The rarest plants in the world. Alpine flowers: vasily_sergeev — LiveJournal Blooming mountains of the Caucasus

I bring to your attention amazing photographs of the Caucasus Mountains and its surroundings from the perspective of an eyewitness and a person who conquered these peaks. Moreover, he has a special passion for climbing and overcoming himself. Behind difficult achievements, Mikhail Golubev was able to talk about beauty mountain peaks and dangerous glaciers, about flowering foothills and indescribable rainbows, about fogs and clouds, about mountain lakes and rivers, seething waterfalls and streams. About the animal world and the unusually touching flowers that grow in the heights and valleys. All photographs are from different periods and years. Moreover, the author took wonderful panoramic shots and was able to convey his attitude and love for the mountains. Photographs and descriptions of them, by the author himself.

Elbrus and rhododendrons.

Summer day in the Elbrus region.

In the Caucasus Mountains, the first half of July, the altitude is about 3300 m. At this time, at this altitude, summer is still unstable and snowfalls may occur. The photo shows a flower that has melted in the warm sun.

Bells in the area of ​​the Kogutai glacier in the Elbrus region.
August 2004.

Dombay

The peaks of Bezengi are in the distance. Central Caucasus.

In the mountains of Ossetia

In the distance is the peak of Bolshoy Kogutai, view from the north. Elbrus region, summer 2006.

In the heart of the Caucasus Mountains.

Mountain river

A stream in the left pocket of the moraine of the Terskol glacier. Elbrus region, July 2005.

Mountain hike 2 class. along Gvandra-Uzunkol (KCR, Caucasus) in July-August 2007.

A vast meadow in the upper reaches of the Burnaya River. To the left is the Dorbun pass, to the right are the Poachers and Vorontsov-Velyaminov passes, which is where we are going.

Mountain trekking class 3 according to Western Caucasus in July 2012

Rynji Lake

Zaramag glacier in the distance, North Ossetia, August 2011.

Traveling through the mountains of Svaneti (Georgia) in the summer of 2012. Descending along the Gulichala valley, we constantly looked back to admire the formidable, majestically two-horned beauty peak Ushba (4710 m).

Yellow violets. Caucasus Mountains, height about 3300 m.

Mountain trekking class 3 according to Western Caucasus in July 2012. In the distance is the peak of Sulahat from the west.

Floral Elbrus region

Elbrus region, summer 2006.
View of Elbrus from under the Kogutai peak.

Mountain trekking class 3 according to Western Caucasus (KCR) in the Aksaut-Dombay region in July 2012.

In the upper reaches of the Kuban.

Peak Dzhan-Tugan (approx. 4000 m) in the upper reaches of the Adylsu valley in the Elbrus region. July 2005.

Ullu-Muruju River. Hike 2 k.s. along Teberda-Gvandra-Uzunkol (KChR, Caucasus) in July 2007

In the Mursala valley in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, May 2012.

The peaks of Dzhangitau and Katyntau (both above 5000 m) in the great Bezengi wall. Below is the largest glacier in the Caucasus - Bezengisky. The height difference from the glacier to the peaks is more than 2 km: four Ostankino towers. If you stood at the base of the Ostankino Tower and looked at its top, quadruple the sensation and add huge glaciers for a more chilling sensation!
Taken from the summit of the 50th Anniversary of KBASRR (4000 m) with a close view.
Central Caucasus, August 2005.

Nahar River

In the valley of the Kurmychi River in the Elbrus region. July 2005.

Flowers by a stream in the Mursala valley, May 2012.

There are unusual plants that live 150 years and only at the end of their lives produce amazing beautiful flowers. How can representatives of the earth's flora surprise?

Rare flowers

Edelweiss is a flower of fidelity and love. Its name alone sounds like music. The most touching and tender, about which there are many legends. The Italians call it the silver flower of rocks. The French - an Alpine star.

The flower loves the sun, but grows high in the mountains near the snowy edge. Not everyone can see it. Legend says that only a person with love as pure as dew in his heart can find this mysterious flower. It is not enough to be dexterous and strong to climb to the top of the mountain. You must love sincerely and selflessly, be devoted to your beloved.

There were so many people who wanted to get the flower that already in the 19th century it was almost impossible to see it. There were a couple dozen specimens left that were on the verge of extinction.

In Switzerland, where this flower grew, a special law was passed that prohibited the collection of this plant. Violators faced a hefty fine. There are special posts near the mountain borders that do not allow tourists to the habitats of this flower.

The Chinese mouse flower is the most creepy and disgusting flower that Mother Nature could create. Even at close range, when its petals are closed, it resembles bat, which perched on a branch for the night. To make it even more creepy, it has long, ornate tentacles 30-40cm long that resemble black snakes. The first impression of those who saw it was horror.

It is grown only by extreme flower growers, since not only appearance, but touching it also causes a feeling of disgust in most people.

Middlemist red is the rarest flower in the world. On everything globe there are only 2 copies. British gardener John Middlemist, traveling in China in 1854, was fascinated by a scarlet rose, which he discovered quite by accident. He dug up the flower and brought it to Britain to plant in a greenhouse in the United Kingdom. He could not even imagine that thanks to this he saved the last specimen of the flower in the world. This scarlet rose was named after him.

Our world is extraordinarily rich various types plants, incredibly beautiful flowers and mighty century-old trees, which are protected all over the world. It is up to the individual to ensure that the Red Book contains as few pages as possible.

Rare tree species

Pine Methuselah - the most ancient tree in the world. Its age exceeds 4850 years. And she received her name in honor of the biblical character who was the only long-liver in the whole world.

This majestic tree grows in the USA, in the White Mountains at an altitude of 3000 meters. Its exact location is known only to botanists who monitor the pine tree. Such secrecy is connected with protecting the guard from vandalism. After all, there are thousands of tourists who want to take a photo with it or tear off a piece of bark as a souvenir. Many go to the mountains to find this mysterious tree, but all their attempts end in failure. The Methuselah pine is not a tree, it is a symbol of eternity, which looks like it is dead, but life lurks in each of its branches.

The tree of life is the loneliest tree in the world. Probably, like life itself, reminiscent of loneliness among a crowd of people. It is the only one on the sands of the endless desert of Bahrain, a hundred kilometers from any vegetation.

It is 400 years old, but the most important thing is not its age or the fact that it is a rare specimen of trees. Scientists are wondering how it is possible to live for so many years in a desert in which there is absolutely no water in the ground, while still “radiating” vital energy.

If you “transport” from distant corners of the world to our region, with the greenery of meadows and the noise of birch groves, you can discover amazing and rare plants that are on the verge of extinction.

Interesting plants from the Russian Red Book

Japanese bearded plant is a beautiful and graceful plant with a large pinkish flower, which is popularly called the Spirit of the Meadows. It got its name because of the petals, which curve at the bottom of the flower, reminiscent of a gnome's beard.

The bearded plant is a miniature orchid. Just as gentle, graceful and beautiful. The flower can grow alone, modestly “peeping out” from the green arrows of meadow grasses. But most often the plant forms scatterings of flowers, where 1 square meter there can be up to 60 of them. The plant is listed in the Red Book and is protected by law.

Rhododendron Faurie is a plant with large pink flowers. One brush can grow up to 15 delicate flowers with slightly curled petals. It is called the flower of the gods. His beauty is compared to the Greek goddesses - graceful, slender, gentle. You can admire its beauty endlessly, but only the lucky one can see it.

Legend has it that this flower was given to a man by the Gods who wanted to win the heart of his beloved. The flower was as beautiful as the girl for whom it was intended. When her betrothed took her to distant lands, rhododendrons bloomed in the fields so that people would remember not only her beauty, but also believe that unearthly love exists in the world.

We can say about this plant that seeing it means knowing the existence of life. Understand that life and death are far from each other, but at the same time as inseparable as two sisters.

The rarest plant in the world

Puya Raimondi - a plant that lives for 150 years to grow vitality and die. To die forever, giving the world the unearthly beauty of your flowers.

Growing from a round and huge ball, the plant reaches a height of up to 10 meters. A powerful trunk resembling a tree develops from a thin stem. But the huge “bump,” prickly in appearance, resembles a huge flower that slowly grows in height over the course of 100 years. Having lived 150 years and gained vital energy, it gives the world a scattering of thousands of flowers and dies. Dies forever.

This plant is truly beautiful, but there are other amazing representatives of the flora. .
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Home / Useful articles / Medicinal plants North Caucasus

A little about plant extraction

Back in the 6th millennium BC. were known healing properties plants, which are determined by the complex of biologically active substances they contain. Currently, more than 5 million organic compounds are known, many of which are found in plants. These natural substances are different classes organic compounds. Depending on their structure and properties, these substances can be extracted from plants using solvents (extractants). General principle extraction is as follows: if substances are polar, they are extracted with polar solvents; oils, fats and other non-polar substances can be isolated with organic non-polar solvents.

The Most Important Difference Between Herbal Extracts and Individual chemicals is that plant extracts contain hundreds of components. Sometimes one or more ingredients are known or described, but the full composition of the composition is never known (Puchkova T.V. et al, 2005). Plant components work synergistically, as if in an ensemble. In order to have a constant high quality of plant extracts, it is necessary to have plants collected in environmentally friendly areas and proven production processes that guarantee a high content of biologically active substances.

Biologically active substances isolated from plants

Among the biologically active substances obtained from plants are fatty acids, triglycerides of fatty acids (i.e. fats and oils), phospholipids, sterols, waxes, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, proteins, resins, vitamins . Depending on the goals set, it is possible to isolate individual, carefully purified compounds from plants, or to obtain complexes of biologically active substances with complete preservation of their natural properties.

Phospholipids - main components cell membranes. According to their chemical structure, they are unsymmetrical diesters of phosphoric acid and polyhydric alcohols (glycerol, sphingosine, diols). Phospholipid molecules contain non-polar hydrocarbon “tails” and a polar hydrophilic “head”. In water at low concentrations, like molecules of surfactants, they form micelles. At high concentrations, they form bimolecular layers of lipids separated by layers of water. Phospholipids perform very important functions in the body: they stabilize membrane proteins, participate in the transport of cholesterol, and regulate intra- and intercellular metabolism.

Sterols are cyclic alcohols. They are solid, optically active substances, insoluble in water. They are isolated from vegetable oils, as well as animal fats. The biogenetic precursor of sterols is squalene. Sterols are used to obtain medicines, steroid hormones, vitamin D. A well-known sterol is cholesterol.

Alkaloids are organic nitrogen-containing substances. Usually these are non-volatile, bitter-tasting substances, often poisonous. They are widely used in medicine, but very limited in cosmetology. Examples of alkaloids include quinine, morphine, caffeine, papaverine, ephedrine, etc. Most alkaloids are found in plants of the legume, poppy, buttercup and nightshade families.

Glycosides are organic sugar compounds. This is a very large group of substances widely distributed in nature. The mechanism of action of glycosides on the human body is varied and depends on chemical structure aglycone.

Saponins are glycosidic compounds widespread in nature, which form a stable foam when shaken in water. These are compounds of complex structure that form colloidal solutions in water and reduce the surface tension of water, like soaps.

Flavonoids are yellow and brown plant pigments. They are found in nature in a free or bound state with sugars. Contained in almost all plants. Flavonoids strengthen the walls and increase the elasticity of blood vessels, especially capillaries, inhibit the growth of tumors, and exhibit a powerful antiallergic effect.

Tannins are polyphenolic compounds with a tart, astringent taste. Non-toxic to humans, have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, hemostatic and astringent properties. Tannins from the bark of oak, willow, horsetail, oregano, string and other plants have long been used to treat skin diseases.

Resins are complex amorphous substances secreted by plants. Insoluble in water, they have a diuretic, aseptic, laxative and epithelializing effect.

Vitamins are catalysts for the most important biochemical reactions in the human body. They play a huge role in the life of cells. A lack of vitamins leads to various skin pathologies, premature aging, collagen degradation, etc.

Waxes are esters of higher fatty acids and high molecular weight alcohols, usually with an even number of carbon atoms. Possess water-repellent properties. In plants, a waxy coating on the surface of stems, leaves, flowers and fruits plays an important role in the regulation water balance, protects against ultraviolet radiation, mechanical damage and pathogenic bacteria.

Medicinal plants

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.)

It has antimicrobial, antifungal, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and capillary-strengthening effects. The extract contains flavonoids (hyperoside, rutin, quercetin, isoquercetin and quercetin), tannins, carotene, hypericin, essential oil, resins, nicotinic and ascorbic acids, vitamins P and PP, choline, anthocyanins, saponins, etc.

Salvia officinalis L.

Contains flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and resins, organic acids (oleanolic, ursolic, chlorogenic), vitamins P and PP, as well as a significant amount of essential oil containing pinene, cionol, thujone, borneol, salven and other terpene compounds.

Sage extract has antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial effects (especially against gram-positive bacteria), and inhibits sweating. Particularly effective for the treatment of purulent wounds, minor burns and frostbite.

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)

Chamomile inflorescences contain essential oil consisting of the main biologically active substance - chamazulene and other monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Of the sesquiterpenes, the most important are the lactones matricin and matricarine. Chamomile essential oil contains sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (farnesene and cadinene), sesquiterpene alcohols (bisabolol, bisabolol oxide, keto alcohol), and caprylic acid. The flowers of the plant contain flavonoids, coumarins, sitosterol, choline, carotene, ascorbic acid, isovaleric and other organic acids and polysaccharides.

Calendula officinalis, marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)

Calendula flower baskets contain carotenoids - carotene, rubixanthin, lycopene, citroxanthin, violoxanthin, flavochrome, flavoxanthin, etc., paraffin hydrocarbons (gentriacontane and sitosterol), resins, triterpene glycosides, mucous and bitter substances, organic acids (malic, pentadecyl, salicylic), ascorbic acid. It has a pronounced antifungal, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and antispasmodic effect when applied to the skin.

Tripartite sequence (Bidens tripartita)

The herb contains essential oil, tannins and bitter substances, ascorbic acid, carotene, flavonoids, pigments, microelements (in particular manganese). Polyphenols have a more pronounced bactericidal effect compared to molecules of tannins such as tannin, which are less active in this regard.

It has anti-inflammatory, antifungal and wound-healing effects. When applied externally, the series dries the wound surface and promotes faster healing of the affected skin areas. Seed extract is especially effective for treating psoriasis and eczema.

Walnut (Júglans régia)

Walnut kernels contain protein (18%), sugar, drying fatty oil (up to 75%), provitamin A, vitamins C, E, P, K, group B, minerals (iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, cobalt, iodine, copper), tannins. Fatty oil consists of glycerides, citric, stearic, oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and linolenic acids.

The most vitamin C is contained in the shell of unripe fruits, and in terms of its amount it is not inferior to citrus fruits, black currants and rose hips. Therefore, vitamin concentrates are prepared from the shells of unripe walnut fruits. The pericarp also contains a lot of tannins, organic acids, coumarins, quinones, provitamin A, and the dye juglone, which has a bactericidal effect. Betasitosterol was isolated from the shell.

The shell contains phenol carboxylic acids, tannins and coumarins, while the pelicule (thin brown skin covering the fruit) contains steroids, phenol carboxylic acids, tannins and coumarins. Walnut leaves contain tannins (3-4%), glycosides, flavonoids, essential oil, juglone, inositol, carotenoids, vitamins C, B1 and P and a lot (up to 30%) of provitamin A. May walnut leaves according to vitamin content C and provitamin A are not inferior to rose hips.

Decoctions and infusions of walnut leaves and fruit shells have long been used in the treatment of wounds, ulcers, boils, and frostbite as a wound-healing, antifungal, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory agent. For lichen, purulent rashes, abscesses and boils, eczema, seborrhea, hair loss, acne, psoriasis, dermatitis, a decoction of the leaves is used in the form of baths, washes, lotions, and compresses.

Aqueous extracts from walnut leaves also have bactericidal and wound-healing properties. They are used to accelerate wound healing and in the treatment of tuberculous lesions of the skin and larynx. From the pericarp of the walnut, the drug juglone is obtained, which has bactericidal properties, which was previously used for skin tuberculosis, ringworm, eczema, allergies, streptococcal and staphylococcal skin diseases. Unfortunately, it has been undeservedly discontinued and is used only in veterinary medicine.

Peanut oil effectively heals wounds, burns and skin lesions. In folk medicine it is also used in the treatment of conjunctivitis and inflammation of the middle ear.

Thyme (Thymus marschallianus)

Thyme has antiseptic, analgesic and antispasmodic properties. If we consider thyme with scientific point sight, then in its composition you can see a lot of useful properties. Thyme contains gum, organic acids, carotene, flavonoids, vitamins B and C, resins, beneficial bitterness, tannins, cymol and thymol.

Noble Laurel (Laurus nobilis)

Laurel Noble is an evergreen tree, less commonly a shrub from the laurel family. All parts of the laurel contain essential laurel oil. It has been used as a medicinal plant since ancient times.

Preparations from laurel have antimicrobial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, astringent, tonic, sedative effects. Modern ethnoscience prescribes preparations from laurel: for infections, arthritis, polyarthritis, rheumatism, fungal skin diseases and muscle pain. Laurel extract is useful for sensitive and damaged skin, as well as for oily skin, especially with acne and boils.

Sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis L.)

Contains 0.4-0.9% coumarin, coumaric acid, dicumarol, melilotin, essential oil and mucus. Preparations from sweet clover are used as an external diversion agent for articular rheumatism and malignant tumors. Sweet clover is included in preparations used externally as an emollient for abscesses. Coumarin inhibits the central nervous system, has an anticonvulsant effect, so sweet clover preparations are used for seizures and thrombosis of coronary vessels.

To describe in detail all the medicinal herbs growing in the steppes and alpine meadows of the North Caucasus, which can be used in medicinal cosmetics, a lifetime would not be enough, so we offered only those basic ones that we currently use in the production of our own original products of NPO SayTEK LLC. In the future, it is planned to significantly expand the types of medicinal plant extracts used.

Rare plants of the Caucasus and the Black Sea coast from medicinal to poisonous

The plant cover of the Caucasus is extremely diverse. The significant separation of the territory and the location of mountain ranges helped to increase the significance of the geographical and ecological isolation of isolated vegetation zones.

This explains the significant local prevalence of Caucasian vegetation and the originality of the landscapes. How ancient nature one or another plant complex of the Caucasus. the enormous uniqueness of its composition makes it unique. On the southern slope of the Western Caucasus, the profile crosses a sweeping belt of forest vegetation with luxurious evergreen shrub and then through the thickets of subalpine crooked forests it comes out to high-mountain meadows.

The altitudinal zonation of Eastern Transcaucasia is characterized by a decrease in the belt of forest flora to the east due to an increase in climatic conditions. In the North Caucasus, at the bottom of the forest zone, forest-steppe groups are developed, changing from plains to steppes, and in areas to semi-deserts. In terms of the number of species, the flora of the Caucasus is approximately one and a half times more prosperous than the nature of the European part of Russia and is infinitely insignificantly inferior to the vegetation of the Balkans and the Iberian Peninsula.

The flora of the Caucasus defies any comparison and diversity of species.

Vegetation of the Caucasus

Office of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic for placement of republican government orders

Republican State Budgetary Treatment and Prevention Institution "Karachay-Cherkess Republican Clinical Hospital"

municipal state-financed organization Healthcare "Circassian City Children's Hospital"

Municipal Budgetary Treatment and Prevention Institution "Malokarachaevsk Central District Hospital"

Federal State Budgetary Institution Tuberculosis Sanatorium "Teberda" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Municipal budgetary healthcare institution of Cherkessk "Cherkessk City Clinical Hospital"

Residents and guests of the capital of Karachay-Cherkessia will be able to express their creative potential and test their strength as part of a competition for the best drawing of social advertising.

A monument to fallen traffic police officers was unveiled in Karachay-Cherkessia

The memorial is dedicated to employees of the State Traffic Inspectorate who died in the line of duty, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Karachay-Cherkessia reported on Tuesday.

Vegetation of the Caucasus

The vegetation of the Caucasus is distinguished by its rich species composition and diversity of plant communities. The reason for this is the diversity of physical and geographical conditions and the complexity of the history of landscape formation.

In total, there are about 6,500 plant species in the Caucasus. Whereas on much larger territory In the European part of Russia there are only about 3,500 species.

Only evergreen forests are missing. Factors: evolution of ancient flora, introduction of immigrants and their transformation, settlement and formation in accordance with modern conditions.
Woody vegetation is represented by deciduous and coniferous (in the mountains) species. In the lower zone of the mountains around Colchis there are Colchis forests - beech, oak, hornbeam, chestnut, ash, relics - hopshornbeam, plane tree and vines - cherry laurel, holly.

The Hyrcanian forests along the eastern slope of the Talysh Mountains are similar to the previous ones, but there are also chestnut-leaved oak, ironwood, silk acacia, and majestic maple.
Moisture-loving species (beech, fir) gravitate towards the more humid West; to the east, dominance passes to drought-resistant (oak, pine), arid open forests of deciduous (pistachios) and coniferous (juniper) forests.

In the Western and Middle Ciscaucasia, steppes previously dominated, now almost entirely plowed; The Terek-Kuma lowland is occupied mainly by semi-desert vegetation.

Within the Greater Caucasus, altitudinal zonation of vegetation cover is observed, with the forest zone and the zone of alpine vegetation - subalpine and alpine meadows - being especially widespread. On the slopes bordering the Colchis lowland, relict broad-leaved forests with evergreen undergrowth grow.

The Colchis lowland itself was in the past covered with forests of the Colchis type with relict plants (now these forests are almost exterminated), among which there were also tracts of swampy alder forests, largely preserved. Semi-desert associations are widespread in the Kura depression, and on its outskirts - steppes (often secondary, arose in place of arid open forest). The Talysh mountains are covered with forests, in the lower mountain belt relict forests of the Talysh or Hyrcanian type.

On the northern and northeastern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus ranges, the mountain-forest zone is also most pronounced, below which in the middle and eastern parts of the mountain system there is a belt of shrub thickets such as shibliak; Mountain meadow subalpine and alpine vegetation is widespread on the ridge crests.

Mountain-steppe vegetation dominates on the Javakheti-Armenian Highlands, and in the most high areas- the high-mountain (mountain-meadow) Central Araks basin is occupied by dry steppes and semi-deserts; this is the lower altitudinal zone of the continental highlands.

The mountain meadows of the Greater Caucasus and Transcaucasian Highlands are valuable pasture and hayfields.

Vast areas of dry steppes and semi-deserts of the Terek-Kuma and Kura-Araks lowlands are also used as pastures. The forests of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus and Talysh serve not only as a source of various timber; their water conservation and anti-erosion role is no less important. The wild flora of the Caucasus contains many fruit trees and shrubs, valuable technical, medicinal and ornamental plants.

Shrubs play a significant role. The formation is associated with the Ice Age.

Steppe areas are represented by feather grass. Significant areas are occupied by meadow vegetation (clearings in the lower and mid-mountain forest belts, expanded areas of river valleys and unplowed areas within the lowland Transcaucasia). In the subalpine and alpine zones, meadows become zonal.

Many plants brought to the Caucasus from other countries have acclimatized here and are now an integral element of the landscape.

The vegetation cover in the subtropical regions of Transcaucasia has been greatly transformed. Intensive work is underway to promote subtropical plants to the north and into the mountains.

Cultivated plants of the Caucasus

The most important cultivated plants Caucasian subtropics - tea bush and tangerines.
Tea plantations consist of many low bushes, almost closely adjacent to one another.

These plantations are like a dark green sea with many rounded waves.

Top poisonous plants of the North Caucasus

The appearance of the plantations does not change throughout the year, since the tea bush is an evergreen plant. In the spring, in May, the harvest begins. Only young tender shoots, which are called flushes, are collected. Homeland of the tea bush - Southeast Asia. From here it was brought to our subtropics and took root here well. Now the area of ​​tea plantations on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus exceeds 70 thousand.

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Tangerines - valuable fruit crop, but quite sensitive to cold (plants die at - 12°C). Tangerine gardens are common in the warmest areas of the Caucasian subtropics - mainly between Sukhumi and Batumi. The trees in such gardens are low, with wide, always green crowns.

The fruits ripen in late autumn, in November. At this time, they stand out beautifully with their orange color against the background of dark foliage. It is in November that tangerines are usually harvested. Each fruit is carefully cut with special scissors, leaving a very short piece of the stalk on it.

It is worth noting that not only rhododendron, but also many other plants have healing powers and, due to their limited range, are included in the Red Book. Moreover, you can also find poisonous plants here, which you also need to know.

Poisonous plants of the Caucasus mountains

A feature of many poisonous plants The Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and its other areas is that in small doses and with a certain amount of caution they turn out to be medicinal agents. It is worth listing the most common ones.

• Hellebore Caucasian.

It can only be used under the supervision of specialists. The properties of hellebore can surprise anyone. It helps cleanse the body of toxins, removes heavy metal salts and even radioactive elements. Doctors prescribe hellebore for obesity because it promotes weight loss. Among plants, hellebore is truly unique.

• Belladonna.

The fact that she is from the nightshade family already says a lot. It grows in the foothills, it is cultivated because it is irreplaceable as an antispasmodic. Belladonna preparations are also used in eye clinics, as they can dilate the pupil. However, despite all its beneficial features and inclusion in many drugs (both external and internal), belladonna is a poisonous plant, and products created on its basis are not available without a prescription.

• Henbane black.

It even became part of a well-known saying (“I ate too much henbane,” they say about crazy people). Medical oil is made from it, which provides significant assistance in the treatment of neuralgia and rheumatism. Like other similar herbs, henbane should be dried and stored separately from other medicinal plants.

• Caucasian ash tree.

Another poisonous, but no less amazing representative of the plant world of the Caucasus. What is it worth? popular name – burning bush. This is how the ash tree was nicknamed because it contains so much essential oils that it can flare up on a hot day. Collect this herb with gloves, otherwise your hands will get burned. However, ash tree is able to treat kidneys, help with epilepsy and cystitis, and even expel worms.

All these and many others benefit people, but on the condition that they are used in very moderate doses. In order not to be mistaken, it is worth having their photo and description on hand - especially poisonous ones. But still medicinal herbs there is much more here, and you can add shrubs, subshrubs, flowers, trees to them...

The Caucasus is a wonderful place on Earth - it gives health by its very existence.

Vegetable world The Caucasus is characterized by amazing diversity, which is due to the peculiarities of the relief of this territory. In several climatic zones there are more than 6,000 species and subspecies of plants, which are rarely found in such close proximity to each other. Some representatives of the flora are endemic, that is, they grow only in this territory and are not found anywhere else. There are also many imported and acclimatized plants.

Long-lived trees of the Caucasus Mountains

In the Caucasus, real relics of antiquity grow:

Holly

This short, thorny tree, most often found at low altitudes, bears extremely poisonous berries;

Medicinal cherry laurel

A low tree with fancy leaves and cherry-like fruits;

Colchis butcher's broom

Another representative of the flora listed in the Red Book;

Boxwood and coniferous berry yew

These are the most ancient trees, often growing together, forming entire groves.

In the foothills there are also beeches, oaks, and alder forests. The flora is also represented by an abundance of shrubs that rest between huge trees - rhododendrons.

There are also more common representatives here - fir and spruce, which prefer to grow on rocks. Coniferous forests form real thickets, and between them there are also deciduous trees.

Rare plants of the Caucasus listed in the Red Book

The Red Book contains such representatives of the flora of the Caucasus as:

Primrose Julia

Small flowers located along the banks of mountain streams. They are similar to a violet, but have uneven edges of the petals. The color is most often bright anthracite, fuchsia.

Beautiful Beltpetal

A special type of orchid found in the Caucasus. A very rare plant that is difficult to find.

Ardon bell

Blooms in high mountains, often found in eternal ice. Small flowers are blue.

Transcaucasian lily of the valley

Another representative of a rare group of plants. Used for medicinal purposes, the number is rapidly declining. A perennial creeping herb with small lower leaves. From 6 to 20 flowers are formed on the stem, looking in one direction.

Many medicinal forms of flowers, herbs, and shrubs grow in the Caucasus. They are actively used by the local population and are also collected for production by small farms, however most of is under protection. The collection of these plants is prohibited.

Two-leaved lyubka

Lyubka is often called field jasmine and night violet, as well as carnation and celandine kernel. Behind all these names lies one plant. This is perennial herbaceous plant with oblong tubers. It reaches a height of 60 cm. There are only 1-3 lanceolate leaves on the stem. Lyubka's inflorescences are white, small, and have a green border at the tips.

Woolly flowered astragalus

The plant belongs to the relics of the Caucasus and is on the verge of complete extinction. This is a creeping grass, barely reaching 35 cm in height. Most often, the height does not exceed 15 cm, and the length of 1 stem is 4-20 cm. Astragalus is spread out on the ground, partially raised. It is distinguished by a reddish tint and the presence of shaggy leaves. The flowers are yellow, small in diameter. Flowering begins at the end of June.

Tree and cross-leaved heather

Evergreen tree-like heather grows on the Black Sea coast, as well as on hills and in forests next to strawberry trees. This is a fairly large shrub, capable of reaching a height of 6 m. It begins to bloom in February, forming small, fragrant flowers up to 4 mm in length in the form of umbrellas. Together they form large panicles up to 50 cm. Ancient heather was an exotic relic that prefers a warm, humid environment. It tolerates heat well, as does the second species - cross-leaved heather, which is most often found in the Baltic states and is represented by a small number of individuals in the Caucasus.

Vavilovia is beautiful

An alpine plant that likes to settle on the most high altitudes. The squat grass of alpine meadows spreads along the ground, and during the flowering period it pleases with pink-scarlet flowers. Vegetation can often be found at an altitude of 2000-2500 m.

Bells

Over 100 species of common bells grow in the Caucasus. Some of them are characteristic only of this place and are included in the Red Book. The bells are different small in size and a full palette of shades: white, pink, blue, yellow. They are found at 800-2900 m above sea level. Places such as rocky slopes are often chosen.

Leafless chinwort

A unique plant with a red stem and pink flowers from which large stamens protrude. Grows in highlands in squat grass. This is an ancient relict species of muzzle, which is found in Japan and China. Maximum height - 30 cm. The plant is resistant to frost and for several years at unfavorable conditions can live under the snow.

Majestic Chistoust

This plant belongs to the family of ferns - one of the most ancient representatives of the flora in the Caucasus. Chistoust is a relict plant that is found in the highlands. It has long stems and leaves with paired leaflets. Prefers wet areas. During the flowering period, it forms pyramid-shaped boxes with seeds.

Features of Colchis boxwood

The tree is worthy of special consideration as one of the oldest “settlers” of the Caucasus. It is believed that boxwood existed back in the Ice Age. Now most of the trees are located in the reserve, 20 km from Sochi. Green moss is a natural inhabitant that prefers to grow on boxwood trunks. Due to this, a unique atmosphere of twilight is created in the groves.

Boxwood is an evergreen tree covered with small evergreen leaves that are very dense. One plant can live up to 600 years. However, the maximum height does not exceed 20 m, and the diameter is 50 cm. Boxwood can bloom - the inflorescences form a dense crown, have a white color and a delicate aroma.

The vegetation of the Caucasus is a combination of rare, endangered and unique flora representatives for this area. Some of them require scrupulous protection. Over 80% of the territory of the Caucasus Mountains are nature reserves, which in the future can protect ancient and endangered species from complete destruction.