What substances are contained in rowan. Common rowan: characteristics, cultivation and application. Contraindications to the use of rowan

Fruitmountain ashordinary- Fructus sorbi aucupariae

Common mountain ash - Sorbus aucuparia L.

Rosaceae family

Other names:

- hazel grouse

- Jarobina

Botanical characteristics. Tree up to 8 m high, less commonly a shrub. The bark is smooth, gray. The crown is loose, young branches are drooping. The leaves are alternate, imparipinnately compound, with 5-7 lanceolate, serrate leaflets towards the apex. Inflorescences are in the form of dense shields with a diameter of up to 10 cm. The flowers are small, five-membered, white, fragrant. The fruit is a false apple-shaped, spherical, juicy, orange-red, with three sickle-shaped soft seeds. It blooms in July-August, the fruits ripen in September. The fruits are stored in the corymbs until winter.

Spreading. Everywhere in the forest zone.

Habitat. In forests, between bushes, on the edges, in river valleys. It is grown as an industrial crop everywhere. There are a lot of self-seeding rowan trees in the forests. It practically does not bear fruit in shady places. It is advisable in spring or autumn at the age of 1-3 years to transplant the plant to illuminated forest and other places where it will actively bear fruit.

Distinctive features of different types of rowan

Chokeberry has P-vitamin activity. There are also other types of rowan.

Harvesting, primary processing and drying. Ripe fruits are collected before frost (in August-September), cutting off the shields with fruits, then they are separated and cleaned of twigs, leaves, stalks and damaged fruits.

The raw materials are dried in dryers at a temperature of 60-80°C; in dry weather, they can be dried in well-ventilated areas, scattered in a thin layer on fabric or paper. Dried fruits should not be faded or blackened, and should not form lumps when squeezed.

Standardization. The quality of raw materials is regulated by the State Fund XI, GOST 6714-74; Changes No. 1 dated 05.20.97 and Changes No. 2 dated 06.25.97.

Security measures. Protect branches from breakage. During planned sanitary felling of forests, mountain ash is protected.

External signs. According to GOST, the raw material is in the form of round, wrinkled fruits with a diameter of about 9 mm with the remainder of a 5-toothed calyx and without stalks. The color is orange or red, differing in chemical composition, the taste is bitterish-sour. The smell is peculiar. The quality of raw materials is reduced by darkened, burnt, yellow unripe fruits, admixture of stalks and other parts of the plant, sand, mold, rot, and the presence of foreign odors. The authenticity of raw materials is easily determined by morphological characteristics.

Microscopy. The epidermal cells of the fetus are fenestrated, of different sizes, the outer wall is greatly thickened. The cuticle is smooth and thin. The epidermis is underlain by 2-4 row collenchyma, together they form the endocarp. The epidermal and collenchymal cells contain small droplets of yellow fatty oil. Mesocarp cells of various shapes and sizes, thin-walled with numerous orange-yellow chromoplasts, containing carotene crystals of various shapes: triangular, bifurcated, etc., 4.8-12.8 microns in size. The mesocarp contains vascular bundles, the xylem of which consists of narrow spiral vessels. Near the endocarp there are stony cells. Druses and prismatic crystals are found in the mesocarp.

By revising powder fragments of the epidermis of the fetus are visible, consisting of cells with unevenly thickened walls, in places riddled with pores, without stomata; small numerous drops of yellow fatty oil are visible in the cells; scraps of tissue with stony cells, single stony cells are found; single-celled hairs, long, thin-walled, sinuous and larger thick-walled straight hairs or their fragments; pulp cells contain drusen and prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate.

Qualitative reactions. 1. The aqueous extract (1:10) is chromatographed on plates in a thin layer of sorbent in the n-butanol-acetic acid-water system (4:1:5). In UV light, spots with R f =0.17 (blue), R f =0.40 (yellow-green), R f =0.70 (blue) are observed. When developed in the iodine chamber, spots with R f =0.17 (thiamine), R f =0.40 (riboflavin) become yellow, with R f =0.70 (ascorbic acid) - yellow-brown.

2. For flavonoids: prepare an alcoholic extract (1:3, 70% alcohol) by heating for 15 minutes, filter, and evaporate. To 1 ml of extract add 0.1 g of magnesium powder and 1 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid. A pink-red color appears.

Numerical indicators. The content of organic acids in terms of malic acid is not less than 3.2% (spectrophotometric method); humidity no more than 18%; total ash no more than 5%; blackened and burnt fruits no more than 3%; unripe fruits (light yellow, yellow) no more than 2%; other parts of the plant (peduncles, twigs, leaves) no more than 0.5%; fruits with stalks no more than 3%; organic impurity no more than 0.5%, mineral impurity no more than 0.2%.

For powder, in addition to moisture and total ash, additional particles that do not pass through the sieve according to TU 23.2.2068-89 with holes with a diameter of 2 mm, no more than 15%; particles passing through a sieve according to TU 23.2.2068-89 with holes measuring 0.25 mm, no more than 6%.

Chemical composition. Rowan fruits contain up to 18 mg% carotene, cryptoxanthin, flavonoids, quercetin, isoquercetin and rutin, vitamins E and B, anthocyanins, tannins, phospholipids, up to 2% pectin substances, parasorbic acid and its monoglycoside, triterpene saponins, sorbitol, various sugars , malic, tartaric and citric acids. Fatty oil (up to 22%) and amygdalin glycoside were found in the seeds. The leaves contain up to 200 mg% ascorbic acid.

Storage. In a dry place, packed in bags. Shelf life up to 2 years.

Pharmacological properties. Rowan fruits are valuable as a multivitamin raw material. They are especially rich in provitamin A - b-carotene, as well as vitamin P and ascorbic acid.

Rowan fruit pectins are capable of gelling in the presence of sugars and organic acids. Pectins prevent excessive fermentation of carbohydrates, which reduces gas formation in the intestines. The gelling properties of pectins contribute to the binding of endogenous and exogenous toxins and the removal of excess carbohydrates.

Parasorbic and sorbic acids in rowan, discovered more than 100 years ago, have only recently attracted the attention of researchers. It turned out that they inhibit the growth of microorganisms, fungi and molds. They are used as food preservatives. An alcoholic extract from Tien Shan rowan berries and an oil extract from seeds have pronounced antibacterial properties against pathogens of typhoid paratyphoid diseases.

Organic acids and bitterness of rowan increase secretion and enhance the digestive ability of gastric juice, which, along with the choleretic effect, helps improve digestion. The choleretic and choleretic effects of sorbitol have been confirmed in animal experiments. Sorbitol lowers fat in the liver and cholesterol in the blood. Powder and paste made from rowan fruits act similarly. The mechanism of choleretic action consistently includes irritation of the duodenal mucosa with sorbitol, the release of cholecystokinin, the latter causes contraction of the gallbladder and at the same time relaxes the sphincter of the hepatic-pancreatic ampulla. The choleretic effect of rowan is due not only to sorbitol, but also to other substances (amygdalin, organic acids).

Amygdalin, contained in rowan fruits, increases the resistance of animals to oxygen starvation. It has radio- and x-ray protective properties. Amygdalin protects respiratory enzymes from destruction by forming a temporary bond with them. In addition, there is evidence of the participation of amygdalin in the restoration of sulfhydryl groups and the protection of fats from peroxidation, which is the basis for the use of rowan in atherosclerosis.

Oil extracts from rowan fruits, containing a significant amount of carotene and carotenoids, have a wound- and ulcer-healing, anti-inflammatory effect, and promote the formation of less rough scars.

Medicines. Decoction, vitamin preparations, syrup.

Application. Rowan fruits are used in fresh and dried form as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for vitamin deficiency. They are combined with nettle (7 parts of rowan fruits and 3 parts of nettle leaves) and rose hips (equal parts of rowan and rose hips): 1 tablespoon of the mixture is brewed with 2 cups of boiling water, boiled in a water bath for 10 minutes, left for 4 hours. Take 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day.

Sweet and sour infusions and fruit drinks are prepared from dried rowan fruits; 40 g of fruits are crushed in a mortar, pour 200 ml of boiling water, leave for 4 hours, filter through cheesecloth, add sugar to taste to the filtrate.

Juice from fresh berries (1 teaspoon before meals) is used for low acidity of gastric juice. At home, jelly containing a significant amount of pectin is prepared from rowan berries. The jelly mainly preserves substances with P-vitamin activity, while ascorbic acid is destroyed.

In the form of powder or juice, rowan is included in the diet of patients with diabetes and obesity in order to bind some of the carbohydrates in the intestines. In these cases, rowan is prepared with sorbitol, xylitol, and fructose.

For the Slavs, the mountain ash is a traditional plant, which was sung in songs, depicted in paintings and used in numerous ritual holidays. It is known not only for its taste, but also for a wide range of beneficial properties that have found their use in traditional medicine recipes.

Rowan composition

The rich chemical composition was determined by scientists who confirmed the benefits, not only of the berries, but also of other parts of the plant. Rowan is a storehouse of vitamins, as it contains C, E, PP and group B. It contains a list of useful minerals, for example, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, magnesium and other macro- and microelements. The berries contain pectins and flavonoids, as well as tannins and acids. Rowan boasts the presence of important phytoncides.

The healing properties of rowan

Before considering the beneficial properties of the plant, you need to figure out where and how to properly collect the plant materials needed for folk recipes. You can pick fruits from trees that grow in areas and in the forest after the first frost. First, it is recommended to dry them for several days in a well-ventilated area, and then dry them in the oven at a temperature of 50°C. Store them in linen or paper bags for no more than two years. When figuring out how red rowan is useful, it is worth noting that not only berries are used for treatment, but also bark, leaves and flowers.

Properties of rowan fruits

Since ancient times, people have known that orange berries are not only tasty, but also very healthy.

  1. Fresh juice and infusions from fruits are effective for problems with the digestive system.
  2. It is recommended to use rowan fruits for... They are especially useful for senile atony of the large and small intestines.
  3. People use the berries as a diuretic, which is important in the presence of stones in the kidneys and urinary tract.
  4. Due to the presence of a large amount of carotene, berries have a beneficial effect on vision.
  5. The fruits are useful for the immune system and in the treatment of colds.
  6. They have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system, helping to cope with fatigue, irritability and stress.
  7. Reduces the amount of bad cholesterol and strengthens the blood vessels of the heart and brain.
  8. Given the large amount of pectin, you can cleanse the body of heavy metals and harmful substances.
  9. For women, rowan is useful due to its ability to normalize the menstrual cycle and relieve unpleasant symptoms during menopause. In addition, berries can be used for cosmetic purposes to rejuvenate the skin and cope with various defects.

Rowan bark - medicinal properties

A healing natural raw material is rowan bark, used to prepare decoctions and infusions. It is important to understand what the red rowan log is:

  1. Due to their hemostatic properties, berries are recommended for heavy menstruation, which leads to a drop in hemoglobin levels. With regular use, blood clotting can be normalized.
  2. The use of the bark prevents the development of atherosclerosis and sclerosis, and such folk remedies also reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
  3. The benefit of mountain ash is its diuretic effect, so the bark is useful for urinary retention and it helps reduce the risk of urolithiasis.
  4. Decoctions and infusions are recommended for hypertension, as they help normalize blood pressure.
  5. Products with bark cope well with inflammation, heal wounds and have an anthelmintic effect.

Rowan leaves - beneficial properties

This plant has large openwork leaves that should be collected in the spring during flowering. They must be dried in the shade and stored for no more than a year. They are used to prepare numerous infusions and decoctions. The benefits of mountain ash leaves are as follows:

  1. When fresh, the leaves are used to combat fungi.
  2. An infusion of dry raw materials is effective for glaucoma, diabetes, gallstones, etc.
  3. They have an astringent, laxative, diuretic and hemostatic effect. Rowan leaves cope well with inflammation.

Rowan treatment

To treat various diseases, almost all parts of the plant are included in folk recipes. The benefits of red rowan are due to its rich composition; the berries are used for inflammation and bacterial lesions, bleeding, swelling and various disruptions in the functioning of digestion. Berries are considered an excellent remedy for combating vitamin deficiency and strengthening the immune system. This is just a small list of applications of this useful plant.

Rowan, the beneficial properties of which have already helped a large number of people, can be used in the following cases:

  1. If you have intestinal bloating, it is recommended to eat a handful of red berries and within half an hour you can feel relief.
  2. For frequent constipation, you need to eat 50 g of fruits every day on an empty stomach.
  3. To cope with a cold, you should drink tea with the addition of rowan.
  4. To reduce the risk of developing cancer, it is recommended to drink rowan juice every day on an empty stomach.
  5. Rowan berry is used externally to get rid of warts. For this purpose, every time you are lazy, wipe the formations with berry juice for 1-2 weeks. You can also break the berry so that it releases the juice and attach it using an adhesive plaster.

Red rowan under pressure

People with both high and low blood pressure are allowed to eat delicious berries, but only hypotensive people should consume rowan in small quantities and monitor their body’s reaction. Hypertensive patients can stabilize their blood levels by consuming red rowan fruits. This product contains substances that help strengthen blood vessels and restore them. There is no need to prepare any products, it only takes 20 minutes each time. before meals, eat 1 tbsp. spoon of berries.

Red rowan for diabetes

Rowan cannot be used as the main medicine, so it can be taken as an adjuvant with the permission of a doctor. Rowan for type 2 diabetes has a general strengthening effect and supplies the body with important vitamins and minerals. Powder made from dry berries has a positive effect on blood sugar levels. Grind the fruits with a coffee grinder and take a small spoon several times a day.

Rowan for the liver

Berries have a number of properties that are useful if you have liver problems. They enhance bile secretion and have a hepatoprotective and lyotropic effect. In addition, rowan is used to treat liver problems because it stimulates the process of removing fat from the liver and normalizes cholesterol metabolism. The juice of the fruit is considered an excellent choleretic agent, and if there are stones in the liver, it is useful to eat fresh berries touched by frost.

  1. It is recommended to eat a couple of glasses of wild berries a day with the addition of honey or sugar.
  2. It is recommended to consume berry juice in a small spoon within 30 minutes. before meals.
  3. For infusion, pour 1 tbsp into a large spoon. boiling water and leave, covered, until cool. After this, strain and drink the product in three doses of 1/4 tbsp. before eating.

Rowan juice for hemorrhoids

In the early stages and as an auxiliary method of treatment, you can use folk recipes that include rowan. The plant is known for promoting the healing of affected hemorrhoidal tissue. The mucous membrane recovers faster due to the presence of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Rowan is useful for hemorrhoids by combating constipation, reducing pain and hemorrhoids.

  1. Take frozen berries and leave them to defrost, but do not drain the water. Add some mineral water and a small pinch of salt.
  2. Stir and boil over low heat for several minutes. After this, cool and grind the entire mass through a sieve. Use the resulting product as a lotion, applying it to the anus.

Rowan for gout

Many older people are faced with a problem such as gout, in which uric acid accumulates in the tissues, leading to inflammation of the joints. Finding out how rowan is useful for humans, we note that the berries help fight inflammatory processes, and they also reduce pain. It is recommended to use an infusion that includes several beneficial plants, which will speed up recovery.

Ingredients:

  • goldenrod – 1 part;
  • rose hips – 1 part;
  • burdock root – 1 part;
  • dried cucumber – 1 part;
  • rowan fruits – 1 part;
  • cinquefoil root – 1 part;
  • boiling water – 0.5 l.

Preparation:

  1. Mix all herbal ingredients and take only 2 tbsp. spoons of the resulting mixture and pour them into a thermos.
  2. Pour boiling water in there and leave everything overnight. For treatment, the infusion should be taken 0.5 tbsp. up to five times a day. Duration of treatment – ​​2-3 months.

Rowan - contraindications

The good news is that the list of contraindications for consuming rowan is not so long.

  1. It is forbidden to consume fruits if you have ischemia or other heart-related problems. After a heart attack, you cannot eat berries or take folk remedies.
  2. Rowan fruits, the contraindications of which have been confirmed by scientists, should not be consumed if the stomach is acidic.
  3. Do not use folk remedies for diarrhea.
  4. Rarely, individual intolerance to berries occurs, which manifests itself with various symptoms, for example, rashes, abdominal pain, and so on.
Mountain ash

Scientific classification
Kingdom:

Plants

Department:

Flowering plants

Class:

Dicotyledons

Order:

Rosaceae

Family:
Subfamily:

Plum

Tribe:

Apple

Genus:
View:

Mountain ash

International scientific name

Sorbus aucuparia L., 1753

Species in taxonomic databases

Mountain ash(lat. Sorbus aucuparia) is a deciduous tree of the rose family ( Rosaceae).

Description

Botanical illustration from the book by O. V. Tome Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, 1885

Inflorescence

Inferiority

Fruit trees

Tree 4-15 (sometimes up to 20) m high with an ovoid crown and a superficial root system. Young branches are fluffy, with gray smooth bark, later grayish-white. Leaves are alternate, 10-20 cm long, lanceolate in outline, with 10-15 leaflets; leaflets are 3-5 cm long, 1-15 cm wide, from oblong to oblong-lanceolate, usually entire in the lower part, serrate in the upper part, matte green above, glaucous or grayish below. Young leaves are pubescent at the base, later ones are bare.

Dense corymbose inflorescences are located at the ends of shortened shoots, 5-10 cm in diameter, pubescent, less often glabrous. The flowers are white or pinkish, 8-15 mm in diameter, with an unpleasant trimethylamine odor, reminiscent of horse manure. The calyx is first pubescent, then glabrous, the sepals are ciliated; petals are 4-5 mm long, rounded, pubescent on top. The fruits are almost spherical, about 1 cm (usually no more than 1.5 cm) in diameter, orange-red or bright red, juicy. The seeds are usually 3 in number, narrow-oblong, sharp at the ends, and reddish.

Chemical composition

Sorbic acid glycoside (up to 0.8%) gives bitterness to fruits. At the first frost, the glycoside is destroyed, and the rowan becomes sweeter. When the glycoside breaks down in fruits, the level of sorbic acid increases; such fruits can be stored without any processing. Amygdalin and fatty oil were found in the seeds (up to 22%); in leaves - about 200 mg% ascorbic acid, flavonoids; in flowers - quercitrin and spireoside; in the bark there are tannins.

Spreading

The range covers Western Europe, Asia Minor, the mountains of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and North Africa. In Russia, it is distributed in the European part, Crimea, the Caucasus, the Far East, Kamchatka, Siberia, and the Amur region.

It is often found in all natural and administrative regions of the Saratov Right Bank. In the Rtishchevsky district, it was noted in the green spaces of the city of Rtishchevo, as well as in the plantings of the former nursery of the South-Eastern Railway.

Features of biology and ecology

It grows in the undergrowth of forests of various compositions, often spruce, growing on the edges, clearings and cutting areas, less often among meadows, also in rocky or stony places, along cliffs of river banks.

It grows quickly, growing by 0.5 m in one year.

Blooms in May - June, fruits ripen in September - October; the berries, unless eaten by birds, usually remain on the trees until late winter. It bears fruit annually from 5-7 years of age. A good harvest of rowan is usually observed once every 1-3 years, the largest yield is from 35-40 years. One tree can produce up to 80-100 kg of fruit. With a lack of light, it develops poorly and bears almost no fruit. Propagated by seeds and root suckers. Lives up to 200 years.

Economic importance and application

It has long been used as a fruit and medicinal plant, as well as an ornamental one, having pyramidal and weeping forms.

In medicine

The bark exhibits antibacterial activity. A decoction of it is used for hypertension. Branches in folk medicine - for rheumatism.

Infusion and decoction of flowers are used for diseases of the liver, kidneys and urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, metabolic disorders, hemorrhoids, colds, coughs. Used in gynecology. In addition, the decoction is used for goiter. An infusion of flowers and fruits is used as a diaphoretic for colds.

A decoction of leaves and fruits is used in folk medicine for scurvy, general weakness (after serious illnesses, operations), and vitamin deficiencies.

The fruits are allowed in medical practice for hypovitaminosis. In India they are used for scurvy, hemorrhoids, and liver diseases. In folk medicine as a diuretic, laxative, hemostatic, vitamin, contraceptive, antidysenteric; for dysmenorrhea, malignant tumors. Infusion (orally) - for gastritis with low acidity of gastric juice, hemorrhoids, kidney disease, liver disease, atherosclerosis, bleeding; decoction (inside) - for hypovitaminosis, general weakness. In Western European countries - for liver diseases, kidney diseases, ascites, diarrhea, rheumatism, metabolic disorders, hypovitaminosis, whooping cough, throat diseases, glaucoma; externally - as a wound healing agent. Juice - for anemia, asthenia, gout, hemorrhoids, malignant tumors, low acidity of gastric juice, gastritis, hypertension, vitamin deficiency, glaucoma, whooping cough, dysmenorrhea, liver and kidney diseases, ascites, atherosclerosis. Syrup - for rheumatism, kidney stones, bladder stones, salt metabolism disorders.

Rowan fruits are included in vitamin and multivitamin preparations.

In other areas

Rowan honey

Rowan is highly valued as an ornamental plant, and therefore it is often used in garden and park construction. It is also used in forest reclamation, snow protection and windproof plantings.

The wood is suitable for carpentry, turning, furniture making, and for making musical instruments.

The bark colors the tissues in red-brown tones, and the branches black. The leaves give a brown color.

The buds have an insecticidal and raticidal effect. The fruits are used in veterinary medicine - for diarrhea in calves.

It is a good honey plant. Provides bees with a significant amount of nectar and pollen in the spring, during the period of low feeding. Sometimes the flowering of rowan coincides with the onset of temporary cold weather, and then the flowers are not visited by bees. The honey is coarse-grained, has a reddish tint and a strong, unique aroma. The total honey productivity under favorable conditions is about 30-40 kg per 1 hectare of planting.

Forage plant. Fruit yield - up to 2.5 t/ha. Edible in fresh and processed form, used in the confectionery industry. They are used fresh and for making juices, jams, jams, candied fruits, in pureed form along with sea buckthorn and apples. They make filling for sweets, and also make kvass, tincture, rowan vodka and cognac. Dried - a substitute for tea. They can serve as raw materials for the preparation of vitamin preparations. From the fruits you can make sorbitol, which replaces sugar. The fatty oil contained in the seeds is suitable for food and has a pleasant taste.

Cultivated. It is characterized by high cold and drought resistance. In this regard, it is used in breeding work when breeding cold-resistant and drought-resistant varieties of pome fruit plants. There are large-fruited and dessert varieties bred by I.V. Michurin and other breeders.

In the folk calendar there is a Peter-Paul day, which falls at the end of September - the time of ripening of rowan berries. On this day, branches with fruits were tied into bunches and hung under the roofs of houses. This custom is associated with the idea of ​​rowan as a tree that can protect a person from all sorts of troubles. It was widespread not only in Russia, but also in Western Europe and the Baltic states. Rowan branches were used to decorate not only living quarters, but also barns and gates; even rowan branches were stuck at the edge of each field.

In central Russia, rowan was used in wedding ceremonies. Its leaves were placed in the shoes of newlyweds, the fruits were hidden in the pockets of their clothes - all this for protection from sorcerers and witches. In addition, rowan is a symbol and guarantee of happiness and peace in the family, so they tried to plant rowan near the house.

Literature

  • Glukhov M. M. Honey plants. Ed. 7th, revised and additional - M.: Kolos, 1974. - S. 203-204
  • Trees and shrubs of the USSR. Wild, cultivated and prospects for introduction / Ed. in 6 volumes. T. III. Angiosperms: family Trochodendronaceae - Rosaceae. - M., Leningrad: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1954. - P. 465-466
  • Elenevsky A. G., Radygina V. I., Bulany Yu. I. Plants of the Saratov Right Bank (flora summary). - Saratov: Publishing house Sarat. pedin-ta, 2000. - ISBN 5-87077-047-5. - P. 38
  • Universal Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants / Comp. I. Putyrsky, V. Prokhorov. - Mn.: Book House; M.: Makhaon, 2000. - P. 250-252
  • Flora of central Russia: Atlas-determinant / Kiseleva K.V., Mayorov S.R., Novikov V.S. Ed. prof. V. S. Novikova. - M.: Fiton+ CJSC, 2010. - P. 302

From Latin the word “rowan” is translated as “attracting birds.” Indeed, the bright fruits of the tree attract many birds. Previously, the berries were used as bait to catch birds. The beneficial properties of rowan were known back in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. First of all, its disinfecting properties were valued. In ancient times, they put a rowan branch in water so that it would be drinkable for a long time. Many legends, rituals, folk signs and beliefs are associated with this plant. In Rus', it was considered a tree of family happiness and prosperity, so newlyweds planted it in front of the windows of their new house. Previously, the infirm were treated with the “rowan spirit”. For this purpose, a sick person was placed under a tree so that it would “draw out” the disease.

Features of mountain ash

In traditional medicine, rowan fruits are prescribed as a general tonic for vitamin deficiency and hypovitaminosis. In pharmacology, it also refers to drugs that affect the digestive system and metabolism. What are the benefits of rowan berries? What is its healing power?

Area

The rowan tree is found in the temperate climate of the Northern Hemisphere. It can be seen throughout Russia, not counting the Far North. It also grows in the mountains, where it becomes a subspecies of shrub. It takes root well in the Urals and the North Caucasus, but more often it can be found in the forest, forest-steppe zone. Rowan is a solitary tree. Rarely forms continuous thickets. It can be found in the undergrowth of deciduous, coniferous, mixed forests, between bushes, as well as on the edges and clearings, clearings, on the banks of streams, where there is a lot of light. Although the tree tolerates shade well, it can withstand severe frosts. In city gardens, alleys and parks, rowan is a real decoration. It pleases the eye with beautiful fruits not only in autumn, but also in winter.


Botanical description

The mountain ash is well known even to small children. It is easily recognized by its bright red or bright orange fruits.


Among ornamental trees, rowan is considered a long-liver. Some species can live up to 200 years. The tree begins to bear fruit after the seventh year of life. A good harvest can be harvested every three years.

Other types

There are about 100 species of rowan. Many varieties are bred as ornamental and fruit plants. The bitter taste of the berries “forced” breeders to grow new varieties with fruits that were more tender and palatable. There are two large variety groups - Moravian and Nezhin rowan. Large-fruited varieties were bred in Germany and the Czech Republic. The famous Russian biologist and breeder I.V. Michurin played a major role in growing new tree varieties. The scientist crossed the mountain ash with other varieties of this tree, as well as with apple, hawthorn, medlar, pear and other plants. As a result of breeding work, new food, melliferous, ornamental, and phytomeliorative tree species have appeared. The two most famous species are used as medicinal raw materials - rowan and chokeberry. About the medicinal properties of chokeberry.

Procurement of raw materials

You can collect fruits from wild and ornamental varieties. Trees should grow in an ecologically clean area, away from roads and industrial zones. The beneficial properties of red rowan accumulate to their maximum only in ripe fruits. A sign of ripeness is the juicy pulp and bright orange color of the berries.

  • Collection. Wild varieties have bitter fruits, so they are recommended to be picked after the first frost. Then the taste of the berries will be more tender and softer. When harvesting, whole clusters of rowan berries are cut off and then the fruits are separated.
  • Blank. If possible, the berries are dried for several days in a ventilated area. Spread out in a thin layer. Then dry in an oven or dryer at a temperature of 50°C. After drying, the fruits become wrinkled, but do not lose their bright color. Blackened berries are removed. The berries should not stick together; this indicates moisture remaining in the fruit.
  • Storage . Dry raw materials are stored in linen or paper bags for 2 years, protected from dampness. The berries can also be frozen whole, packed in bags. Or you can puree it and freeze it that way.

Chemical composition and healing effect

The main healing property of rowan is a multivitamin. This is a unique plant in its chemical composition, which is useful in the complex treatment of various diseases.

Rowan improves metabolic processes in the body, normalizes metabolism. It is also used externally for skin lesions - in the form of lotions, baths, compresses.

Indications

Rowan is primarily prescribed for vitamin deficiency and hypovitaminosis, as well as for their prevention, especially in the spring. What diseases and symptoms are indications for the use of this medicinal plant?

  • Hypertension.
  • Atherosclerosis.
  • Rheumatism.
  • Gout.
  • Reduced acidity of gastric juice.
  • Salt metabolism disorders.
  • Diabetes.
  • High blood cholesterol.
  • Obesity.
  • Atony of the large intestine.
  • Haemorrhoids.
  • Inflammatory skin diseases.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Spasms of cerebral vessels.
  • Asthenia and anemia.
  • Dysmenorrhea (painful periods).
  • Bronchitis (for better sputum discharge).

In some sources you can find information that rowan is used in the complex treatment of cancer, to support the immune system and restore the body after exhausting procedures.

Contraindications

What are the contraindications of rowan?

  • Individual intolerance and allergic reaction.
  • Gastritis with high acidity.
  • Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
  • Cardiac ischemia.
  • Thrombophlebitis.
  • Hypotension.
  • Children under 3 years old.

Rowan-based preparations can cause harm to the body only in rare cases. But if you have any chronic diseases, you need to consult a specialist before taking this medicinal plant. Is it possible to drink rowan during pregnancy? Information on this topic is contradictory. A woman should ask her gynecologist this question.

Red rowan is not a toxic plant. However, you should not abuse it, especially fresh berries and juice. Sorbic acid can cause mild poisoning in case of overdose, since it is a natural antibiotic. But poisoning is extremely rare, because the bitter fruits of rowan prevent this. It is known that during heat treatment, sorbic acid is destroyed and does not pose any danger.

The use of rowan in folk medicine

In folk medicine, rowan is used in different forms - tinctures, infusions, teas, fortified drinks, decoctions, juice, jam. Most often, fruits are used, less often - flowers, and even less often - rowan bark and leaves. Although the latter contain no less useful substances than fruits.

Infusion

The infusion is drunk for hypovitaminosis, general exhaustion of the body and anemia. It can be prepared in different ways, but it is important not to boil the fruits so that their valuable properties are not lost.

Preparation

  1. Put 1 tbsp. spoon of fruit into an enamel pan.
  2. Pour in 2 cups of cold water and close with a lid.
  3. Keep in a boiling water bath for 10–15 minutes.
  4. Leave for 1 hour.

Before taking, the infusion must be strained. It can be diluted with boiled water. Take ½ glass 4 times a day. Store in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days.

Alcohol tincture

It can be used as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent.

Preparation

  1. Take 200 g of rowan fruits.
  2. Pour in a liter of vodka.
  3. Leave for 2 weeks.
  4. Strain.

Take the tincture in small doses - a teaspoon 3 times a day. Store in a dark and cool place. It can be prepared from fresh and dried rowan. Dried fruits are good for diarrhea; they are even recommended to be chewed without cooking.

Rowan flower decoction

Rowan flowers, which are collected in May-June, have medicinal properties. Decoctions are prepared from the inflorescences for disorders of the liver and endocrine system, hemorrhoids, cough, and gynecological diseases.

Preparation

  1. Take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of rowan flowers.
  2. Pour a glass of boiling water.
  3. Leave for 15–20 minutes.
  4. Strain.

Take a decoction of ½ cup 3 times a day. You can also infuse the decoction in a thermos for 3-4 hours and drink ¼ cup 3 times a day. In addition, decoctions of rowan flowers and leaves can be added to medicinal baths for joint pain. Decoctions are used to gargle for pharyngitis and laryngitis.

Vitamin tea

This is a good preventive measure during influenza and ARVI epidemics. It is also useful to drink in the spring, when the body experiences an acute shortage of vitamins and microelements.

Preparation

  1. Take 1 tbsp. spoon of rowan and rosehip berries.
  2. Pour 2 cups boiling water.
  3. Leave in a thermos for 6–8 hours.

Take ½ cup of warm tea several times a day. You can add honey and ginger to this drink to enhance its tonic properties.

Juice

It is recommended to drink juice for gastritis with low acidity, cholecystitis, and vitamin deficiency. You can squeeze out small portions of juice using a juicer. It’s good if the juice retains the pulp, then it contains a lot of carotene. You can prepare the juice for long-term storage.

Preparation

  1. Prepared 1 kg of berries are immersed in salted boiling water for 5 minutes.
  2. Rinse the berries with cold water.
  3. Rub through a sieve.
  4. The finished puree is poured with hot syrup (200 g of sugar per 2 glasses of water).
  5. Pour into liter jars, sterilize for 15 minutes and seal.

Freshly squeezed juice is taken in a strict dosage - 1 teaspoon 4 times a day, preferably drunk half an hour before meals. Fresh juice is also used externally to treat papillomas and warts.

Jam

Rowan berries make a delicious delicacy. It is used to make jam, compote, jelly, syrup, pastille, marmalade, liqueurs and liqueur. There are many recipes for cooking
rowan berry jam. Here's one of them.

Preparation

  1. Prepare 1 kg of fresh fruit.
  2. Make syrup from 1.3 kg of sugar and 2 glasses of water.
  3. Pour the hot syrup over the berries and leave for 2-3 hours.
  4. Cook over low heat, stirring until thickened.
  5. Remove from heat and leave the jam for another 5 hours.
  6. Place in dry, sterilized jars and seal tightly.

Instead of sugar, you can use fructose. You can also add some apples, which will give the jam a pleasant aroma and sourness. Rowan makes good jams and jellies because it contains a natural thickener - pectin.

Puree

You can prepare fortified drinks from the puree by diluting them with boiled water. You can also eat puree with water or tea.

Preparation

  1. Pass 1 kg of berries through a meat grinder.
  2. Add 1 kg of sugar and mix thoroughly.
  3. Place in dry, sterilized jars.
  4. Store the puree in the refrigerator.

Take 1-2 tbsp. spoons 2-4 times a day.

Some application features

In pharmacology, rowan is produced in two dosage forms - in the form of dried fruits and multivitamin syrup. But the fruits are also widely used in the confectionery and alcoholic beverage industries, animal husbandry, veterinary medicine, and crop production.


Rowan is of great benefit in landscaping urban areas. In forest reclamation, the tree is used as a snow-protective and wind-resistant planting. The wood is used in turning and carpentry, and musical instruments are made from it.

The beneficial properties and contraindications of rowan are described in detail in folk medicine. It is used to treat the digestive system, vitamin deficiency, rheumatism, hypertension, anemia, it relieves skin inflammation, joint pain, and strengthens the immune system. In industrial pharmacology, rowan is used less frequently, although it is valued for its general strengthening and multivitamin properties.

Common rowan is one of the most common plants with high decorative qualities.

The berries of this crop are used in winemaking, cooking and pharmacology, and serve as an excellent aid for non-migratory birds staying for the winter.

Below is a description of the common rowan and recommendations on the correct agricultural techniques for growing trees in the garden.

Where does the common red rowan grow?

The Latin species epithet for rowan is aucuparia, which comes from the Latin. avis – bird and capere – to attract, to catch.

This is due to the fact that rowan fruits are attractive to birds and were used as bait to catch them.

Rowan is a plant distributed almost all over the world. It is known in European countries, popular in Western Asia and the Caucasus.

Reaching the Far North, in the mountains it rises to the very border of vegetation, and there it already takes on the appearance of a bush.

In other words, where the mountain ash grows, a temperate climate prevails.

In Russia, the common red rowan is distributed in the forest and forest-steppe zones of the European part, in the North Caucasus, and in the Urals. It grows in individual specimens, without forming continuous thickets, in the undergrowth or second layer of coniferous, mixed, and occasionally deciduous forests, in forest clearings and edges, between bushes.

Russian gardeners consider rowan one of the most unpretentious crops, and this is true. It can grow on any soil, including infertile and acidic. However, the quality of the soil directly affects the fruiting of this plant.

The mountain ash tree can grow equally successfully both in the sun and in partial shade, but in the second case the gardener gets an elongated slender tree trying to reach the sunlight. In well-lit areas, mountain ash produces an excellent harvest.

The advantage of this plant is its friendliness with any other crops growing nearby on the site.

Common rowan: tree height, botanical description of the root system, flowers and leaf arrangement

The root system of the common rowan is deep, so the plant does not need watering. The plant came to us from the forest, so it prefers leaf humus. That’s when rowan produces a really big harvest! Among red rowan trees, sweet-fruited varieties are especially valued.

Rowan is a tree, less often a shrub. The height of an ordinary rowan can reach 12 m (usually 5-10 m). The crown is round and openwork. Young shoots are grayish-red, pubescent.

As you can see in the photo, adult rowan trees have smooth, light gray-brown or yellow-gray, shiny bark:

Photo gallery

The buds are felt-fluffy. Leaves are up to 20 cm long, alternate. The leaf arrangement of the common mountain ash is imparipinnate. The leaves consist of 7-15 almost sessile lanceolate or elongated, pointed, serrated along the edges of the leaflets, entire at the bottom and serrate at the top, green above, usually matte, noticeably paler and pubescent below. In autumn, the leaves turn golden and red.

The flowers of the common rowan are numerous, five-membered, collected in dense corymbose inflorescences up to 10 cm in diameter; inflorescences are located at the ends of shortened shoots. The receptacle is narrow-shaped - a calyx of five wide-triangular ciliated sepals. The corolla is white (0.8...1.5 cm in diameter), there are five petals, many stamens, one pistil, three styles, the ovary is inferior. When the common rowan tree blooms, it gives off an unpleasant odor (the reason for this is trimethylamine gas). Blooms in May – June.

The fruit of the common rowan is a spherical juicy orange-red apple (about 1 cm in diameter) with small seeds rounded along the edge.

Cultivated varieties of rowan begin to bear fruit 4-5 years after planting. The fruits ripen in September – October. During the period of full fruiting (at the age of 15–25 years), you can collect up to 100 kg of fruit from a tree. More or less abundant harvests are repeated after 1–2 years.

Types of rowan plant

Of great interest is the elder-leaved species of rowan, native to the Khabarovsk Territory. This is a shrub, not exceeding two meters, completely covered in spring with large white or pink flowers. The berries have a pleasant sweet and sour taste without astringency or bitterness.

Moravian rowan, originally from the Czech Republic, has excellent taste, but it is not winter-hardy. But on its basis, a remarkably tasty and more winter-hardy variety “Alaya” was obtained.

There is also an interesting rowan - mealy, which was so named because its young shoots are covered with white fluff. The “Aria” variety is especially beautiful, the young shoots of which are yellow or cream in color. Typically, mealy ash is used as an ornamental plant. It is cut annually to cause the growth of numerous young shoots, giving the bush extraordinary attractiveness.

In recent years, the Kashmir rowan, a low, spreading tree, completely covered with clusters of light pink flowers in the spring and with delicious snow-white berries in the fall, has gained wide popularity in Europe. Now in fashion are not the tall trees that we are used to seeing in the forest, but dwarf forms, often in the form of a small tree or a tree with a weeping crown, or a plant in the form of a bush. So there is a lot of choice. Modern rowan will not only decorate your garden, but will also produce a harvest of delicious berries, often completely different from the fruits of its forest ancestor.

Rowan sargent (Sorbus sargentiana) is a slow-growing tree reaching a maximum height of 10 m, with bright red berries and bright orange leaves in autumn.

Rowan Kene (Sorbus koehneana)- a small tree (up to 8 m in height) with long leaves consisting of a large number (up to 33) narrow jagged fingers.

Pay attention to the photo - the common rowan Kene variety White Wax is distinguished by unusual white porcelain berries on long red stems:

Photo gallery

Kene rowan berries are well preserved almost until spring.

Mixed rowan, Japanese (Sorbus commixta)- a fast-growing tree, reaching a maximum height of 10 m. Mixed rowan leaves are elongated, consisting of 13...17 fingers, and by autumn they acquire a charming crimson color. The berries are yellow-orange.

Rowan Vilmora, Chinese (Sorbus vilmorinii)- a small tree (up to 5 m in height) with curved branches and feathery leaves that turn deep burgundy in autumn. Vilmora rowan flowers are creamy white, the berries are light or pink. Ideal for small gardens.

Hubei rowan (Sorbus hupehensis var. obtusa, Rosea)- a small unusually decorative rowan with pink berries, originating from China.

Rowan squat. This is a shrub up to 3 m high. The fruits are ovoid and reach a length of 18 mm. The fruits ripen in September. Their flesh is juicy, but bland. This rowan variety is very fast-growing. By crossing it with the Mouzho rowan, a new sweet-fruited hybrid, Khosta, was obtained.

Finnish rowan, or hybrid. It grows in the form of a tree up to 6 m high. It begins to bear fruit in the 4th–5th year after planting. The fruits are oblong, up to 16 mm long, red in color, with hard skin, low-juiciness, mealy pulp, and have a sweet and sour taste. Ripen in mid-September.

Below is a description of ordinary rowan of different varieties.

Varieties of cultivated rowan

There are 14 varieties of ordinary cultivated mountain ash; Michurin began breeding them, who obtained several original varieties from crossing red mountain ash with serviceberry, hawthorn and even pear.

Among the Michurin varieties, the following are very popular:

“Liquor” with large black sweet berries.

"Burka" with red-brown fruits.

“Pomegranate” with pomegranate-red berries (a hybrid obtained by crossing mountain ash with blood-red hawthorn).

Sweet-fruited variety “Michurinskaya Dessertnaya”.

Subsequently, work on rowan selection continued in Michurinsk at VNIIG and SPR. The varieties Businka, Vefed, Doch Kubova, and Sorbinka were created there, which were the result of crossing Nevezhinsky and Moravian mountain ash.

Selection work with rowan was also carried out at VIR and other Russian institutions.

Pomologists divide varieties of mountain ash into two varieties: Moravian and Nevezhinskaya.

The first variety type includes varieties of Central European origin:

Beissneri.

Konzentra.

Moravian.

Rosina.

Edulis.

The second includes varieties of Eastern European origin:

Yellow.

Red.

Vubovaya.

Nevezhinskaya.

Sugar.

The Rossica and Rossica Major varieties, which were introduced by the German company Späth at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries from near Kyiv, may be descendants of the Moravian mountain ash, which was widely cultivated in Ukraine at that time.

New varieties of Russian selection come from both Nevezhin and Moravian mountain ash.

In Russia, non-bitter forms of mountain ash were discovered in the village of Nevezhino, Nebylovsky district, Vladimir region, from where they spread widely throughout the center of Russia.

Through folk selection, a number of varieties were selected and subsequently registered under the names Kubovaya, Zheltaya, and Krasnaya. The diversity of forms is due to both seed propagation and selection of bud mutations. Several promising varieties of the Nevezhin variety group were registered by the Soviet pomologist E.M. Petrov. Later, he continued breeding work with rowan and obtained a number of hybrids from crossing Moravian and Nevezhin rowan with each other and Michurin varieties.

Considering that rowan is self-sterile, it is recommended to plant 2-3 plants of different varieties on the site.

Bead. Resistant to extreme growing conditions. The fruits are round, red, weighing 1.9 g. The pulp is creamy, very juicy, sweet and sour. Tasting score 4.3 points. The fruits contain: dry matter 25%, sugar 10%, acid 2.2%, P-active substances 165 mg%, carotene 9 mg%, vitamin C 67 mg%. Productivity 20 kg per tree. The tree is medium-sized, 2.5–3.0 m, with a rounded crown. It begins to bear fruit in the 3-5th year.

Kubova's daughter. Winter-hardy, drought-resistant, resistant to pests and diseases. The fruits weigh 1.8 g, oblong, bright orange, with a reddish blush. The pulp is bright yellow, very juicy, tender, without astringency or bitterness. Tasting score 4.5 points. The fruits contain 168 mg% P-active substances, 76 mg% vitamin C, 8 mg% carotene. Productivity 36 kg per tree. The tree is medium-sized, with a paniculate, sparse crown. It begins to bear fruit in the 5th year.

Wefed. Winter hardiness is high, relatively resistant to diseases and pests. Fruits weighing 1.3 g, rounded-pointed towards the base, elegant, pink-red. The pulp is yellow, tender, sweet and sour, pleasant when eaten fresh. The fruits contain: dry matter 20.5%, sugars 9.5%, acids 25%, carotene 32 mg%, vitamin C 96 mg%, vitamin P 176 mg%. Tasting score 4.6 points. Productivity 17.2 kg per tree. The tree is medium-sized, with a rounded, sparse crown. It begins to bear fruit in the 3-4th year.

Grenade. Hybrid of rowan and hawthorn. Medium height. The fruits are large (1–1.5 cm in diameter), pomegranate-colored, sweet and sour taste, with a slight tartness.

Gorgeous. The variety is medium-sized (5–6 m). The wood is winter-hardy. The leaves are quite large and strongly wrinkled. Flower buds are slightly winter-hardy. The fruits are edible, medium in size (up to 1 cm in diameter) or large, yellowish in color, juicy, sweet and sour with noticeable bitterness, close to the taste of rowan.

Nevezhinskaya. A variety of folk selection. The tree is powerful, compact, spherical, highly winter-hardy. Productivity up to 80-100 kg. The fruits are large, red, with orange juicy pulp of a pleasant sweet and sour taste without bitterness and astringency, ripen in the first half of September, are stored fresh until April, and stay on the tree all winter without losing their taste.

Ruby. Winter-hardy. The fruits weigh 1.3 g, ruby, flattened, shaped like lily of the valley flowers, with a smooth, wide-ribbed surface. The pulp is yellow, juicy. The fruits contain: sugar 12.4%, acid 1.3%, vitamin C 21 mg%, P-active substances 948 mg%. Tasting score 4 points. Productivity 17 kg per tree. The tree is medium-sized, the crown is drooping. It begins to bear fruit in the 3-4th year.

Fabulous. Berries weighing 0.5 g, round-oval, red, sweet and sour, juicy, aromatic. They contain: sugar 6.3%, acid 1.9%, vitamin C 118 mg%. Productivity 126 c/ha. The variety is winter-hardy, resistant to pests and diseases.

Sorbinka. Winter-hardy, highly adaptive, resistant to pests and diseases. The fruits are very large, weighing 2.7 g, round, red. The pulp is yellowish, juicy, sweet and sour. Tasting score 4.4 points. The fruits contain: dry matter 23%, sugar 8%, acid 2.8%, vitamin C 114 mg%. Productivity 19 kg per tree. The tree is medium-sized, with an obovate crown. It begins to bear fruit in the 4th year.

Scarlet large. Highly winter-hardy, tolerates temperatures down to minus 50 °C. Resistant to pests and diseases. Fruits weighing 1.7 g, cylindrical, flattened, with a cup, with a smooth, slightly ribbed surface, scarlet-red. The taste is sweet and sour, with a spicy rowan flavor. They contain: sugar 8.4%, acid 1.9%, vitamin C 21 mg%, P-active substances 625 mg%. Tasting score 4.3 points. Productivity 21 kg per tree. Tree of moderate growth. Partially self-fertile.

Titanium. Increased winter hardiness. The fruits weigh 1.2 g, round, slightly ribbed, dark cherry, with a waxy coating. The pulp is intense yellow, sweet and sour. They contain: dry matter 20%, sugar 10.2%, acid 1.4%, catechins 494 mg%, vitamin C 33 mg%. Characterized by abundant fruiting.

Planting seedlings of common rowan

Seedlings of ordinary rowan must not be dried out, without leaves, have a branched above-ground part and root system, without mechanical damage.

Annual seedlings can be unbranched, 120 cm high, trunk base diameter 1.2 cm. Annual seedlings can be branched, 130 cm high, their trunk diameter is smaller - 0.9 cm, the length of the main branches is 8-10 cm.

For two-year-old seedlings, the trunk (the above-ground part before branching) must be 40–60 cm, with a diameter of 2.4 cm, have at least 4 main branches and a root collar with a diameter of at least 1 cm. The length of the branches is 40 cm. (For second-grade seedlings it should have at least 4 main roots with a length of at least 20 cm, the aerial part must be at least 20 cm, have at least 2 main branches and a root collar with a diameter of at least 7 mm.)

Two-year-old seedlings must have at least 7 main roots at least 40 cm long.

Before planting this plant, you should familiarize yourself with its preferences. As for the placement of the common rowan, it is best to plant it on the northern or eastern side of the site, remembering to leave a distance between the trees (if you plan to plant several plants) of at least 4 m.

As mentioned above, rowan can grow in the shade, but it is better to choose sunny, open places for it. Then the culture will delight you with a rich harvest.

Rowan does not tolerate waterlogged peat soils that are saline or too dry. The groundwater level should not be higher than 1.5–2.0 m.

Planting of rowan seedlings should be done in early spring or autumn. If rowan is planted in the spring, then it is necessary to prepare the planting hole in advance. It is better to do this work in the fall. But autumn planting is not prohibited.

For vigorous-growing varieties, the depth of the pits should be at least 60 cm, and the diameter - 100 cm; for low-growing varieties, the depth is 50 cm, and the diameter is 80 cm.

It is recommended to add 20 kg of manure (2 buckets), 0.8–1 kg of superphosphate and 0.1–0.15 kg of potassium sulfate into the pit. Manure is mixed evenly with the soil, 2/3 of mineral fertilizers are applied to the bottom of the pit, and 1/3 to the lower part of the soil, poured into a cone. Mineral fertilizers are not applied to the soil in the upper part of the pit, where the roots of the seedling are located, to avoid burns. When planting rowan, abundant watering (2–3 buckets of water) is of great importance. In dry weather, watering is done 3-4 times.

When planting a seedling, you should make a small mound in the center, spread the roots on it and cover it with soil so that the root collar is at soil level. If you deepen the rowan tree, it will produce a lot of root shoots, but the shoots just need to be constantly cut down to the very base. As you add soil to the roots during planting, water each layer with water, then no voids will form under the roots, and the soil will adhere well to all the roots. In addition, the roots need good air access, and in dense soil there is not enough of it. If you have planted a fairly tall tree, then you need to tie it to a stake, or even better, drive three stakes, the ends of which should be tilted towards the seedling and tied together. The plant will be protected by three inclined poles.

Rowan tolerates transplantation well, but do not forget that it has a deep root system, and dig up the planting material deeply. If you know how to graft plants (and you don’t know how, learn how - it’s not difficult), then the easiest way is to dig up a small mountain ash in the forest and transplant it to the site. Next year, if the plant has taken root, in the spring you can plant several cuttings of different varieties on it at once. You will have rowan for every taste. Do not forget to cut out the root shoots, otherwise the grafted cuttings will die off, leaving only wild ones.

Common rowan can withstand frosts down to minus 50 °C. Rowan blooms quite late - in May - June, and therefore the flowers are rarely damaged by spring frosts. Due to its high winter hardiness, mountain ash can be grown in the harsh climatic conditions of the country, where other fruit crops cannot be cultivated.

Caring for ordinary rowan after planting and during flowering

The tree trunk circle, taking into account the growth of roots, increases annually by 0.3–0.4 m. Its diameter in the first year is 1.5 m, in subsequent years it is 1 m more than the diameter of the crown. After planting ordinary rowan, when caring for trees in early spring and autumn before leaf fall, it is necessary to dig up the trunk circle to a depth of 10–15 cm so as not to damage the skeletal roots. In the spring-summer period, 3-4 loosening of the soil is carried out to a depth of 5-6 cm. To preserve moisture, it is good to mulch the tree trunk circles with manure or peat with a layer of 8-10 cm. In the spring, simultaneously with tillage, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied - 4 kg of manure, 100 g nitrogen, 150 g phosphorus and 100 g potassium fertilizers per 1 sq. m of tree trunk circle.

For feeding when caring for ordinary rowan, use slurry diluted 2–3 times, as well as bird droppings diluted 10–12 times.

Rowan trees require almost no pruning or crown shaping. Remove only broken or damaged branches at the beginning of the season, or perform formative pruning if the tree needs to be kept under control. During the period of full fruiting, when the crown thickens and the branches become bare, they have to be thinned out and shortened.

In wet years, rust of rowan leaves may develop, against which spraying with Bordeaux mixture is used.

In pest control, agrotechnical measures are very effective - cleaning and burning fallen leaves; autumn and spring digging of the soil to destroy wintering pupae; cleaning and destruction of damaged fruits before the caterpillars emerge from them; collecting nests and shaking beetles from trees onto the litter, followed by their destruction. Mice and hares do not damage rowan trees.

The rowan tree is one of the first to bloom, and the ants drag aphids onto it. The tops are curled. Then the ants begin to take the aphids all over the garden. Don’t miss this moment and spray the plant with Iskra total protection, trying to get inside the curled leaves at the top of the rowan. This is a chemical drug. It should not be used during the growing season; it is better to use the biological product “Fitoverm” or “Iskra-bio”.

Propagation of common rowan by cuttings and seeds

Reproduction of species common rowan is done by seeds (in autumn), and varietal rowan - by green cuttings (in early summer), grafting with a dormant bud (in summer) or cuttings (in cold periods). It is possible to propagate rowan by ordinary grafting in the cold season; ordinary rowan is used as a rootstock, because it has the strongest root system.

To propagate common rowan, cuttings can be asked from friends or neighbors, or purchased at an exhibition. If your neighbors don’t want to cut off a branch for you, then ask for just a couple of buds in August and graft with an eye. In addition, if wild rowan grows on the site, its root shoots may well be suitable as a rootstock. The shoots should be separated from the mother plant and grafted onto cultivated varieties. The downside is that rowan trees grafted in this way cannot be propagated. Mountain ash reproduces well by cuttings and layering.

Gardeners often propagate rowan using seeds, which is no coincidence. Rowan from seeds grows very quickly and is grafted onto cultivated varieties within 3-4 years.

By the way, this is not a bad way to make money - there is a good, steady demand for dessert, weeping and decorative varieties. But in dessert rowan trees, during seed propagation, splitting of the offspring can occur, and varietal characteristics can be lost. Aronia can be grafted onto the red rowan rootstock. It turns out to be a beautiful bush on a leg. Chokeberry can be cut, so it is easy to form a spherical bush. These bushes look very elegant.

Seeds should be sown right before winter after picking the berries. They are smeared on paper and sown directly with it on the prepared place. They should be sprinkled with a 1.5–2 cm layer of soil on top.

Do not let the rowan tree stretch upward if you have a tree rowan tree. This usually occurs in low light conditions. Shorten the top every year to the point you need, otherwise the birds will pick the berries, not you. If you have rowan in bush form, then make sure that the bush does not thicken too much, because there will be no berries in the center of the bush.

The benefits of rowan fruits

The main uses of ordinary rowan are food, melliferous, medical, decorative and phytomeliorative.

The fruits contain sugar (up to 5%), malic, citric, tartaric and succinic acids (2.5%), tannin (0.5%) and pectin (0.5%) substances, sorbitol and sorbose, amino acids, essential oils, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium salts, as well as carotenoids (up to 20 mg%), ascorbic acid (up to 200 mg%), flavonoids, triterpene compounds, bitter substances, sorbic acid. Due to the benefits of rowan fruits, they are used in medicine as a multivitamin and carotene-containing raw material.

Rowan fruit is used as a medicinal raw material, which is harvested ripe in August - October before frost, dried in dryers at 60...80 ° C or in well-ventilated areas, spread in a thin layer on cloth or paper.

Due to their bitterness, the fruits are practically not eaten fresh, more often after frost, when they lose their bitterness. They are used mainly for processing. They are an excellent raw material for the alcoholic beverage and confectionery industries and the production of soft drinks. When canning, they are used to prepare jelly, candies such as “rowan in sugar”, jam, marmalade, preserves, and marshmallows. The fruits are dried and used to produce “fruit powders” and flour.

To remove bitterness from rowan fruits, pour boiling water over them and bring to a boil over high heat, but do not boil. The hot water is immediately drained, the fruits are filled with cold water and the water is changed several times over 5–6 hours. After this, they are covered with sugar (1:1) for 3–4 hours, then boiled in several stages, like any 5-minute jam. Then the fruits become transparent and the skin is soft, and there is no better seasoning for meat or fish!

Rowan is a medium-productive spring honey plant that provides nectar and pollen to bees; nectar productivity - up to 30...40 kg per hectare of plantings. Rowan honey is reddish and coarse-grained, with a strong aroma. Rowan fruits are rich in vitamin C (up to 160 mg%) and carotene (up to 56 mg%).

Rowan is valued not only for its beneficial fruits, but also for its decorative qualities. It is used in ornamental gardening, landscaping areas and decorating local areas. This tree retains its attractiveness throughout the year. It looks very beautiful in winter, as well as during flowering. It is impossible to take your eyes off the autumn leaves of the rowan tree - variegated, bright colors envelop the entire plant.

It has many garden forms, including weeping, narrow pyramidal, yellow-fruited, with pinnately lobed leaves, etc. It has fractionally porous reddish wood, from which turning products, jewelry, and furniture are made. Rowan bark can be used as tanning raw material.

Wild birds feed on the fruits of the mountain ash, which often saves them from hunger in winter. Also, ripe fruits are used to feed poultry and livestock.