Lubka bifolia (Latin name Platanthera bifolia) is a species of perennial tuberous herbaceous plants belonging to the genus Lyubka of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). Its second name is night violet.
Name
The scientific name of this genus comes from the Greek words for "wide" (platis) and "pollen sac" (antera). It is explained by the special shape of the anther in representatives of this species. The epithet bifolia comes from the Latin language and consists of two words - "two" (bi) and "leaf" (folius). It is explained by two large leaves characteristic of this plant at the base of the trunk. The Russian name of this species, "lyubka", is associated with ancient legends that the roots-tubers of this plant (meaning the widespread Lyubka two-leafed) have special magical properties. They were used to prepare love potions and love potions.
Distribution
Lubka two-leaved (night violet) is distributed over a fairly large territory of Eurasia, in its temperate zone. It is found in Asia Minor and Western Europe. ATRussia Lyubka dvuhlistnaya grows in the European part, in the Caucasus and in southern Siberia. It grows in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, especially on edges, clearings, in thickets of shrubs, sometimes in meadows. It can be found in subalpine meadows in the Altai, Caucasus, Sayan mountains. The ecological amplitude of this genus is quite wide. Lyubka two-leaved is completely indifferent to soil moisture; it grows both on excessively moistened (even with stagnant moisture) and on dry lands. It is not particularly demanding on acidity and richness of soils, although it is more common on acidic ones. It can tolerate significant shade, although it prefers well-lit places, as it blooms and bears better here.
Description
Lubka two-leaved (photo is given in the article) is a perennial herbal plant, the height of which is 20-50 centimeters, with two undivided roots-tubers. There are specimens up to 60 centimeters high. A replacement tuber grows annually. The basal leaves of the plant (two, rarely three or one) are located oppositely on the stem, at the base they are narrowed into a stalk that passes into the vagina. Leaf shape obtuse oblong-obovate. The leaves reach a length of 22 centimeters, a width of 6 centimeters. Grey-green color, glossy. Stem leaves - one to three, rather small, lanceolate, sessile.
Night violet: color
The inflorescence of this plant is a rare spike of a cylindrical shape. It reaches 20 centimeters in length, consists of smallflowers (about 8-40 pieces). The flower has a very strong pleasant aroma (especially at night or in cloudy weather), its perianth is white, slightly greenish at the ends, corolla-shaped, simple. All six leaves are different in size and shape. The largest of them forms a lip with a thin, slightly curved or straight spur, pointed at the end, obliquely upward or horizontally directed. Its length does not exceed three centimeters. The lip itself is narrow, 12 millimeters long, without tubercles at the base. Three perianth leaves are brought together, they form a helmet, and the remaining two are free. There is only one stamen in the flower, its pollen in the anthers is glued together in a lump called pollinium. Pistil - with a three-lobed stigma and a lower one-celled ovary. Lyubka two-leaf blooms in June-July. It is pollinated by insects. Ripens in July-August. The fruit of the plant is a box that opens with six longitudinal slits. The seeds are very small, dusty.
Care Tips
The place for this plant should be chosen shaded to protect it from the scorching sun. It is completely undemanding to the soil, it grows both on poor and well-fertilized soils. However, fertilizer will not be superfluous, so timely top dressing contributes to better flowering and development. During periods of intense heat requires additional watering. Lyubka bifolia perfectly tolerates winter and does not need shelter.
Reproduction
This plant propagates exclusively by seeds. One fruit contains more than 20 thousand seeds. On onethe plant on average ripens up to 11 fruits. Seeds germinate only in the presence of fungi. During the first two to four years, the seedling leads an exclusively underground lifestyle, and only in the third or fifth year does the first leaf appear on the surface of the earth. White night violet blooms approximately 11 years after germination, in favorable conditions this can occur in the sixth year. This plant can bloom for five to six years without interruption, however, after a particularly abundant flowering, a short break may occur. On average, the plant lives 20-27 years, under favorable conditions it can be longer. Flower buds are laid two years before flowering. Pollination is usually carried out by night butterflies (hawks and scoops), after which the perianth soon fades. Seeds ripen one and a half to two months after pollination. Due to the fact that the seeds are very small and light, the spread occurs even with a slight movement of air masses. Lyubka bifoliate is a wonderful ornamental plant with a strong aroma. It is in great demand among flower growers. However, breeding it is very difficult. Formally, the night violet is a protected plant, but in reality it is almost impossible to organize it. Lyubka flowers are collected in bulk to create bouquets, and this leads to a reduction in its range.
Medicinal value of Lyubka bifolia
Night violet root tubers have medicinal properties. They are dug immediately after flowering or at its end. Only young, juicy andfleshy. The tubers are usually immersed in boiling water for two to three minutes (so that they do not germinate), and then dried in the shade. The result is the so-called salep. It has long been used in the preparation of drugs of tonic and restorative action. The main reason why salep is so popular is its ability to increase sexual activity. Since ancient times, hundreds of recipes have been developed for the treatment of impotence with Lyubka bifolia. However, the limited raw material base of this herbal product does not allow creating a single reliable medicinal system from these plants. Salep has an antitoxic and enveloping effect, so it is prescribed for the purpose of detoxification in case of poisoning with certain poisons that cause gastrointestinal disorders, with peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, with chronic gastritis, colitis, and various intestinal diseases in children. In addition, they can be prescribed for chronic and acute bronchitis.
Traditional medicine
In folk medicine Lyubka bifolia is used as a diuretic, for fever and toothache. Also, this plant is considered a good way to increase the strength of people exhausted by a serious illness, and the elderly. In addition, salep is recommended as a nutrient with broth or grape wine. Traditional medicine uses Lyubka to treat sexual disorders and women's diseases. Powder from mother tubers is used as an effective contraceptive. HoweverRussian healers claimed that prolonged use of this remedy could cause infertility in women. Tibetan healers use it to increase the strength of the body.
