1. Herbaceous stems are found in herbaceous plants and young shoots of tree species. Herbaceous stems usually exist for one season. Dandelion officinalis is a typical representative of herbaceous plants with a green, succulent stem. Giant hogweed has a hollow stem.
2. Trees and shrubs have woody stems. They acquire hardness due to the deposition of a special substance - lignin - in the membrane of their cells.
Lignification occurs in the stems of trees and shrubs starting in the second half of summer of the first year of their life. Their wood forms annual rings. All layers of wood cells formed in spring, summer and autumn make up the annual growth ring. A ring formed during one growing season is called an annual ring. The age of the tree can be determined by the number of rings.
The small autumn cells are different from the large spring wood cells of the following year that are next to them. Therefore, the boundary between adjacent annual rings on a cross section of wood in many trees is clearly visible. By counting the number of growth rings using a magnifying glass, you can determine the age of a felled tree or cut branch.
By the thickness of the growth rings you can find out in what conditions the tree grew in different years of its life. Narrow growth rings indicate a lack of moisture, shading of the tree and its poor nutrition. Under good development conditions, annual rings are wider.
Classification of stems by direction of growth
Plant stems can be positioned differently relative to the soil and nearby plants. There are erect, creeping, ascending, clinging and climbing stems.
Erect stem
Erect stems grow vertically upward and do not need any support.
Such stems are found in sunflowers, bluebells, nettles, hedgehogs, and woody plants.
creeping stem
Creeping stems spread along the ground and take root in the soil with the help of adventitious roots. Such stems develop in strawberries, clover, meadow tea, and cinquefoil.
Clinging stem
The clinging stems rise upward, attaching themselves to the support. They can be attached by tendrils (peas, mouse peas, cucumbers, china, grapes), or by root roots (ivy).
climbing stem
Climbing stems carry leaves toward the light, twining around erect stems or artificial supports. Plants with clinging and climbing shoots are called vines.
When choosing a houseplant, both its size and appearance matter. A small, low plant looks out of place against a large bare wall, and a tall tree-like plant will barely fit on a windowsill. When buying a young plant, do not forget that after some time your neat little dracaena or ficus will turn into a tree as tall as a man. Almost all indoor plants can be divided into six groups based on their appearance. Of course, there are borderline cases, and some plants change their appearance with age.
- Grass-like plants.
Examples: calamus, arundinaria, sedge, ophiopogon.
Plants with wider leaves are much more common. For example, chlorophytum is one of the most common of all decorative leafy indoor plants. Some ornamental flowering plants also have such leaves, for example, Billbergia, Wallota, Tillandsia lndena and Narcissus.
- Bushy plants.
Examples: achimenes, royal begonia, hypocyrta, coleus, arrowroot, pilea.
- Plants with erect stems.
Columnar plants have thick vertical stems without flat leaves or with leaves that do not hide the columnar stem. This group includes many cacti and some other succulents.
Examples: Clenia articulated, Cleistocactus schrausa, Notocactus lninghausa, Trichocereus whitish, Haworthia rhynwardta, Cereus peruvianus.
Trees- a very important group of plants, because trees form the core of many collections and are most often placed separately from other plants. All trees have approximately the same appearance: a central branching or straight trunk with leaves on relatively small petioles. Some of the trees are very small, such as miniature succulent trees or young croton, while others grow to the ceiling.
Examples: aphelandra, codiaum, laurel, ficus bnjamina, rubber ficus (dcora), citrus, shefflera.
At the young false palm the stem is completely covered by the bases of the leaves. In a mature plant, the leaves are usually located only at the top of the trunk, creating a characteristic palm effect. Large false palms are often used as free-standing plants in public buildings.
Examples: bocarnea, dieffenbachia, dracaena, pandanus, yucca.
Herbaceous plants or grasses have root systems, stems and leaves that die off at the end of the growing season. Based on their lifespan, herbaceous plants are classified into annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants.
Annual herbaceous plants reproduce by seeds, which are stored in the ground during the cold period. The growing season of annuals ends with the complete death of the plant.
Perennials also have a growing season, at the end of which their aboveground part dies off completely, but unlike annuals, they are able to maintain a living root system in the soil during the cold season, releasing young shoots in the warm season.
Diverse in appearance, habitat, lifespan, and name, grasses still have many similarities. All of them do not have a permanent tree trunk that can withstand the cold period.
Distributed everywhere, found: in forest, steppe, swampy, hilly, mountain and other areas.
Types of herbs
Some of their examples are well known, others have little-known names. Among them are: spices used in cooking, spring crops.
Cornflower blue
The second name is cornflower. This example of an annual plant grows in soils rich in minerals. Often found in fallow fields. Flowering period from May to July.
- It is a herbaceous plant reaching a height of 50-60 centimeters.
- It has a well-developed root system and an erect trunk.
- The leaves at the bottom of the plant are lobed and form a basal rosette.
- Stem leaves are linear, entire at the top.
Blue cornflower is used in pharmacology. Antipyretic, diuretic, diaphoretic drugs are made from it, and can be used as a means of improving the functioning of the digestive system.
Field mustard
Widely distributed in the Black Earth Region, European part of Russia, Ciscaucasia, southern regions of the Far East and Siberia.
This annual is a low herbaceous plant, with a branched stem up to 60 cm, covered with hairs.
Mustard belongs to the cruciferous family and has yellow flowers with drooping petals. The mustard fruit is a pod.
Mustard seeds have a lot of medicinal properties and are also widely used in cooking. Includes:
Mustard is used in pharmacology. Thanks to the seed powder This herbaceous plant produces mustard plasters, which help remove phlegm during coughing.
In cosmetology, mustard is used in anti-aging creams. This plant has found great use in folk medicine.
The first remedy for colds is hot foot baths with mustard powder.
Clover
Prefers a moderately humid climate well-lit and warm area.
- Grows in meadows, clearings, edges.
- The erect, branched stem of clover varies from 15 to 50 cm in height.
- The root system is branched.
- Clover flowers resemble a ball.
- Blooms from May to October.
- After flowering it bears fruit with beans.
Clover is a real storehouse of useful microelements, vitamins, and acids.
Due to its beneficial properties, clover is used in folk medicine. When brewed as tea, it is taken to normalize blood pressure and improve intestinal function.
Clover has healing properties, promotes rapid tissue regeneration in case of skin injuries. In cosmetology it is used as part of remedies for burns and psoriasis.
Red clover, which has another name - trefoil, is used as a forage crop and hay.
Kupir forest
Got its name from its habitat. It is mainly found in forest areas, but can also be found in meadows and roadsides.
The sageweed is not designated as a medicinal plant. However, it has many useful properties.
- By applying a leaf of kulir to the wound, you can achieve speedy healing.
- An infusion of kupyr will help against burns if you blot a bandage with it.
However, kulir can be dangerous, as it has many similarities with poisonous plants. An example of such a grass is hemlock, which is very similar in appearance and flowering period.
Creeping buttercup
Creeping buttercup is a poisonous plant. It is capable of stimulating the nervous system, affecting the heart and digestive organs. Ingesting this plant is dangerous and can lead to serious poisoning and loss of consciousness. But if buttercup juice gets on your skin, it can cause a burn. Despite all the dangers of this plant, it has found its use in folk medicine.
If used topically and in small dosages:
- you can increase the content of red blood cells in the blood;
- stimulate the nervous system and even rid the body of staphylococcus.
However, without knowing how to use it, you should not use it for medicinal purposes. Creeping buttercup can be grown simply as a beautiful ornamental plant in a flower bed.
Stone berry
The low-growing plant is a perennial. It has erect flowering stems with trifoliate long-petiolate leaves. The drupe flower is five-membered, collected in a racemose inflorescence. The flowering period is from May to June, after which it begins to bear fruit. The fruits of this plant are large, bright red drupes. Hence the name of the plant.
Drupes can be consumed raw, and can also be made into compotes, fruit drinks, juices, jams and jellies. Drupe fruits are rich in vitamin C and pectin.
Not only berries are used in folk medicine of this perennial plant, but also the leaves.
- A decoction of the leaves will relieve iron deficiency in the blood, headaches and heart pain.
- During an epidemic of colds, boneweed can be used to boost immunity.
- Berry juice perfectly removes toxins and cholesterol.
- If you smear the juice of the bone fruit on the site of the wart, not a trace will remain of it.
But despite all the variety of beneficial properties, this plant is not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. and should also be used with caution in case of thrombophlebitis and hypertension.
Drupe grows in coniferous forests, but is also found in rocky areas, which is why it is sometimes called stony.
Nightshade bittersweet
Nightshade is a perennial plant
- The height of the stem can reach two meters in height.
- The leaves are arranged alternately along the entire length of the climbing stems. Nightshade flowers are lilac, bisexual, collected in panicles.
- Blooms in the summer months.
- Starting in July, nightshade produces bright red berries.
Despite the fact that nightshade is called bittersweet, you should not find out its taste.
This poisonous plant has many other names among the people. It is called wolfberry or worm.
Not only berries, but also leaves and stems of nightshade contain poison - solanine, which can cause fever, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and decreased motor activity. At the same time, bittersweet nightshade is used in folk medicine.
If you use its properties correctly, you can get rid of eczema and psoriasis. A decoction of bittersweet nightshade berries will ease the condition after an epileptic seizure and relieve headaches.
Great celandine
Greater celandine is considered a medicinal plant, but at the same time it has poisonous properties and is dangerous for livestock and poultry.
Celandine is a perennial with a tall, erect stem and large, branching roots. Single flowers of the plant are bright yellow in color, the leaves are ovoid and velvety to the touch. The stem of celandine produces yellow milk. The flowering period is from May to October. This herbaceous plant is common on clay and rocky soils, in forest areas, and is often found along the walls of a garden or vegetable garden.
The healing properties of celandine are used to treat skin diseases, all kinds of rashes, and childhood diseases. A decoction of the plant is added to the bath for bathing babies, thanks to which the skin of a newborn is cleansed faster. Papillomas, warts, growths, celandine will cope well with such problems. However, its name speaks for itself and the list of skin ailments for which celandine is irreplaceable can be endless.
Herbs are very diverse in their names, properties, growth and flowering characteristics, and habitat. Can be used in pharmacology, agriculture, cooking, plant growing, beekeeping, cosmetology. In addition, herbaceous plants, both annual and perennial, may, without having any healing properties, simply delight with their beautiful, bright blooms in a flower bed or flower garden.
To grow upward, vines need support, otherwise vines and hanging houseplants hang over the sides of the pot. Some plants of this species can grow in both ways. If you guide the plant's vines along reinforced supports, they can form green dividing walls in the room. With the hanging method of growing, they can be used as ground cover or left hanging from pots.
Lianas. Always pointing upward. Some of them are capable of curling around a support; in the same way as with antennae, this support must be provided. It is desirable that the support has small crossbars. If the plant has aerial roots, then you need to use a stick wrapped in moss.
Example: Dipladenia, Passionflower, Stephanotis, Philodendron lanceta
Curly/Ampelous. When growing them as vines, it is best to form the plant using a trellis, or stick a few sticks into the pot, then the plant will have a more attractive appearance. The ampel method sometimes involves pinching the tip of the lash, preventing it from being pulled out.
Example: Ivy, Scindapsus, Ficus dwarf, Philadendron climbing
Ampelous. Most hanging plants have long, hanging vines with attractive flowers. They look very nice in hanging pots or pots on stands with long legs.
Ampelous ones are grown either as climbers or as ground cover.
Example: Drooping begonia, Helxina, Zygocactus, Campanula equifolia, Columnaea, Rowley's ragus, Nerthera, Sedum Morgana, Fittonia
