for up to three years.

Interestingly, blueheads are very often used in winter bouquets, as they do not lose their freshness for a long time.

In Russia, there is another popular name for eringium - thistle or halloween. Our ancestors dried the eryngium and hung bunches of it over the threshold. There was a belief that a person heading to a house with malicious intent would not be able to enter it. This belief has survived to this day, and eringium is considered an excellent amulet against evil spirits. In the scientific realm, the thistle is a different plant.

Also in the Middle Ages, there was an opinion that the roots of the eryngium, candied according to a certain recipe, can significantly increase sexual desire. Women actively used this folk remedy, treating their husbands with candied roots.