Great burnet. Omsk region

Great burnet belongs to the Rosaceae family. In Russian, it is known as krovohlebka (blood sucker), rodovik, gryzhnik, krasnogolovka (red head), krovogolovka (blood head), krovostyag, ogoroshnik, styagnikrov, and adder’s potion. Its scientific name, Sanguisórba officinális, comes from the Latin words sanguis — blood, sorbeo — to absorb, and officinális — medicinal. Despite its ominous name, this plant has remarkable properties.

There are eight species of Sanguisorba found in Russia, the most well-known being the great burnet (S. officinalis), a perennial reaching up to 100, sometimes 120 cm in height. In the Omsk region, the great burnet is widespread: found in forest glades, steppe meadows, and taiga zones.

The plant has a thick rhizome with numerous long roots. The stems are hollow and branched at the top. The leaves are pinnate with serrated leaflets. The flowers have a dark red, four-part perianth, clustered in dense heads on long peduncles. The fruits are nut-like.

It blooms for a long time, from June until the end of August. It is an excellent honey plant. It prefers the sun but can also be planted in partial shade. Even in the driest and most unfavorable years, great burnet reaches 1–1.5 meters. The soil should be loose and fertile. The plant is almost unaffected by pests and diseases and winters well.

The rhizomes and roots of great burnet contain tannins, while the leaves contain ascorbic acid. Decoctions and liquid extracts from the rhizomes and roots are used in medicine as astringent, hemostatic, and anti-inflammatory agents. It is used in homeopathy and is part of several dietary supplements. The young leaves, which have a distinctive cucumber-like smell, are edible.

According to legend, the goddess Flora once discovered a leech on her leg while walking by a forest lake and became very angry. She threw the bloodsucker away, commanding it to become a plant. Thus, the leech turned into great burnet.

The first mentions of this plant in Europe date back to the era of Charles V when it was used to expel parasites from horses. The earliest records of its medicinal use date to the mid-16th century, when it was used for severe intestinal disorders and women's health issues.

Great burnet has astringent, hemostatic, angiospastic, analgesic, and strong bactericidal effects (against paratyphoid and dysentery microbes). It slows intestinal peristalsis and reduces spasms. And this is far from a complete list of the plant's beneficial properties.

Great burnet has only recently found its place in phytodesign. It adds airiness and volume to flower beds. The elegant plant, with its dark green, lace-like foliage and bright flower spikes, catches the wind and sways gracefully.