Cornflower belief. Mythological encyclopedia: Plants in mythology: Blue cornflower Centaurea cyanis. Perennial garden cornflower

Cornflower belief.  Mythological encyclopedia: Plants in mythology: Blue cornflower Centaurea cyanis.  Perennial garden cornflower
Cornflower belief. Mythological encyclopedia: Plants in mythology: Blue cornflower Centaurea cyanis. Perennial garden cornflower
  • Most species of this genus are of southern European origin.

  • It is found almost everywhere in Europe among crops, especially in rye.
  • Cornflower was known to the ancient Romans.

  • This flower is especially loved by the people.

  • In herbal medicine, dried cornflower flowers have long been used as a diuretic and choleretic agent.

  • Cornflower leaves have the aroma of mint, cloves and lemon. They are used as a seasoning in canning and meat products. They are used in the preparation of sausages, pates, canned food, and pickling.

  • Cornflowers are honey plants and are also often used as ornamental plants.

  • Cornflowers are used in cosmetics.
  • The constant connection between cornflower and rye is explained by the fact that it was brought to us along with rye from the western part of Asia.

  • It is believed that cornflower has enjoyed and continues to enjoy the greatest popularity and love among the Germans, especially since it turned out to be the favorite flower of the German Emperor William I and his mother, Queen Louise.

  • Cornflower was also the favorite flower of William I’s sister, Princess Charlotte, the future Empress of Russia Alexandra Feodorovna.

  • Russian name flower, happened, according to legend, on behalf of a young guy, Vasily, bewitched and destroyed by a mermaid. Carried away by her in the field, he turned into a blue flower, reminiscent of blue water in its color.

  • Inhaling the smoke of burnt cornflower causes fear.
  • If you throw a flower into the fire and then look at the night sky, it will seem that the stars are moving.

  • Cornflower was used in rituals of arable farming and invoking the creative forces of Mother Nature.

  • The flower is carried with you to attract love. Cornflower is also used to remove damage, as a protective plant, a talisman plant that drives out evil spirits and demons.
  • In Belgium, the cornflower was an emblem of freedom.
  • In Sweden, a wreath of cornflowers is included in the image of the national flag.
  • In 1937, Valery Chkalov, setting off on a flight across the North Pole to America, took cornflowers into the cabin of the plane and, as a sign of goodwill, presented them to the first Americans who met him.
  • The great Russian fabulist Ivan Andreevich Krylov loved these flowers very much and in his last will he asked to put cornflowers in his coffin.
  • The distribution of its seeds is interesting. They crawl. The cornflower achene is shaped like a rye grain. At the top of the smooth, very shiny achene there is a small tuft of white hairs. This crest is the main organ of movement of the achenes; with its help they crawl. When wet, it contracts, and when dry, it lengthens. The hairs of this crest have serrations directed in one direction, with which they rest against uneven soil. When the tuft contracts or lengthens, the achene moves.

In this photo, sativa has been added to the calendula and cornflower.

This is the tricolor here. Cornflower with and

Drozd Natalya, Vasilki

CORNFLOWER(voloshka, Ukrainian) (Centaurea cyanus), presumably got its name in honor of the mythical centaur Chiron, who had the gift of healing people with medicinal plants. According to another version, this is Old Russian re-arrangement of Greek basilicon"royal" (flower, plant), derived from basileus"tsar".

A symbol of purity, friendliness and courtesy, modesty. Required element traditional Ukrainian maiden wreath.

Well, folk legends explain the origin of its name in their own way. There lived in the same village a widow with her only son Vasil. He was a handsome and hard-working guy. From morning to night he worked in his field, and then went to the river to wash and rest. A young mermaid saw him and fell in love. She began to call Vasil to her - look how beautiful I am, how cool and beautiful it is under my water. But Vasil flatly refused to leave his land, his field. He didn't even want to look at her. The mermaid got angry - if that’s the case, then don’t let anyone get you, but forever become a flower in your field. A flower swayed among the rye. It was blue, like the boy’s eyes, and people named that flower cornflower in honor of him.

There are legends about the origin of cornflowers in Christian literature. Such interesting legends were recorded in the Kharkov region. When they took down the body of Christ from the cross, they buried it in the garden, in a cave. And they ordered to bury the cross of the Lord in the mountain, level the place above it, and sow henbane seeds there. But God, seeing this malice, gave Vasily (who is unknown) the seeds of a fragrant potion and ordered him to sow it in the place where henbane was sown.

When Queen Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, arrived in Jerusalem in 326 and wanted to find the Cross of the Lord, she could not find it for a long time and began to ask God to help her. Someone came to her and said: “Look for the fragrant potion of Vasily: where you find it, there you will find the cross.” They went to Mount Golgotha ​​and found him in a place overgrown with cornflowers. Since then the cross has been decorated with cornflowers.

Another legend tells that during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, Vasily the Blessed, the holy fool, lived in Moscow. He walked around Moscow both in winter and summer barefoot, wearing only a shirt, with chains on his shoulders. He visited the royal and boyar chambers, and peasant huts. Spent the night most often in cemeteries he died there. They found him in the grass, there was such a fragrance around him! At first they thought that the body of the Blessed One was fragrant, but it turned out that the grass in which he lay was fragrant. And they called that grass Basil's grass - cornflowers.

In Ukraine, these flowers have long been loved and revered. In addition to the traditional, a wreath of devotion was woven from cornflowers with lovage leaves and given to the Cossack during separation, before long campaigns, so that he knew that they were waiting for him and loved, they believed that he would return from a foreign land to his native land safe and sound.

They decorated crosses in churches and placed them behind icons. On the Savior, cornflowers were blessed in the church along with ears of corn and bread baked from the new harvest. The cornflower motif was used in wedding towels, especially in the hospitable ones with which the newlyweds were greeted, in Ukrainian women's and men's embroidered shirts, usually with poppies and daisies. On Trinity Day, there was a custom to decorate livestock with wreaths as amulets against evil forces and to increase offspring and well-being: sheep, cows, horses.

Cornflowers were used to make coffin lining, as well as wreaths for dead girls.

Passing by a corner, you can’t help but direct your gaze to some beautiful fruit. And usually an idea arises: maybe it’s necessary to plant a garden? Plants are a good decoration for design. If the morning begins with positive emotions, then the whole busy day is much more fun. Gardening is a much-loved hobby that gives pleasant feelings not only to loved ones but also to all passers-by.

Ukrainian fairy tale about Cornflower

Once upon a time there lived in the same village a poor widow with her only son, Vasil. He was a handsome and hardworking guy, and many girls looked at him. But Vasil paid no attention to any of them. From morning to night he worked in his field, and when returning home, he went down to the river to wash, relax, and admire the sunset.

He didn’t even know that there was a mermaid living in that river, who looked at him every evening, parting the leaves of her water lilies. He looks and sighs quietly. “Ah,” the mermaid whispers, “if you loved me, we would live with you in the depths of the river.” Look how beautiful I am, how cool and beautiful it is under the water!

When Vasil saw the mermaid, heard her words, he flatly refused to leave his land, his field, and did not even want to look at the mermaid’s beauty. “Then,” the beauty got angry, “don’t let anyone get you!” Become a flower in your field!

A flower swayed among the rye. He was blue, like Vasil’s eyes, like deep water in the river! And people called that flower cornflower - in memory of the disappeared young man.

And believe the fairy tale or not, but one thing is true in it: blue cornflower grows only among rye, and if it is found in another place, it means that there was once a rye field here. In those countries where rye was not sown, they did not know about blue cornflower, for example, in Ancient Egypt. In fact, there are more than 550 species of cornflowers! Among them there are some that are not blue at all: they are lilac-red, pinkish, and almost white. People look at cornflowers - they admire them, collect bouquets from them, and weave wreaths. But farmers are not very happy about such beauty: cornflowers deplete the soil, when there are many of them, they destroy crops. They are also harmful to animals - cows, horses. If they eat cornflowers, they may even die.

Oleg Tikhomirov)

Tales of Flowers

Tales of Flowers

Cornflower - weed or ornamental flower

Cornflower is an ornamental plant of the Asteraceae family. A colorful plant with pink, red, white or blue flowers. Although in our minds, when we hear the word “cornflower,” an image of a blue flower among the ears of wheat and a large field involuntarily arises. Many of us drew such flowers as children.

For rural farmers this is, of course, a weed, but for a florist it is lovely country flowers.

Cornflower flower is an annual or perennial plant with a stem up to 80 cm high and narrow leaves. The inflorescence is double or semi-double with a diameter of 4-5 cm. Perennial cornflowers with large flowers and large beautiful leaves. flowers from June to September.

Cute country flowers

Cornflower is widespread in Europe, Asia, America and even in North Africa. Count up to 500 different types this flower. Varieties can be distinguished by the shape of the marginal flowers and baskets of inflorescences, which are spherical and cylindrical.

Cornflower is unpretentious. resistant to cold and drought, loves the sun. Create a garden for him comfortable conditions- water, feed, planting them at a distance of 20-30 cm and the cornflower flower (photo attached) will give you abundant and long-lasting flowering.

From the story of the cornflower

There are many legends associated with cornflower flowers. Even in ancient times, this blue flower was known. A cornflower wreath was found in the tomb of Tutankhamun during excavations.

An ancient Greek legend says that the centaur Chiron knew how to treat his wounds with cornflower juice. This is where the scientific name of this plant comes from: centaurea cuanus - centaur flower.

The Russian name is also associated with the Greek word basilicon (basil) and with the name of a young man named Vasily. According to legend, the mermaid turned him into a blue flower.

Cornflowers in the field

It is known from history that I.A. Krylov loved cornflowers and in his will asked to put them in his coffin. The fact is that when Krylov suffered a severe apoplexy in 1823, the doctors were powerless.

And then the empress sent him a bouquet of these flowers and asked him to bring the sick man to her. Having recovered, the fabulist was deeply touched by such care and wrote the fable “Cornflower”. in which he depicted himself as a simple wild flower, and the empress as the sun.

Cornflowers flowers

Cornflowers flowers

Hello, dear readers of my blog!

Glad to meet you!

Today I will tell you about cornflower flowers and how to properly grow them in a summer cottage or garden plot.

I'll probably start with brief description this plant is indigenous to Russia. This plant has long been a decoration of Russian fields. Local village residents have always considered this plant a weed. In principle, it is so, but this weed is too beautiful.

like poems from blue lines,

I danced ballet in it.

Mom picked a bouquet.

They looked after us for a long time

We are old people in the village.

They reasoned: “the townspeople

collect. weeds"

V. Ivchenko

The plant is accustomed to our growing conditions, just give it a sunny place. In addition to wild forms of blue cornflower, thanks to the work of our breeders, garden forms have appeared that have different colors: pink, white, dark blue, purple. Very low-growing cornflowers, 20–25 centimeters high, have also been bred.

Cornflower represents annual plant with a stem up to 80 centimeters high and narrow leaves. The inflorescence can be double or semi-double, up to 4–5 centimeters in diameter. In addition to annual plants, there are also perennial forms of cornflowers with large, dense double inflorescences and large, beautiful leaves. Cornflowers bloom from June to September. Low-growing cornflowers look beautiful in flowerbeds and flower beds, while tall ones are used for cutting.

Cornflower flowers. Growing and care.

Cornflowers are propagated by sowing seeds in open ground. Sowing period is April – May. Seeds are sown using the same method as, for example, delphinium: select a small bed, add two kilograms of peat and humus per 1 square meter, plus one hundred grams wood ash and one tablespoon of nitrophoska. After this, the bed is dug up 25 centimeters deep, leveled, compacted, grooves are made, then they are watered abundantly and seeds are sown in them. Cover the seeds with a one-centimeter layer of finely sifted soil. The top of the crops should be lightly compacted by hand. Next, you need to put a covering material directly on the bed and water the crops from above, according to the material every 2 - 3 days, 2 liters of water per 1 square meter. meter. The material must be removed immediately after germination. This usually occurs in cornflowers 6–8 days after sowing. A little later, the seedlings need to be thinned out, leaving 10 - 12 centimeters between plants.

In order for cornflowers to bloom profusely, you need to fertilize them before flowering begins. For this we need nitrophoska (1 tbsp. spoon) and urea (1 tbsp. spoon). We dilute these fertilizers in 10 liters of water and water at the rate of three to four liters per square meter.

Spraying with the preparation “Zircon” just before the start of budding accelerates the flowering of cornflowers very well. For 1 liter of water you need to take 1 milliliter of the drug. This solution is enough to spray 30 square meters landing

Varieties of perennial cornflowers, such as “Mountain blue” and “large-headed yellow”, are rejuvenated every three to four years by dividing the bush. And perennial seeds are sown in open ground in May and October.

Among gardeners, one of the favorite varieties is the annual cornflower “Mixture of Colors.” These cornflowers come with inflorescences of different colors: white, blue, pink.

I will be glad to see your comments and additions. And that's all for today. See you later, friends!

Do you want to receive new articles by email? Enter your Email

Cornflower (Centaurea): description and types of flower in the photo

The name of the plant comes from the ancient Greek word “kentaurion” - in honor of the mythological famous centaur Chiron, who perfectly mastered the healing secrets of herbs and flowers, including cornflowers.

  • Homeland: Southern Europe.
  • Family: Asteraceae.
  • Content temperature: from +15 to +35°C.
  • Watering: moderate in spring – autumn, does not require watering in winter.
  • Illumination: bright sunlight.

Cornflower is a flower beloved and valued by many gardeners for a long time. abundant flowering and grace. It is also popular because it does not require special care and is quite suitable for growing by novice gardeners.

Cornflower - description of the plant

It is a herbaceous, beautifully flowering perennial, biennial or annual plant with erect or procumbent stems reaching a height of 120 cm. The leaves are arranged in a regular order, from whole to variegated. Inflorescences - baskets different shapes, from simple spherical to cylindrical, scale involucres bare or drooping, located singly or several pieces in corymbose or paniculate inflorescences. The funnel-shaped marginal flowers are centrally tubular-funnel-shaped or tubular, with different colors. There are white, blue, yellow, pink, purple, blue, red and burgundy. Root systems the flower is varied.

Depending on the species, cornflowers are:

  • long branching rhizomes;
  • forming thickets due to a large number of root shoots;
  • with a short and strongly branching root forming a clump;
  • with a deep root tap;
  • with a thick powerful rhizome.

Cornflower - plant species

In nature, cornflower has about 500 species, differing from each other in the shape of the leaves, basket, stem height, color and structure (double or non-double) of flowers and the nature of the root system. The most common and well-known types include the following types.

(Centaurea cyanus) – also has whole line other Russian names, namely: Voloshka, Blavat, Laskutnitsa, Sinistvetka, Sinyushnik, Sinka and others. It is a bi- or annual herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, with an erect stem up to 80 cm in height. The leaves are gray-green, alternate, cobwebby-woolly. Lower leaves- petiolate, and the rest - linear, sessile, entire-marginal. Inflorescences are single baskets located at the ends of the leafless parts of the stems. The plant has very beautiful blue, blue or azure flowers. Blooms from early June to late autumn.

(Centaurea margaritalba) is a perennial plant up to 25 cm tall, with double white flowers collected in inflorescences-baskets with a diameter of 4 cm. The rare species is listed in the European Red Book.

(Centaurea montana) - the most famous of perennial species. A rhizomatous plant with an ascending stem up to 80 cm tall and entire, oblong-lanceolate leaves of gray-green color. The marginal flowers are funnel-shaped bright blue or blue, the middle ones are tubular, purple, dark blue or violet-lilac, collected in single large inflorescences-baskets 5-7 cm in diameter.

Yellow cornflower (Centaurea macrocephala) is a perennial shrub that holds well cylindrical shape up to 100 cm tall with bright yellow flowers up to 5 cm in diameter and oblong-lanceolate leaves on straight and thick stems.

(Centaurea macrocephala Muss.Puschk. ex Willd.) – perennial shrub up to 120 cm tall with large, up to 7 cm in diameter, light or bright yellow flowers. The flowering period begins in July and lasts 1.5 months.

(Centaurea orientalis) is a perennial, mostly wild plant, from 80 to 120 cm tall, with pinnately divided leaves on long petioles and yellow flowers collected in an inflorescence in a basket. Known since 1759.

(Centaurea jacea) is a herbaceous perennial plant up to 80 cm tall, completely covered with a grayish or cobwebby cover and a hard, ribbed, erect (branched at the top) stem. The leaves are alternate lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, the lower ones are located on winged petioles, and the middle and upper ones are sessile. Lilac-pink, sometimes white flowers in baskets, located one at the ends of the stem and branches. The marginal flowers are large, sterile, funnel-shaped, and the middle ones are tubular. This species is widespread in Eurasia.

(Centaurea cyanus L) is a herbaceous, annual plant up to 60 cm tall, with lanceolate-linear leaves of gray-green color. The upper leaves are entire, and the lower ones are slightly lobed. Single flower baskets are blue or blue, the marginal flowers are funnel-shaped, and the middle ones are tubular. Blooms from May to August.

(Centaurea dealbata Willd.) is a perennial with erect, branched, spreading and leafy stems up to 60 cm in height. One of the most beautiful views with upper (slightly drooping) leaves of green color, and lower leaves - white, pinnately dissected, oval in shape on long petioles. The upper ones are gradually reduced, sessile. Bright pink flowers up to 4 cm in diameter. Blooms from early June to late August.

(Centaurea diffusa) is a biennial, widely spread plant from 15 to 50 cm tall, rough and grayish with cobwebby hairs. The lower leaves are twice pinnately dissected. The middle ones are pinnately dissected, and the upper ones are solid. Numerous small baskets, up to 5 mm wide, solitary. The marginal flowers are sterile, funnel-shaped, pink, pinkish-purple or white. Blooms from June to September.

(Centaurea macrocephala) is a herbaceous perennial up to 100 cm tall, with erect, strong stems, strongly swollen under the inflorescences. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate and light green in color. The inflorescences are single, large, up to 5 cm in diameter. Pink cornflower blooms from the beginning of July for 1.5 months.

Perennial garden cornflower

When using cornflowers in ornamental gardening, preference is given to perennials, since they are unpretentious, reproduce easily and are almost disease-free. Perennial garden cornflower can grow in one place for up to 10 years, while developing well and blooming profusely, without requiring special care.

In flower beds, the plant is used in group plantings. Low-growing species perfect for framing flower beds, ridges, mixborders, garden paths and successfully complement the rose bushes. A tall varieties used as background background plants.

Cornflower - planting a plant

Planting is carried out in the spring, when the soil warms up. This is usually the period from late April to mid-May. Cornflower is undemanding when it comes to soil; it can be planted in poor, or even lime-containing, pre-loosened soil. Segments of rhizomes with buds are planted, root suckers, divisions with a piece of rhizome and seedlings. It is important that the distance between seats was at least 50 cm so that the plant could form a beautiful and regular bush.

After planting, the soil around the seedling is slightly compressed - this technique eliminates empty cavities in the soil and promotes better rooting of the plantings. When planting, the roots must be straightened down and to the sides, and the bud must be at soil level, and for species with a horizontally growing rhizome, a small (2-3 cm) recess of the bud into the ground is allowed.

For planting, it is best to choose an open, sunny place. Partial shade is also allowed, but in this case the beginning of flowering will shift significantly and the plant will develop worse.

Cornflower - plant propagation

Reproduction occurs by root cuttings, dividing the bush and seeds, which are sown in April in the place of permanent growth, followed by thinning (maintaining a distance of 15-20 cm). Also, cornflower reproduces by abundant self-sowing after flowering.

Transplantation and planting can be done after flowering (late August - early September). To do this, the bush intended for division is dug up, thoroughly shaken off the ground and the roots are washed with water. Ground shoots are trimmed and a portion is cut off from the peripheral part of the bush. Such a plot must have at least 3 buds for next year. Then the division is immediately planted in place, cutting off the ground part so that it is no more than 10 cm in height from the soil level. Water moderately 3-4 times a week for a month for normal rooting. Next summer the plant will bloom profusely.

Annuals. with taproot They reproduce only by seeds, which are sown in the ground in early May. Shoots will appear in a week. It is better to sow immediately in place, since most annual species do not tolerate transplantation well and may not take root.

Cornflower - growing in the garden

Typically, cultivation takes place in open ground in a well-lit sunny place. Cornflower involves growing in free space, therefore, the distance between individuals should be within 20-50 cm, so that as they grow, the seedlings do not shade each other and do not interfere with the formation of the bush. When growing cornflowers in a group of plants or flower beds, it should be planted on the south side in the first row so that the leaves receive even sunlight.

The best soil for most varieties is fertile soil with neutral acidity and rich in humus. But some varieties (Marshall, mountain, Russian and musk cornflower) prefer alkaline soils.

Moderate watering is necessary, since most types of cornflowers tolerate drought much better than waterlogging.

Cornflower - plant care

The vast majority of species are labor-intensive and light crops; cornflower care comes down to periodically loosening the soil (1-2 times a month), removing weeds as necessary and moderate watering. To maintain decorativeness and stimulate flowering, it is recommended to remove faded peduncles, and also, after flowering, remove shoots to the rosette level.

Cornflower grown for cutting prefers care with periodic (once every 2 weeks) application of complex fertilizers for garden plants during watering.

The crop is practically not affected by pests and diseases, but in rare cases leaf damage may occur spider mite, as well as fusarium disease.

When infected with a mite, the affected leaves are removed, and in case of fusarium, sprinkle with ash and spray with foundationazole and topsin-M at a concentration of 0.1%.

Cornflower - plant uses

In addition to gardening, the culture is widely used in such areas as traditional medicine, practical medicine, gynecology and cosmetology.

IN folk medicine The infusion is used as a choleretic and diuretic for inflammation of the kidneys and bladder. As a remedy for the treatment of cough, nephritis, whooping cough, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, uterine bleeding and treatment of the nervous system.

In practical medicine, culture is used for various diseases eye, cardiovascular diseases, liver and biliary tract, for wounds and fractures, for skin diseases, for gout, rheumatism, polyarthritis and salt deposition, and also as a diuretic.

In gynecology, decoction and infusion of cornflower normalizes the menstrual cycle and is used as a means to enhance lactation.

Add site to bookmarks

cornflower

Russian name - Cornflower. Latin name - Centaurea Family - Compositae or Asteraceae. Homeland - distributed throughout Europe.

Historical reference

The Slavic peoples had a tradition during the holiday dedicated to the ripening of rye, barley and wheat to decorate the first sheaf with cornflowers. They called him the birthday boy and brought him home with songs.
Of all the European peoples, cornflower enjoyed the greatest love among the Germans. This plant gained particular popularity in Germany after it became the favorite flower of Emperor William I and his mother, Queen Louise. In this country there are many beliefs and customs associated with cornflower. The stem and cup of the cornflower are covered with whitish hairs that look like threads of mold, so the following belief was widespread among rural residents: in a house where there are cornflowers, bread quickly becomes moldy. Previously in many German villages The cornflower was called ziegenbock - “goat” and was considered the personification of the field goblin, which, according to legend, lives in the flowers of cornflowers and attacks careless reapers. Therefore, when young peasant women went to the field to reap for the first time, their fathers and mothers warned: “Beware of the rye goat!” In some European countries, a wolf played the role of a field demon living in cornflowers instead of a goat.

The Latin name of this plant is associated with the centaur Chiron - an ancient Greek mythological hero - half horse and half man. He had knowledge about healing properties many plants and with the help of cornflower he was able to recover from the wound inflicted on him by the poisoned arrow of Hercules. This was the reason for calling the plant centaurea, which literally means “centaur.”

The origin of the Russian name of this plant explains the ancient popular belief. A long time ago, a beautiful mermaid fell in love with the handsome young plowman Vasily. The young man reciprocated her feelings, but the lovers could not agree on where to live - on land or in water. The mermaid did not want to part with Vasily, so she turned him into wild flower, whose color resembled the cool blue of water. Since then, according to legend, every summer, when blue cornflowers bloom, mermaids weave wreaths from them and decorate their heads with them.

Biological characteristics

There are more than 500 species of cornflowers, which are annual and perennial plants. The stem is erect, 30-70 cm high. The alternate leaves can be entire or pinnately dissected. Bright blue flowers, collected in single basket inflorescences, are located at the ends of the stems. The fruit is an achene. Many types of cornflowers are excellent honey plants.

To date, breeders have developed many varieties of this plant, including those with white, pink and red flowers. Among flower growers they are especially popular hybrid forms Mountain cornflower (C.montana).

Usage

Cornflower is a medicinal plant. Medications, made on its basis, are used as a diuretic, diaphoretic, choleretic and wound healing agent. A water decoction of cornflower flowers is considered an excellent remedy for eye inflammation.

The most common in Russia are meadow cornflower and blue cornflower.

Meadow cornflower grows in the European part of the country and in Altai in meadows, forest clearings, and among shrubs.

The stem of this perennial rough plant is straight, ribbed, reaches a height of 30-80 cm. Purple-lilac or blue flowers are collected in baskets.

Cornflower blooms in June-July. The fruits are about 3 mm long. Fallen seeds germinate immediately, but the plant develops slowly. It takes several years until it blooms for the first time.

Bees fly to purple flowers meadow cornflower from June to September for honey. The honey is light yellow and tastes very pleasant. Cornflower - good forage plant. When there are a lot of cornflowers in the meadow, the hay is considered very nutritious.

The plant is a perennial. Hidden in the ground is a rhizome from which new flowers rise and bloom every spring.

Blue cornflower grows almost throughout the country in spring and winter crops, along roads, and near housing. Golden rye is earing in the field. The wind blew, bent the ears of corn to the ground, and the heads of cornflowers were immediately visible in the rye. Cornflower is good for both a wreath and a bouquet. But grain growers consider this plant a weed. It interferes with the plants that are sown in the field - it takes away their nutrition and moisture, and when it grows very strongly, it blocks the light for them.

Cornflower and rye are inseparable. The thing is that cornflower was originally brought to us along with rye from the western part of Asia adjacent to Russia. That is why cornflower, like rye, was not known to either the Egyptians or the ancient Greeks.

The Russian name of the flower comes from the name daring guy Vasily. According to legend, the only son of a poor woman was bewitched by a mermaid: carried away by her in a field, he turned into a blue flower resembling an icy pool.

The flowers can be used to obtain blue and blue dyes (for woolen fabrics), as well as to make cornflower blue vinegar.