Let's meet the little inhabitants of the capital's forest parks

The sorrel bug, or, as it is also called, the sorrel bug, is not known to every ordinary person; those who are interested in this type of insect will be interested in learning about its characteristics.

Just as a master jester and swindler has a dozen different thimbles, so the bedbug family has an abundance of children. Different colors of parasites skillfully annoy people. Sometimes I can’t save you from them, either in the garden or in bed. And it’s impossible to come to an agreement with this “people”!

You can actually get acquainted with bedbugs in a hostel, a new apartment or a private house when moving, or in a communal apartment. By the way, if you want to read more about them, then a special article on the site will open its gates! I would like to believe that you will read this material out of curiosity, and not out of urgent need...

So, there are an incredible number of bedbugs:

• Water strider.
• Shield insect.
• Bed.
• Triatom.
• Italian.
• Harmful turtle.
• Soldier bug.

And this time we want to tell the whole world about such a variety as the sorrel bug.

Blood-sucking bugs

The most hated bug of all on the planet is the bed or linen bug.
Mostly, bedbugs live in a person’s home, taking a liking to all available cracks and dark corners within a small radius from the bedroom. Their small size allows them to successfully hide in the most unpredictable places, such as a power outlet or laptop!

Parasite activity occurs at night, when the victim is sound asleep and is most vulnerable. But how to detect bedbugs at home and understand what exactly this dangerous insect you encountered? It is very easy not to confuse a bedbug with another bug. An adult reaches 5 mm; its dimensions are affected by gender, age and the amount of blood drunk. After a meal, the bug’s body becomes saturated with blood and enlarges, making it much easier to detect. Gender also plays a role: females are always slightly larger than males.

The absence of wings and a red-brown color is how bed bugs differ from their relatives; what their eggs and larvae look like is described below. After saturation with blood, the color of the individual may darken. Bugs have three pairs of legs. The insect's body is covered with small hairs and has a flat shape, making it not so easy to kill. The flattened, hard body can withstand pressure, but after eating it becomes noticeably rounder and it is not difficult to crush it.

As mentioned above, bedbugs feed on blood. The insect pierces human skin with a special elongated nose, often in thin places for better access to the capillaries. This proboscis has two channels: the large bug sucks blood, and through the smaller one it injects special saliva, which has an analgesic effect. At one time, bedbugs suck twice as much blood as they weigh themselves!

House bugs have clearly visible segments on their abdomen. Other varieties of bed bugs also have them, but the presence of wings makes it difficult to detect stripes on the body. After the “snack,” the segments stretch and the body lengthens.

The way bedbug eggs look is somewhat reminiscent of ant eggs, in particular due to their elongated shape. More often, the sizes fluctuate within half a millimeter, but if desired, they can be detected: the female lays 3-4 eggs in one place, which makes them more noticeable. Bedbug larvae have a pale golden hue and are coated with a special sticky substance that helps them attach to surfaces.

After several molts, the color of the insects begins to acquire a dark color, and the body shape begins to more and more resemble an adult bug. Larvae, when piercing the skin, do not inject special anesthetic saliva, as their older brothers do. What is happening can be felt, but due to the small size of the larva itself and the proboscis, the pain will be barely noticeable.

Bedbugs live for about a year. The development time of a larva into an adult is 30-40 days, but in an unfavorable external environment (for example, low or high temperature), formation can take up to 80-100 days. Over the course of her entire life, a female bedbug lays from 250 to 500 eggs, 1-12 eggs per day. Insects cannot tolerate temperatures below -17 °C and above 45 °C.

Insect reproduction occurs through traumatic insemination: the male, piercing the female’s body, injects seed into her. Bedbugs multiply rapidly, but taking pest control measures in the shortest possible time will clear the house of uninvited guests.

Weevil

Weevils (or elephant weevils) are one of the most widespread families of beetles on the planet, with more than 50 thousand species. About five thousand of them are found in Russia. They got their name due to their characteristic appearance: the front part of the head of weevils is elongated, it is called the rostrum.

Gardeners and gardeners are well acquainted with these beetles - this pest is capable of not only spoiling the crop, but also completely destroying it. By the name of the species, you can understand what crop the beetle “specializes” in (for example, the beet weevil, a beet pest). The number of beet weevils is influenced by larger animals and birds. Shrews, hedgehogs, starlings, jackdaws and magpies, hoodies, jays, gulls, larks, quails and others feed on them.

Acorn weevils (oak fruit weevils) use oak fruits to breed offspring. The female makes a deep hole in the immature acorns and lays one or two eggs there. After about two weeks, yellowish-white larvae with a red-brown head appear.

History and geography

In Russia, back in the 17th century, not much was known about sorrel. Many were only surprised how it was possible to eat grass that was sour and grew like a weed. Only after some time it was possible to find sorrel in vegetable gardens, which they were already beginning to use in soups. This is how botvinya with sorrel and green cabbage soup appeared. Now these dishes are traditional dishes in Russian cuisine.

But the ancestors did not immediately discover this plant. For example, Adam Olearius, a traveler and part-time translator, noted in his travel notes that Muscovites laugh at how the Germans eat green weeds.

If in our country sorrel began to be used in cooking quite late, then in the world, since ancient times, everyone knew about the beneficial properties of this plant. As an example, the Roman physician Galen, who lived in the second century AD, noted that the product helps with bleeding and indigestion.

Sorrel grows in coastal areas, near roads, in places with moist soil, along river banks and in other bodies of water. There is also a small sorrel, which prefers to grow in fields and barren meadows.

bug turtle

An interesting representative of these insects lives in our latitudes - the turtle bug. It got its name from its chitinous shell, which resembles the shape and color of a turtle's cover. Who really is a bug, a harmful turtle or a beneficial turtle that lives in our area? Rather, the first thing is that the bug is a real specialist in cereal crops. He is not averse to eating grains, for which he is nicknamed “harmful.”

The bug only inherited its nickname from the turtle: in fact, the nimble insect flies quite quickly. The distance the beetle covers is no joke; when searching for a breeding site, the range can reach 50 km, and for mountain representatives as much as 200 km.

The harmful turtle bug lives up to 11 months. The larva emerging from the egg requires 35 days to complete its formation. With the advent of autumn cold weather, the bug settles in fallen leaves and hibernates. With the warmth of spring, the insect awakens and begins to look for food, for which winter wheat will serve well. The adults and larvae of turtles that feed on whole grains cause the most harm to farmers. Grains infected by 5% are unsuitable for further grinding into flour.

Classification

Sorrel (lat. Rumex) belongs to the perennial herbs of the Buckwheat family. There is an assumption that the name comes from a Russian dish - sour cabbage soup. About 150 plant species are known in Africa, Eurasia, America and 70 in Russia. Many people don’t even know how beneficial sorrel can be. But in order to reveal its healing properties, you need to know which type to use.

Small sorrel grows predominantly in acidic soils. Since the grass infests meadows and legume crops, the problem of eradication has remained relevant for a long time. Passerine sorrel is rarely used in cooking as a salad or seasoning due to the bitter taste of the leaves.

Most of the subspecies of the plant are weeds used in medicinal recipes. Dishes include only common or sour sorrel (lat. Rumex acetosa), which is specially cultivated in vegetable gardens.

Shield family (Pentatomidae)

Bugs (3-24 mm) with an oval body and dense integument. About 3 thousand species are known in the world fauna. The ubiquitous shield bugs may be less numerous in nature than horse flies, but they are much larger and more massive, and therefore are the first to be noticeable.

Reaches a length of 14 mm. This bug runs quickly through grass and bushes.

Up to 16 mm long, prefers to be in trees. Its color matches the color of the leaf so much that this large bug is difficult to notice. The camouflage of the palomena larva is even more perfect; it doesn’t even look like a bug, but rather like a round piece of leaf on legs. In green stink bugs, like most species of the family, adult bugs overwinter among fallen leaves. In autumn they change color, becoming not green, but brown, the color of the litter.

Some stink bugs are considered pests of agricultural crops. For example, a beautiful black-blue garden bug with a white or red pattern, about 6 mm long, can damage crops from the cruciferous family (cabbage, radishes, turnips, etc.) in the garden. However, more often this bug damages cruciferous weeds.

Water strider bug

Most people relaxing on the shores of reservoirs have noticed bugs running through the water, somewhat similar to mosquitoes. One of these representatives is the water strider bug. This is a predator that feeds on other insects that accidentally fall into the water.

They are not harmless to humans and bite quite painfully (not purposefully), but the bite does not have any consequences.

Typically, the habitat of bedbugs is shallow water.
The bug runs perfectly on the surface of the water on its six legs: resting on the surface with its back pair and pushing off with its short front claw legs. Some water striders can fly, but more often this happens when searching for shelter before wintering. There are also swimming individuals that feed on beetle larvae and mollusks (common mollusks). For breathing, a special appendage is provided, which, like a periscope, looks out at the surface from the water.

Family earth bugs, or ground bugs (Lygaeidae)

Small and medium-sized (1.3-15 mm) bugs are predominantly terrestrial. Most live on the soil surface or in the litter. Some species are inhabitants of herbaceous vegetation, trees and shrubs. About 3 thousand species of land animals are known in the world fauna.

Found everywhere on trees and shrubs. Periodically, these small bugs multiply in such a way that they cause massive loss of birch catkins and almost completely destroy the seed crop.

The larger one, up to 13 mm, graceful in its red cloak, like a cardinal's guard, feeds on a wide variety of plants (including crops), loves seeds, but does not produce outbreaks of reproduction and, therefore, does not cause economic harm. In spring, the female lays eggs in loose soil to a depth of 1-3 cm, the larvae emerge to the surface and crawl through the grasses.

Chemical composition

Sorrel has a rich chemical composition, so it has a beneficial effect on the entire body.

Macronutrients:

• Ca (calcium) – 47 mg
• Mg (magnesium) – 85 mg
• Na (sodium) – 15 mg
• K (potassium) – 500 mg
• P (phosphorus) – 90 mg
• S (sulfur) – 20 mcg
• Cl (chlorine) – 70 mg

Microelements:

• Fe (iron) – 2 mg
• I (iodine) – 3 mcg
• Mn (manganese) – 0.35 µg
• Cu (copper) – 0.2 mg
• Zn (zinc) – 0.5 mg
• F (fluorine) – 70 mcg

Vitamins:

• PP – 0.3 mg
• Beta-carotene – 2.5 mg
• A (RE) – 417 mcg
• B1 (thiamine) – 0.19 mg
• B2 (riboflavin) – 0.1 mg
• C (ascorbic acid) – 43 mg
• E (TE) – 2 mg
• PP (Niacin Equivalent) – 0.6 mg
• B5 (pantothenic acid) – 0.25 mg
• B6 (pyridoxine) – 0.2 mg
• Folic acid (vitamin B9) – 35 mcg
• K (phylloquinone) – 0.6 mg
• Biotin (vitamin H) – 0.6 mcg

Sorrel roots contain up to 27% tannins.

Sorrel is a real storehouse of vitamins and minerals

Wood bug

The most common and well-known wood bug (or stink bug) is popularly called the stink bug. While picking berries, many have experienced the unpleasant smell of an accidentally crushed green beetle, and lovers of unwashed raspberries or currants have even been “lucky” to taste it. But the memories will last a lifetime, and you definitely won’t forget what bedbugs smell like.

The stink bug feeds on berries (rose hips, raspberries). All attempts to drive it away more often end in fiasco, because the bug can spoil the fruit with a nasty smell (a defensive reaction to danger). With the onset of autumn, the green bug turns into a gray-brown bug and merges with the fallen leaves. During the summer, the insect lays eggs twice; the best place for this is considered to be the back side of the leaves. The eggs have miniature lids through which the larva leaves its refuge forever.

The Italian stink bug is a type of wood bug. A striped beetle whose coloring resembles the uniform of the Vatican Guards. Often lives in the greens of dill, parsley, parsnips and carrots.

Family Coreidae

Medium-sized and large (5.3-16 mm), dimly colored bugs with very durable integuments. About 1,600 species are known in the world fauna.

The large (up to 15 mm) brown bug attracts attention in the spring, when overwintered bugs fly buzzing from plant to plant to feed and bask in the sun. Fed females prefer to lay eggs on the leaves of sorrel and other buckwheat. The angular larvae of the bug look like the fruits of these plants; they often feed on the fruits.

What is it - a vegetable or a herb?

Sorrel is a perennial herbaceous plant (in Latin - Rúmex, translated as “spear”).
The height reaches 90-150 cm. The plant has a thick rhizome and gnarled stem. The stem sometimes takes on a purple color. The lower leaves are directed downward with lobes, and arrow-shaped at the base. The flowers can be yellow, pink and red, but they are very small and inconspicuous. Sour sorrel, widely used in medicine (R. acetosa L.). Flowering occurs at the end of June-July. Where does it grow in nature? Common sorrel sometimes grows near roads, on river banks and in weedy places.

Horsefly family (Miridae)

These are small and medium-sized delicate bugs - representatives of the largest (about 6 thousand species) family within the order Heteroptera. Among horseflies there are also species that prefer to feed on insects, sucking up plants on occasion.

Green bugs of the genus Macrolophus are even used to control pests in greenhouses, although it happens that the bugs themselves begin to actively feed on the protected crops. In the same greenhouses, cucumber and other plants can be seriously damaged by other horseflies - grass bugs of the genus Lygus. In summer, especially on herbaceous vegetation, horseflies are one of the most widespread phytophages. They damage various crops, including grains.

Red bug

Peak insect activity occurs at the end of May - beginning of June.
During this period, the red bug actively mates, and you can see it almost everywhere. Typically, the places where bedbugs hide are associated with wood. Colonies of insects move along tree trunks, stumps, fences and other nearby areas. Black-and-red bugs are called soldier bugs, and their memorable color cannot be confused with any other insect. They lay eggs in old dead trees, rotten stumps and wood. The larvae of toy soldiers are distinguished by a not very saturated color with the presence of black inclusions. It is a serious pest and its activities cause many problems for gardeners. The insect especially loves to spoil vineyards. Thanks to its piercing-sucking proboscis, the bug feeds on the juice of fruits, plants and dead insects, piercing their cover. In the absence of the opportunity to obtain juice, the bug looks for food even on the corpses of animals.

Red bug family (Pyrrhocoridae)

Small and medium-sized bugs (6-12 mm), among which there are full-winged and short-winged forms. There are about 400 species in the world fauna, mostly tropical.

As red as the spotted ground bug, but stockier, the soldier bug can feed on succulent plants and dead insects, but prefers seeds and fruits, especially linden trees. These bugs form large clusters and are clearly visible in early spring, when they emerge from the winter and bask in the sun. It is not uncommon for the undersides of tree trunks and stumps to appear red due to clusters of these bugs. In soldier colonies, both adult bugs and larvae of all ages live together all summer.

Should the sorrel bug be controlled?

Amazingly, the edge dwellers periodically destroy other harmful insects!
They themselves often become food for birds, who see them even from a flying height. If you want to understand how to get rid of the sorrel bug, then we’ll give you a couple of tips:

• You can place a large number of vessels with water under the plants, but this is an extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive procedure. As an analogy, we also suggest trying to install small water channels between the beds. This should be done when you are sure that your crops will definitely not suffer from this.
• A more reliable method is to etch the area. The popular means “Confidor”, “Korado”, “Thunder” are suitable here. In addition, it is not a sin to try drugs based on malathion, for example, Fufanon and Karbofos (by the way, separate articles have been written about these substances).

What kind of “fruit” is the sorrel bug?

The small sorrel bug is found in Eurasia and North Africa. The length of its body ranges from 1 to 1.5 cm. If you are unprepared, this bug can easily be confused with a pinch of clay, since its natural color is brown. This insect will especially impress a person who likes to look at all kinds of comas under a magnifying glass.

The shape of its body is unusual (at least its fellow bugs are almost the same from each other, but they differ from the sorrel bug). It is a little reminiscent of a spade, a card suit. A geometer would compare it to a rhombus. The antennae on the head are reddish in color. They are not similar to the color of the body. The abdomen is spread out, protruding from under the elytra.

It is curious that the antennae of the hatched cubs are almost longer than the body. There are outgrowths on the upper side of the abdomen of bedbugs; however, it is extremely easy to visually distinguish the younger generation from adult individuals without this. Best guide: fiend size. The big and fat “boy-bug” is the father, the little one is the son. Or something like that!

What else can be added to the description... Yes, when a kraevik is destroyed, its lifeless flesh does not emit the disgusting odors that have earned disgrace from homeowners. Distant odorous notes are present, but the smell is more reminiscent of an overripe apple or an unripe pear.

By the way, the speed of movement of this creature of God is no big deal! The same nasty bed bugs can only parachute from shelves, climb walls, climb onto beds and ruin a person’s healthy sleep. So the regional explorers have learned to fly! They move very gracefully in the air. The swooping is sometimes comparable to the movements of a dragonfly.

These were the main characteristics of what the sorrel bug is. It is worth mentioning how they eat. The piercing-sucking mouthparts allow them to absorb the juices of those plants in which they themselves show interest.

But first, a few photos.

Cooking tips

Sour sorrel is used in cooking.

Initially, sorrel was cultivated as a medicinal plant, and only over time it began to be used in cooking. Thus, many summer residents like to treat themselves to delicious cabbage soup made from sour grass.

Sorrel can also be added to other hot dishes, sauces, salads and even baked goods. Culinary experts believe that the plant goes well with spinach, fennel, nettle, onion, black pepper and other herbs and seasonings.

Young leaves have the highest concentrations of citric and malic acids, and older leaves have the highest concentrations of oxalic acid. High doses of oxalic acid can provoke the deposition of kidney stones, so when boiling old leaves, you need to dilute chalk in water (1 g per 1 kg of leaves), which will allow the substance to precipitate.

The lowest level of oxalic acid is recorded in young shoots, so experts assure that sorrel should be consumed only until June, collecting its topmost leaves.

When preparing a dish, you should not use aluminum or cast iron cookware: when interacting with metal, sorrel releases toxic substances.

Sorrel cabbage soup is a delicious soup popular during the summer season.

Salad recipe

1. Cut cucumbers, tomatoes and sorrel (100 g each).
2. Add finely chopped radish and green onions (50 g each).
3. If desired, enrich the salad with boiled eggs, green peas, and meat.
4. Season with sour cream.

Video: preparing cabbage soup from sorrel

Lace maker family (Tingidae)

Next to horseflies, and on the grass and leaves of trees, you can find small bugs, whose outgrowths on the chest and elytra seem to be carved with fancy lace. That's why these bugs are called lace bugs.

Damages fruit and ornamental crops, multiplying en masse in the south. In the north, a very similar laceweed, Stephanitis oberti, lives in cranberry bogs.

Growing

Sorrel is a perennial cold-resistant plant, so it can be sown in late autumn or early winter. If sowing is done in the spring, then sorrel will appear much later than after winter planting.

First you need to prepare the soil. To do this, the soil is carefully dug up and all weeds are removed. You can fertilize the soil with a mixture of compost, superphosphate and potassium salt. For 1 m² you need one bucket of compost, as well as 1 tbsp. a spoonful of superphosphate and 1 tablespoon of potassium salt.

Then you need to make special grooves for sowing. Their depth should be up to 3 cm and maintain a distance of 25 cm between them. Sorrel seeds are very small, so it is better to sow in moist soil, and they must be deepened 5 mm into the soil. To sow 1 m² of soil, you will need 1 gram of sorrel seeds. For simultaneous germination of seeds, it is recommended to sprinkle a little humus and sawdust in equal proportions.

In the spring, you need to thin out the sorrel so that the distance between plants is 4 cm. In the first year, it is recommended to feed the plant during the formation of leaves, using mullein diluted with water in proportions of 1:5, or chicken droppings with water, where you need to adhere to proportions of 1 :10.

After each cut of sorrel leaves, you need to fertilize with mineral fertilizers in order to get an excellent harvest. Also, to prevent leaf burns, plants should be watered using a watering can with a strainer. To make the plant stronger for wintering, you need to apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Sorrel tolerates bad weather well, because even frost is not scary for it. The main thing is to ensure that the plant does not dry out in hot weather; it should be watered more often.

Flowering weakens the leaves of sorrel, so you need to tear them off, because the flower stalks take all the strength of this plant.

The time of day of harvest plays a huge role. If you cut the leaves in the afternoon, then they wither very quickly. If you collect sorrel by the dew, it will not be able to be stored for a long time, because it will begin to rot. Therefore, the best time is morning and evening.

Already at the end of summer, it is not recommended to completely tear off the sorrel, so as not to weaken the plant before wintering. Only old leaves can be collected, but young leaves and buds should be left in place. It is also advisable to hill up the beds in the fall and mulch them with humus.

About growing sorrel, watch the TV show “6 acres”.

Useful properties of sorrel

Sorrel is valuable because it produces produce in early spring, when there is a very short supply of fresh vegetables. Caloric content contains 245 calories per 1 kg of leaves. Sorrel contains proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, organic acids (oxalic acid), vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 ​​(pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), PP (niacin), C ( ascorbic acid), E (tocopherol), A (beta-carotene), K (phylloquinone), H (biotin).

Sorrel is a rich source of potassium; it also contains calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, chlorine, sulfur, iron, iodine, manganese, zinc, copper, fluorine, and nitrogenous substances.

Horse sorrel roots contain up to 4% anthraquinone derivatives, which include chrysophanic acid and chrysophanol; 8-15% tannins of the pyrocatechol group (more than in rhubarb); flavonoids, organic acids (oxalic, caffeic and others), vitamin K, essential oil, resins, iron (in the form of organic compounds). Anthraquinone derivatives and tannins were found in the fruits. Flavonoids (hyperoside, rutin and others), ascorbic acid and carotene are found in the leaves. Flowers contain ascorbic acid (68.4 mg%). All parts of the plant contain large amounts of calcium oxalate. In terms of its chemical composition, horse sorrel is close to rhubarb. The amount of anthraglycosides in it, although smaller, is still large enough to consider sorrel a valuable medicinal raw material. The plant has antibacterial activity.

It should be remembered that young sorrel leaves are more nutritious and healthier (malic and citric acids predominate in them), while older leaves require the addition of chalk when boiled in order to precipitate oxalic acid. To do this, one gram of chalk per kilogram of leaves is enough.

Sour sorrel leaves improve digestion, have analgesic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antitoxic, astringent and antiscorbutic effects. And their decoction is used for stomach disorders; it also has a choleretic effect, helping to improve liver function, and an antiallergic effect, helping with acne and itchy skin.

Sorrel is one of the best remedies for menopause, both in men and women. Avicenna believed that the main purpose of sorrel is to eliminate the unpleasant manifestations of menopause, you just need to use it systematically, then it will pass faster and easier. The decoction should be drunk 7 days a month before menstruation (then it will be painless, without nervous tension, discharge is light, sleep is sound, nerves are at peace). Brew 1 tablespoon of dry leaves in a glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, drink a third of a glass 3 times a day half an hour before meals.

Sorrel is also useful for infertility. The recipe is just as simple: pour 1 tablespoon of sorrel with a glass of boiling water, boil over low heat for 1 minute, leave until cool. Drink a third of a glass 3 times a day half an hour before meals. If you add knotweed and mumiyo to the sorrel infusion, the effect of the treatment will come faster.

A decoction of sorrel leaves enhances the formation of bile, improves liver function, it is prescribed for bleeding or tendencies to it, as well as for various rashes and itching of the skin - as an antiallergic.

The roots of horse sorrel are used for liver diseases, dysentery, pulmonary and uterine bleeding, to relieve stools, for hemorrhoids and anal fissures, externally for burns, wounds, stomatitis, gingivitis, and various skin diseases.

In folk medicine, horse sorrel is used as an antitumor agent.

Uterine cancer. Pour 2 tablespoons of sorrel roots with 2 cups of boiling water, keep in a sealed container over low heat for 15 minutes, leave for 4 hours, strain. Use for one douching procedure. It is advisable to carry out at least 12 such procedures.

The use of horse sorrel is only external (in this case), so there are no specific contraindications here.

A decoction of the leaves and roots of horse sorrel helps with colds; it is also recommended for the treatment of diarrhea, colitis, entero- and hemocolitis.

In Germany in the Middle Ages, irritation of the larynx and upper respiratory tract was treated with a decoction of sorrel roots; joints were rubbed with fresh juice for inflammation. During the late Middle Ages, sorrel was used mainly as a laxative and antiseptic.

Leaves and stems of sorrel, after preliminary drying, can be salted, fermented, or candied.

Dangerous properties of sorrel

Sour sorrel is not recommended to be consumed in large quantities and for a long time due to the high content of oxalic acid, which can cause disruption of mineral metabolism in the body and kidney function - kidney stones, gout.

Sorrel is contraindicated during pregnancy, inflammatory kidney diseases, gastritis with high acidity, stomach and duodenal ulcers. Sorrel interferes with the absorption of calcium and can contribute to the development of osteoporosis.

Sour and horse sorrel promote the formation of oxalate kidney stones. In these cases, a combination with sour milk, kefir or sour cream is necessary. The bottom line is that dairy products contain a lot of calcium. By binding to oxalic acid in the intestine, calcium forms poorly soluble, difficult-to-absorb compounds (oxalates). It is advisable to take apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, which help remove oxalates.

The healing properties of sorrel for the body

The first mention of this terrestrial plant occurs in the 18th century in the chronicles of France. In Russia, for a long time it was perceived exclusively as a weed before the benefits of sorrel for the body were appreciated. Now sorrel is used as a savory dressing in various dishes and in alternative medicine as a means of natural healing.

Herbalists thought about the benefits of sorrel, and during clinical trials they came to the conclusion that its use is indicated for the following diseases.

Find out more: Healing properties of greater celandine: recommendations for use

Regional worker's diet

Of course, they don’t call sorrel for nothing. It willingly crawls towards growing sorrel, rhubarb and other representatives of the plant world that belong to the buckwheat family. This means that the bug can be regarded by owners of gardens with a lot of beds as an extremely dangerous enemy.

The period of active feeding begins in mid-spring. Then the regional inhabitants have offspring, and the parents themselves go in search of food.

The peak of the feast is observed around June-July. Parasites not only feed on plant foods, but also warm up well in the sun. By the way, females try to spot suitable conditions for raising heirs in sorrel, buckwheat, peppermint, and rhubarb. However, they tend to choose trees as well.

Summarizing

It is safe to say that edgeworms are far from the most dangerous representatives of insects. Much worse than these “little animals” are ordinary bed bugs! They occur much more often, and have a stronger effect on the nerves, and the process of eliminating them is a real shock for the family.

Rarely do any of the summer residents and villagers grow members of the buckwheat family. If none of the people you know in neighboring areas does similar things, but you suddenly decide to “produce” these plants, let’s say, in order to diversify your food, then there is nothing to be afraid of. In this case, the chance of such creatures coming into your possession is extremely small. Well, if they start up and provoke irritation, then we advise you to treat them!

Botanical characteristics: shape, composition, calorie content

The inconspicuous green leaves of sorrel are rich in micro- and macroelements, organic substances, and natural esters. Due to the unique combination of natural components, the plant is used in herbal medicine. Since for decades, passerine sorrel was considered exclusively a weed, many did not know what beneficial substances it contained. In the encyclopedias of medicinal plants V.V. Telyatev, published from 1966 to 2004, described the following components of sorrel:

1. Minerals: phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron.
2. Vitamins of group B1, B2, B3 and B6, C, A.
3. The underground stem is rich in polyphenols and leucoanthocyanidins, essential oils, resins, and sucrose.
4. Thin sorrel leaves contain anthracene glycosides, tannins, carotenes, and antioxidants.
5. The above-ground part and roots of the plant contain a large amount of oxalic acid, which tends to accumulate in all organs.

This combination of beneficial plant compounds has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the digestive tract, nervous and cardiovascular systems. 100 g of product contains only 18 kcal, which allows it to be classified as a low-calorie plant. Sorrel is also popularly called the “spring king”, which already in May pleases with fresh foliage in the garden beds. We should not forget that you can eat sorrel raw, but in limited quantities. Young leaves are used to prepare salads, vegetable smoothies, okroshka or green cabbage soup.

Oxalic acids are very beneficial for the body, but at high concentrations, stomach upset and kidney dysfunction occur. Heat treatment reduces the irritant effect of substances, so fresh sorrel should be consumed in doses.

Types and varieties with photos

Malachite

This variety impresses with its special growth of green leaves with wavy edges. Their surface is smooth and slightly bubbly.

Emerald snow

The leaves are rich in vitamins C and organic acids.

broadleaf

A very popular variety that produces up to eight kilograms of yield.

large-leaved

The earliest variety, distinguished by its pleasant taste.

Lyonsky

A climate-vulnerable variety that can easily freeze. But still, its leaves grow quickly, so they do it several times during the season.

Bloody Mary

Small green leaves are decorated with burgundy veins.

Red veins

The spear-shaped leaves have bright red veins.

Altaic

The leaf colors of this variety usually change from dark green to a reddish hue.

Maykopsky 10

Early ripening, winter-hardy and contains a minimum amount of acid.

Spinach

Early ripening, winter-hardy and contains a minimum amount of acid.

Odessa broadleaf

Gives a full harvest within 45 days after sunrise. The leaves are suitable for salads, preparations and soups.

Composition and benefits

About 120 species of plants are known; sour sorrel and horse sorrel are most often used for medicinal purposes. The composition and beneficial properties of these varieties are somewhat different.

Sorrel is a common plant, the healing power of which has been known since ancient times.

Horse sorrel leaves are not sour.

Despite the external similarity, spinach differs from sorrel in composition; in particular, the plant does not contain oxalic acid, so its leaves taste bland.

Spinach, which looks similar to sorrel, has a different composition

Table: composition and beneficial properties of sorrel and horse sorrel