Poorly versed in botany, gardeners often sow blackroot seeds in their yard with the hope that there will be no mice there. But to their surprise, the mice do not disappear. This is explained by the fact that the black root and black root, the unpleasant smell of which repels rodents, are completely different plants. The first of them is also called: black carrot, sweet root, goat and scorzonera.
This plant is very valuable, but our summer residents, gardeners and gardeners undeservedly bypass it. In the old days, it was considered an excellent medicine, it was cultivated by many in household plots. Now black carrots can be seen on rare occasions. All this is unfair, and the plant deserves to be remembered.
Black root: description
Sweet root is a member of the genus of perennial herbaceous plants. The stem is erect, its height reaches 75 cm, sometimes not more than 25 cm. The branches are thick, sticking out. The base of the stem is covered with greenleaves, which are slightly pointed in its lower part, with numerous veins.
The plant blooms in May, it has a yellow, sometimes pink fragrant reed flower. The black root of the scorzonera is cylindrical, rather thick. The pulp is white, with milky juice. The plant self-pollinates.
Distribution locations
Black carrot grows well on rocky and steppe slopes, limestones. The favorite place of growth is the steppe strip. Homeland is considered to be Southern Europe, as well as South-West Asia. Scorzonera is cultivated in all European countries, it can be found on the territory of Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Inhabitants of the Netherlands, France and some other countries began to grow this plant as a vegetable crop, starting from the end of the 16th century. In Russia, they speak of him only as a wild representative of the flora that grows in the Caucasus. Manufacturers, and even more so consumers, know little about it. Many take it as an ebony root, which is not at all true. Residents of the United States and Western Europe admire the medicinal and nutritional qualities of the plant.
Black root: useful properties and its composition
Useful properties of this exotic root vegetable are due to its various substances, among which it is worth noting:
• micro- and macroelements (s alts of phosphorus, potassium, etc.);
• vitamins of group B, as well as C, K, E, PP;
• natural sugar;
• nitrogenous substances;• glutamine, inulin (about 10%), asparagine.
There are also biologically active substances, thanks to which the plant has become of great importance in dietary nutrition. Black root is successfully used to treat rheumatic pains, sciatica, trophic ulcers, snake bites and other serious diseases. Science has proven that the biological composition of this root crop is much higher than the revered ginseng, and its calorie content is quite small and amounts to only 17 kcal per 100 g of root. Leaves are fed to silkworms.
Healing properties
Traditional medicine considers kozelets very useful and tries in every possible way to use it both as an independent remedy and in combination with other medicinal plants. The black root has proven itself in the treatment of atherosclerosis, obesity, beriberi and anemia. If you take this product often, you can achieve a gradual inhibition of the development of polyarthritis, gout and rheumatism.
In the elderly, scorzonera should always be on the menu. This way, they can stay away from serious he alth problems like liver disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more. The plant contains the substance asparagine, which has a positive effect on the heart muscle, and also enhances the work of the kidneys. It is also considered a natural pain reliever.
Use in cooking
In addition to the well-known medicinal properties, scorzonera is famous for its taste. Root crops have become widely used in cooking. They are used for cookingNumerous he althy and at the same time quite tasty dishes. Black root is cooked like cauliflower or asparagus, used as part of vinaigrettes, as a seasoning for soups and used to make delicious sauces for meat. Kozelets will be very tasty if you fry it in oil, removing the skin before that.
Starting cleaning, you should do everything very carefully, as you can stain both hands and clothes. Having cleaned the hard part, it must immediately be placed in a bowl of water diluted with vinegar. The black root can be consumed raw, previously grated and sprinkled with chopped parsley or other herbs. In this form, it is very tasty and resembles a cabbage stalk.
The season of this useful plant starts in November. On the festive table, you can serve black root with the addition of morel sauce. Duck breast served with root and cheese sauce also looks good. Not to list all the dishes. It should be noted that the root crop of the plant is perfectly preserved even in the cold winter, being under the snow. This makes it possible to have delicious dishes on the table all year round for everyone who has such a useful plant on the site.
