Numerology 

Plants with erect stems. Appearance of indoor plants. Physical and mechanical principles of the stem structure

The world of flora is quite diverse. Every year, new exotic plants appear in culture - most of them come from the tropics and subtropics. Often, a motley abundance of flowering and decorative leafy indoor species takes flower growers (and not only beginners) by surprise: which representative of the flora should be preferred? I want to buy a compact flowering cactus, and at the same time, you can’t take your eyes off the chic one with decorative dissected leaves.

Before you buy a plant you like, you need to have at least the slightest idea about it and the necessary basic knowledge of care.

First you need to decide where the plant will be placed. If the room is small and, moreover, cluttered with furniture, then a tall sprawling palm tree will not fit into its interior. And vice versa: in a spacious room near the wall, a low-growing view is considered inappropriate. It is also important to know how close the conditions for cultivating a particular species in a dwelling will be to growing conditions in the natural environment. Light-loving representatives of the flora are unsuitable for growing in the northern exposure, and people from the humid tropics will not tolerate dry apartment air without additional moisture. After all, the main task of the grower is to grow a healthy, in all its glory, plant that will delight the eye for many years.

So, all indoor plants are usually divided into six categories according to their appearance.

globular plants

Representatives of this group are considered to be the majority of cacti. The characteristic fleshy, globular stem of plants in this category is smooth to the touch, ribbed and/or covered with thorns (reduced leaves). The compact shape and relatively small flower containers for growing make it possible to place, for example, directly on the windowsill. You can create spectacular flower arrangements by placing globular cacti with bushes and trees in the winter garden. ON THE PICTURE: Echinocactus in a flower arrangement

rosette plants

The leaves of representatives of this category are located on the stem almost horizontally. They converge as if at one point, forming a kind of rosette. Plants are mostly squat, low growth. There are three subgroups of rosette representatives of the flora.

  • flat rosette plants

Large leaves form a loose rosette. Bright representatives of flat rosette indoor plants can be called,.
ON THE PICTURE: Gloxinia

  • succulent rosette plants

Some succulents have fleshy leaves that are arranged in tiers and fit tightly together. Succulent leaf plates-reservoirs for water reserves and a dense leaf rosette are peculiar adaptations of exotic plants to droughts in natural growing conditions (in deserts). , - succulents, the fleshy leaves of which are collected just in such rosettes.
ON THE PICTURE: Haworthia

  • funnel-shaped rosette plants

Many representatives of the humid tropics are distinguished by leathery, pointed leaves that form a funnel-shaped rosette at the base. During the rainy season, the funnel serves as a reservoir for retaining moisture. This feature of plants (mainly the Bromeliad family) must be taken into account when watering. , effectively decorate the interior of any room. Given the considerable size of the spreading foliage, this flora needs to provide it with a fairly large space.
ON THE PICTURE: echmea

bushy plants

For bushy plants, the growth of several stems is characteristic. This group includes undersized and medium-sized species. Some need pinching, with which the bushiness of the branches is further increased.

Beautifully flowering representatives of this category (,) will willingly take a place on the windowsill, welcoming the neighborhood with other members of the room flora. Decorative deciduous bushy plants (, ) will spice up any interior: be it high-tech or classic style. They will decorate with their decorative foliage even the far corner of the room, away from the light source.
ON THE PICTURE: arrowroot

cereal plants

This group is not so diverse. Its decorative leafy representatives are not very attractive, therefore they are not very popular in culture. Narrow, thin, pointed to the ends linear leaves of cereal plants are collected in a sparse bunch (,). By placing them alone on a shelf or in a composition with upright specimens, it is possible to create an original green corner.
ON THE PICTURE: Chlorophytum

Among the flowering cereals, one can distinguish, with a similar leaf shape. The decorativeness of these representatives of the flora is enhanced by bright, eye-catching flowering.
ON THE PICTURE: Tillandsia

Ampel / climbing plants and vines

Plants with flexible, fast-growing stems are classified as ampelous and vines. Curly varieties definitely need support, preferably with crossbars, since long shoots grow in height. They cling with antennae or wrap around a vertical surface. Thanks to this property of vines, you can significantly transform the interior by creating an original partition - a living wall, for example, from flexible stems,. Using tapestries, wire, it is easy to decorate a window, wall or niche by letting the lashes of a liana-like plant “explore the territory”.
ON THE PICTURE: Passionflower

In addition, vines are grown as ground cover and drooping plants. For example, decorative stems will look spectacular in a large container in combination with other plants, and in a pot on a pedestal or stand with high legs.

Often, the ends of long shoots are pinched, enhancing the growth of lateral branches and giving an ampelous shape to plants in hanging pots. For flowering vines (,) sticks are used as supports.
ON THE PICTURE: Schlumbergera

Plants with erect stems

These are dwarf (from 3 cm in height) and high (up to 2 m) tree-like forms. They are used in the interior as single crops and in group compositions.
ON THE PICTURE: dieffenbachia

columnar plants

This subgroup includes many types of succulents and cacti that have a columnar, leafless stem (,). Tree-like forms look spectacular as single specimens in the interior of a spacious room.
ON THE PICTURE: Scheffler

false palms

Young representatives of this group (,) have long leaf blades along the entire height of the straight trunk. As they grow older, such "palm" leaves remain only in the upper part. These spectacular plants can be placed alone in a spacious room on a stand or on the floor.
ON THE PICTURE: Yucca

Summing up the above, it should be noted that the choice of a room view must be treated with full responsibility for the continued existence of the latter. Based on the materials of this article, one can judge which forms of plants are the most common, and how they can decorate even the most modest dwelling.

  1. Do not always be guided by your own emotions when choosing a plant. Find a compromise between your preferences and space requirements for successful plant cultivation.
  2. Any room, regardless of its size, interior, lighting and other parameters, can be greened. Whether it is a small succulent or a large tree-like specimen, the main thing is to place it correctly.
  3. Give vines and ampelous plants a variety of shapes with the help of special devices, and your home will noticeably change. Do not be afraid to experiment, but consider the needs of indoor flora.
  4. Create a green oasis right in your apartment by grouping indoor species that are similar in terms of growing conditions, but almost always different in size and shape.
  5. Do not be discouraged if the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room does not allow you to put a chic, sprawling palm tree against the wall. You can replace a large ornamental plant with a mini bonsai tree: quite elegant and compact.
  6. And most importantly: do not forget that any representative of the flora requires maximum attention, care and love.

When choosing a plant, both its size and appearance are of great importance. A small, low plant looks out of place against the backdrop of a large bare wall, and a tall tree-like one can barely fit on a narrow windowsill. When buying a young plant, do not forget that your neat little dracaena or phi after a while will turn into a tree as tall as a man. Almost all indoor plants in appearance can be divided into six groups. Of course, there are borderline cases, and some plants change their appearance with age.

cereal plants

Grass-like plants have long, narrow, bunched leaves. Such plants are usually not very decorative. Some of them, with long and very narrow leaves, are grown as houseplants, but they are not very common.

Examples: Air, Arundinaria, Sedge, Ophiopogon.

Plants with broader leaves are much more widespread. For example, chlorophytum is one of the most common of all ornamental houseplants. Some ornamental flowering plants also have such leaves, such as bilbergia, wallot, Linden's tillandsia and daffodil.

bushy plants

Bushy plants include many species that cannot be attributed to any of the other groups. In plants of this type, several stems usually grow from the ground, and they cannot be said to grow predominantly in horizontal or vertical directions. They can be small and compact, like a peperomia, or tall and spreading, like an aucuba. Some regularly form branches, others need to be pinched from time to time to keep them branching.

Examples: Ahimenez, Royal Begonia, Hypocirta, Coleus, Maranta, Pilea.


Plants with erect stems

Such plants have a straight vertically growing stem. They can have different heights - some of them barely reach three centimeters, others rest against the ceiling. Plants with erect stems of medium height are a must-have component of the mixed group, balancing the impression of climbing plants, low bushy and horizontal rosette plants. Tall plants with a straight stem are often placed separately and used to attract attention.

columnar plants

Columnar plants have thick, upright stems without flat leaves, or with leaves that do not hide the columnar stem. This group includes many cacti and some other succulents.

Examples: Kleinia jointed, Cleistocactus Strauss, Notocactus Lehninghaus, Trichocereus whitish, Haworthia Reinwardt, Cereus Peruvian.

Trees

Trees are a very important group of plants because trees form the core of many collections and are most often placed separately from other plants. All trees have approximately the same appearance: a central branching or straight trunk with leaves on relatively small petioles. Some of the trees are very small, such as miniature "trees" - succulents or a young croton, others grow up to the ceiling.

Examples: Aphelandra, Codiaum, Laurel, Benjamin's Ficus, Rubbery Ficus, Citrus, Shefler.


Aphelandra

In a young false palm, the stem is completely covered by the bases of the leaves. In an adult plant, the leaves are usually located only in the upper part of the trunk, which creates a characteristic "palm tree" effect. Large false palms are often used as freestanding plants in public buildings.

Examples: Bokarneya, Dieffenbachia, Dracaena, Pandanus, Yucca.

Dracaena

Lianas and ampelous plants

The stems of adult vines and ampelous plants either need support to grow upwards or hang down the sides of the pot. Some plants in this group can grow in both ways. They can curl along supports made of sticks, cords, trellises, wire loops; when grown in wall planters, their lashes can curl around a window, and if they are guided along well-supported supports, they can form green dividing walls in a room. With the ampelous method of growing such plants, they can be used as ground cover (directing whips along the surface of the soil in winter gardens) or left hanging from pots or hanging baskets. Creepers always point upwards. Some of them are able to curl around a support, others, with tendrils, need to be provided with a support with frequent crossbars to which they can cling, otherwise their lashes will become tangled. Plants with aerial roots are best grown using a moss-wrapped stick.

Examples: Diplodenia, Passiflora, Stephanotis, Philodendron spear-shaped


Passionflower

Climbing plants are very easy to keep indoors, and many of the common houseplants belong to this group. When growing them as vines, we recommend not to direct all the lashes along one support, but to distribute them over a trellis or several sticks stuck in a pot - this will look more attractive. With the ampelous method of growing, it is sometimes necessary to pinch the tip of the whip so that it does not stretch.

Examples: Ivy, Scindapsus, Ficus dwarf, Philodendron climbing


Ampel plants are always grown either as hanging plants, and then their lashes hang down from the pot, or as ground cover. Many ampelous plants have beautiful leaves and attractive flowers and look best in hanging baskets or pots set on high tables.

Examples: Hanging begonia, Gelksina, Zygocactus, Bellflower variegated, Columnea, Rowley's ragwort, Nerter, Morgan's stonecrop, Fittonia.


Begonia

rosette plants

In rosette plants, the leaves are brought together at one point. Most of these plants are low and combine well with upright or bushy plants in groups or in conservatories.

In flat rosette plants, large leaves are arranged almost horizontally, forming a loose rosette. Many ornamental flowering plants have a similar rosette.

Examples: Gloxinia, Primula, Saintpaulia.


Gloxinia

In succulent rosette plants, fleshy horizontally or vertically arranged leaves sit on the stem in several tiers, often quite tightly adjacent to one another. This arrangement of leaves helps to retain moisture in desert conditions - the natural habitat of these succulents.

Examples: Aloe dwarf, Rejuvenated roofing, Haworthia striped, Aeonium longline, Echeveria bristly.


TO funnel-shaped rosette plants include most bromeliads. The bases of the ribbon-shaped leaves form, as it were, a vase in which rainwater accumulates in the natural habitat of these plants - the humid tropics. Representatives of this group are usually sprawling and reach large sizes.

Examples: Vriesia, Gusmania, Nidularium, Echmea.


globular plants

Globular plants do not have flat leaves. Such plants include many cacti; their stem may be almost smooth or covered with hairs or spines.

Examples: Astrophytum, Mammillaria, Parody, Rebutia, Ferocactus, Grusson's Echinocactus.


1. Herbaceous stems are found in herbaceous plants and young shoots of tree species. Herbaceous stems usually exist for one season. Dandelion officinalis is a typical representative of herbaceous plants with a green, succulent stem. The giant hogweed has a hollow stem.

2. Woody stems are found in trees and shrubs. They acquire hardness due to the deposition in the shell of their cells of a special substance - lignin.

Lignification occurs at the stems of trees and shrubs starting from the second half of the summer of the first year of their life. Their wood forms annual rings. All layers of wood cells formed in spring, summer and autumn make up the annual growth ring. A ring formed during one growing season is called an annual ring. The age of a tree can be determined by the number of rings.

Small autumn cells are different from the large spring wood cells of the next year, located next to them. Therefore, the boundary between adjacent growth rings on the cross section of wood in many trees is clearly visible. By counting the number of growth rings with a magnifying glass, you can determine the age of a cut tree or a cut branch.

By the thickness of the growth rings, you can find out in what conditions the tree grew in different years of life. Narrow growth rings indicate a lack of moisture, the shading of the tree and its poor nutrition. Under good development conditions, the annual rings are wider.

Classification of stems in the direction of growth

The stems of plants can be located in different ways relative to the soil and adjacent plants. Allocate erect, creeping, rising, clinging and curly stems.

upright stem

The erect stems grow vertically upwards and do not need any support.
Such stems are found in sunflowers, bluebells, nettles, hedgehogs, woody plants.

creeping stem

Creeping stems spread along the ground and take root in the soil with the help of adventitious roots. Such stems develop in strawberries, clover, meadow tea, goose cinquefoil.

clinging stem

Clinging stems rise up, attaching to a support. They can be attached with tendrils (peas, mouse peas, cucumber, rank, grapes), or trailing roots (ivy).

climbing stem

Climbing stems carry leaves towards the light, wrapping themselves around erect stems or artificial supports. Plants with clinging and climbing shoots are called vines.

In order to grow upward, vines need support, otherwise vines and ampel houseplants hang down the sides of the pot. Some plants of this species can grow both ways. If you direct the lashes of the plant along the fortified supports, they can form green dividing walls in the room. With the ampelous method of growing, they can be used as ground covers or left hanging from pots.

creepers. Always pointing up. Some of them are able to curl around the support, the same as with the antennae, you need to provide this support. It is desirable that the support be with small crossbars. If the plant has aerial roots, then you need to use a stick wrapped in moss for it.

Example: Diplodenia, Passiflora, Stephanotis, Spear-shaped Philodendron

Curly / Looped. When growing them as vines, it is best to shape the plant with a trellis, or stick a few sticks into the pot, then the plant will look more attractive. The ampel method sometimes involves pinching the tip of the whip, preventing it from stretching.

Example: Ivy, Scindapsus, Ficus dwarf, Philadendron climbing

Ampel. Most ampelous plants have long hanging lashes with attractive flowers. They look very nice in hanging planters or pots on stands with long legs.

Ampelous are grown either as climbers or as ground cover.

Example: Begonia drooping, Gelksina, Zygocactus, Bellflower, Columnea, Rawley's ragwort, Nertera, Morgan's stonecrop, Fittonia

Herbaceous plants or herbs have a root system, stems and leaves that die off at the end of the growing season. By terms of life, annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants are distinguished.

Annual herbaceous plants reproduce by seeds, which are stored in the ground during the cold period. The growing season of annuals ends with the complete death of the plant.

Perennials also have a growing season, at the end of which their aerial part dies off completely, but unlike annuals, they are able to maintain a living root system in the soil during the cold season, releasing young shoots in the warm season.

Diverse in appearance, habitat, lifetime, name of the grass, they still have many similarities. All of them do not have a permanent tree trunk that can endure the cold period.

Distributed everywhere, found: in forest, steppe, swampy, hilly, mountainous and other areas.

Herb types

Some of their examples are well-known, others have little-known names. Among them there are: spices used in cooking, spring crops.

Cornflower blue

The second name is Cornflower sowing. This example of an annual is common in soils rich in minerals. Often found in fallow fields. Flowering period from May to July.

  • It is a herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 50-60 centimeters.
  • It has a well-developed root system, an upright trunk.
  • The leaves below the plant are lobed, forming a basal rosette.
  • Stem leaves linear, entire above.

Cornflower blue is used in pharmacology. Antipyretic, diuretic, diaphoretic preparations are made from it; it can be used as a means of improving the functioning of the digestive system.

field mustard

Widely distributed in the Black Earth region, the European part of Russia, Ciscaucasia, the southern regions of the Far East and Siberia.

This annual is a low herbaceous plant, with a branched stem up to 60 cm, covered with hairs.

Mustard belongs to the cruciferous family, yellow flowers with drooping petals. The mustard fruit is a pod.

Mustard seeds have a lot of healing properties, and are also widely used in cooking. The composition includes:

Mustard is used in pharmacology. Thanks to seed powder This herbaceous plant produces mustard plasters, which contribute to the excretion of sputum during coughing.

In cosmetology, mustard is used as part of anti-aging creams. This plant has found great application in folk medicine.

The first remedy for colds is hot foot baths with mustard powder.

red clover

Prefers moderately humid climate well lit and warm area.

  • Grows in meadows, clearings, edges.
  • Upright, branched clover stalk 15 to 50 cm high.
  • The root system is branched.
  • Clover flowers resemble a ball.
  • Blooms from May to October.
  • After flowering, it bears fruit.

Clover is a real pantry of useful trace elements, vitamins, acids.

Due to its beneficial properties, clover is used in folk medicine. Brewing it like tea, it is taken to normalize pressure, to improve bowel function.

Clover has a healing property, contributes to the speedy regeneration of tissues in case of injuries of the skin. In cosmetology, it is used as part of remedies for burns and psoriasis.

Red clover, which has another name - shamrock, is used as a fodder crop as hay.

Kupyr forest

Got its name from its habitat. Mostly kupyr is found in the forest zone, but can also be found in meadows and roadsides.

As a medicinal plant, forest kupyr is not designated, however, has many useful properties.

  • By applying a sheet of kupyr to the wound, you can achieve speedy healing.
  • Infusion of kupyr will help from burns if you get a bandage wet with it.

However, the cupper can be dangerous., as it has many similarities with poisonous plants. An example of such a herb is hemlock, very similar in appearance and flowering period.

buttercup creeping

Buttercup creeping refers to poisonous plants. It is able to excite the nervous system, affect the heart, digestive organs. It is dangerous to consume this plant internally, it can lead to serious poisoning and loss of consciousness. And contact with buttercup juice on the skin can cause a burn. With all the danger of this plant, it has found its application in folk medicine.

If it is used topically and in small dosages:

  • you can increase the content of erythrocytes in the blood;
  • stimulate the nervous system and even rid the body of staphylococcus aureus.

However, without knowing how to use it, you should not use it for medicinal purposes. buttercup creeping can be grown simply as a beautiful ornamental plant in a flower bed.

Stone berry

The undersized plant belongs to perennials. It is an upright flower-bearing stems with trifoliate long-leaved leaves. The stone fruit flower is five-membered, collected in a racemose inflorescence. The flowering period is from May to June, after which it begins to bear fruit. The fruits of this plant are large bright red drupes. Hence the name of the plant.

Bone can be consumed raw, as well as compotes, fruit drinks, juices, jams and jellies. Bone fruits are rich in vitamin C, pectins.

In folk medicine, not only berries are used of this perennial plant, but also the leaves.

  • A decoction of the leaves will relieve the lack of iron in the blood, headache and heartache.
  • During the epidemic of colds, bone can be used to improve immunity.
  • Berry juice perfectly removes toxins and cholesterol.
  • If you lubricate the place of the wart with the juice of the bone, there will be no trace of it.

But with all the variety of useful properties, this plant is not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and should also be used with caution in thrombophlebitis and hypertension.

Bone grows in coniferous forests, but is also found in rocky areas, so it is sometimes called rocky.

Nightshade bittersweet

Nightshade is a perennial plant

  • The height of the stem can reach two meters in height.
  • The leaves are arranged alternately along the entire length of the climbing stems. Lilac nightshade flowers, bisexual, collected in panicles.
  • Blooms during the summer months.
  • Beginning in July, nightshade bears bright red berries.

Despite the fact that nightshade has the name bittersweet, you should not find out its taste.

This poisonous plant has many other popular names. It is called wolfberry or helminth.

Not only berries, but also leaves and stems of nightshade contain the poison solanine, which can cause fever, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, decreased motor activity. At the same time, bittersweet nightshade is used in folk medicine.

If you use its properties correctly, you can get rid of eczema and psoriasis. A decoction of bittersweet nightshade berries will ease the condition after an epileptic seizure, relieve a headache.

Large celandine

Large celandine is considered a medicinal plant, at the same time it has poisonous properties and is dangerous for livestock and poultry.

Celandine is a perennial with a tall, erect stem and a large, branching root. Single flowers of the plant have a bright yellow color, the leaves are ovate, velvety to the touch. The celandine stem secretes yellow milk. The flowering period is from May to October. This herbaceous plant is common on clay and stony soils, in forest areas, and is often found along the walls of a garden or kitchen garden.

The healing properties of celandine are used to treat skin diseases, all kinds of rashes, childhood diseases. A decoction of the plant is added to the bath for bathing babies, so that the skin of the newborn is cleared faster. Papillomas, warts, growths, celandine will perfectly cope with such problems. However, its name speaks for itself and it is possible to list skin ailments in which celandine is indispensable ad infinitum.

Herbs are very diverse in their names, properties, characteristics of growth and flowering, habitat. Can be used in pharmacology, agriculture, cooking, crop production, beekeeping, cosmetology. In addition, herbaceous plants, both annuals and perennials, can, without any healing properties, simply delight with their beautiful, bright flowering in a flower bed or flower garden.