Clefthoof

Gardeners can boast of a wide variety of ornamental plants that they enjoy growing in their backyards. Among them there are both perennial and annual plants. Some of them are distinguished by the beauty of flowers, some by the unusual shape of the leaves. Some of them bloom earlier, some differ in late flowering. Among this diversity, forest plants are also distinguished, which are not inferior in their exoticism and modest natural beauty to other lush and vibrant cultures. Clefthoof is just one of these plants, the leaves of which perform a decorative function.

Grass Hoof: photo

Description Cleft

The hoof is considered a perennial. The name comes from the shape of the leaves, which resembles the footprint of an animal's hoof. In addition to performing decorative functions, the plant is distinguished by its medicinal properties. In addition, this forest culture is completely unpretentious and does not require special care. The clefthoof feels best when grown in the shade, which is a rather rare occurrence for plants.

The clefthoof is actively used in folk medicine. It is used in the fight against diseases such as various kinds of addiction, heart disease, problems of the gastrointestinal tract, violation of the skin and during various diseases of the upper respiratory systems. A medicinal decoction and tinctures are prepared from the plant, collecting and using both the roots and leaves of the plant. However, official medicine does not recognize perennials and does not consider it curative. In addition, doctors say that the plant can cause great harm, since it contains harmful and poisonous substances.

The Cleft has a large number of names. It is also called Azarum, which means "altar" in Latin. And Western peoples call this culture "ginger" because the plant has a characteristic smell. It is also called the "serpentine root".

Grass Hoof: photo

However, despite the smell, the plant has nothing to do with ginger and is not used as a seasoning.

Where the Kopyten comes from is unknown, but in the wild it can most often be seen in Southeast Asia, as well as in the Northern continent of America, in central Russia, in particular in the European part, in the Caucasus, as well as in Siberia. For the reason that there is uncontrolled deforestation, this plant is even listed in the Red Book in some countries.

The hoof belongs to the Kirkozonov family. All of its brethren prefer to grow in the tropics and subtropics. Outwardly, it is a creeping herb that has a large root system. The decorativeness of the plant is given precisely by the shiny surface of the leaves of an unusual heart shape. The shade of the leaves is very bright.

The clefthoof blooms with interesting flowers. Three petals are strongly pointed at the tips, and from the side the flower looks like a jug. The flowers are of course very beautiful, however, due to the large size of the leaf plates, they are almost invisible. You can see flowers from the beginning of May. Flowering lasts about a month, after which the capsule ripens. The culture does not reproduce with the help of bees, but with the help of ants. It is they who carry the hoof seeds to various places. This type of reproduction is called myrmecochoria.

Grass Hoof: photo

Kopyten: species and varieties with names and photos

The Kopyten genus has a very large number of species, more than 100.Basically, these are local inhabitants of tropical forests and only a very small number of species can survive cold winters, as well as temperate climates. Thus, the diversity of species is divided into perennials belonging to North America and plants that grow in the Southeast.

A large number of species of hoofs are also grown in our country, and among the most popular are the European hoof - it is also common. This plant, according to the name, is grown in the European territory of Russia, as well as in the very bottom of Siberia. Mostly the gingerbread grows in deciduous forests, can grow in coniferous forests, as well as in the steppe. This plant has a stem of 25 cm, therefore it is a ground cover. The stems branch, and a large number of leaves are formed on them, the shape of which resembles a heart. No more than two leaves grow on one stem. The leaf plates have a pronounced green color, and the surface of the leaves and stems is covered with soft fluffy, silvery hairs. The flowers here are dark red and have three petals, the ends of which form peaks. The flowering period is in April.

Grass Hoof: photo

Canadian hoof ... This culture is also called "wild ginger" or "snake root". The homeland is considered the forests of the Northern continent of America, where the clefthoof can be seen very densely planted in the undergrowth. This species is also creeping. The leaves here have a pronounced shade, and their shape resembles a bud. The flowering period lasts a couple of months, starting in mid-spring. This plant is characterized by a brown tint.

Shiny clefthoof... It is also called Chinese because it grows mainly in China, as well as in other countries throughout East Asia. The appearance differs from the above, since it has a dark green color of the leaf plates with a silver pattern characteristic of it. The patterns here are in the form of spots of various shapes and sizes. The flowers are also original. Of course, they are not visible under the large leaves, but here they have a variegated shade with splashes. In addition, the color of the leaves and the structure of the petal are similar to the bark of a large tree.

Large hoof... The homeland of this plant is also China. The leaves here are heart-shaped and dark green in color. They also have a marble-like pattern. Silver streaks. The petals of this plant are velvety. However, they are also invisible under the leaves. The shade of the petals is very contrasting here: the white petals are surrounded by a black border. There are different varieties of the plant. They are called Green Panda and Silver Panda.

Grass Hoof: photo

Tailed Clefthoof... It is also a perennial that grows wild in coniferous as well as mixed forests in the Northern Continent of America. This plant is evergreen, and also does not differ in large size. The structure of the sheet plates is very dense and strong here. The shape of the leaves resembles a heart. The flowers consist of three petals, which have a purple hue and are distinguished by a curved shape.

Unlike other species, this plant has great vigor and can fill other types of ground cover.

Small clefthoof... The plant also belongs to the Northern states of America. The leaves have a characteristic heart shape, but here they differ in that they can change color at different times of the year. In spring and summer, they have a bright green tint, and in autumn, the shade of the leaves turns purple.

Shuttleworth's Hoof... This species grows in few places. These are usually swampy forests that are found on the eastern coasts of North America. The leaves here have a pronounced green tint and a glossy surface. Their shape resembles a heart, and green veins stand out on the surface. The petals have a brown marsh hue and are almost invisible under the leaf cover.

Grass Hoof: photo

Japanese hoof. The homeland of this species is Japan, as well as the countries of East China. The ground cover grows slowly and can bloom for the first time only after 15 years. The leaf plates are distinguished by a bright, pronounced green tint with a characteristic pattern on the surface. The flowers are small in size and also have a dark purple hue.

The hoof is three-footed. The homeland of this species is also Japan. The plant is short, perennial, the leaves have an elongated shape, as well as a silvery shade. Bright contrasting veins form a pattern on the surface of the leaf plates. The flowers generally ripen and form near the roots, with a yellow tint.

Takaoi's Cleft... This is a low, showy plant that belongs to evergreen groundcover. The shape of the leaves resembles those of cyclamen. This species grows wild in Japan, preferring dense deciduous plantings. This culture grows under the trees, forming a rug.

A very large number of species can be enumerated. However, speaking about our domestic gardeners, they choose and grow only one European species. The rest of the species are exotic plants and are grown only under special conditions created in greenhouses.

Grass Hoof: photo

Clefthoof: the use of grass

Since in the wild, the Clefthoof forms the lowest layer of forests, both coniferous and deciduous, and mixed and is a carpet of leaves, growing on bare areas of the ground, the Clefthoof feels good being in dark places devoid of sunlight. This is what landscape designers use when creating various compositions.

The main decorative function of the Kopytnya is performed by leaves, which have a glossy surface and look great, filling the empty space under the crown of large trees and bushes, and also greening areas of land that do not differ in favorable conditions for other plants. The hoof gets along with all types of crops, both coniferous and deciduous.

The hoof is planted when decorating flower beds and borders, as well as rockeries, which are built in dark places closed from sunlight. This plant looks great among the stones in the rock garden.

Clefthoof goes well with forest plants that are grown in the same conditions. These are, for example, fern, lily of the valley and others. In addition to the joint compositions, this plant is cultivated in hanging pots as a free-standing houseplant. The culture is not distinguished by great vigor of growth, therefore, it is often not necessary to transplant it. In summer, you can take it out in the loggia, on the balcony, as well as on the street.

Grass Hoof: photo

Clefthoof growing rules

The features of the plant include a very long lifespan of a perennial, which can grow up to 30 years in one place, a low growth rate of the plant and late flowering. When growing, it should be borne in mind that this plant is a forest plant, so it will feel better in conditions close to a forest.

The clefthoof grows well in nature and fills the soil under the crown of large overgrown trees on the site. On the site, you should choose similar places that are closed from the sun and drafts. However, if you plant the clefthoof in a sunny spot, the plant will grow and please the eye as well.

The soil must be necessarily light, loose, so that air and water circulate freely in the root system. Acidity is suitable here neutral or moderate. You can use loamy soil mixtures and pre-apply peat, sand and humus before planting.

Since the hoof is a very moisture-loving plant, and moisture is characteristic, especially for the lower tier of the forest, it is necessary to regularly and abundantly water the perennial, especially if the summer is dry and there is very little rainfall.

The ground cover does not need special formation, since it has a very low growth force and does not have the ability to occupy large areas in a short time. The flower stalks are short and do not stand out among the foliage, which saves the gardener from regular pruning.

In the preparatory measures before the winter period, the European clefthoof does not require, because it is a frost-resistant plant. If you grow those species that are native to warm countries, and these include Brilliant, Japanese and Three-footed clefthoof, then you need to protect and shelter them before the winter period with the help of spruce branches or fallen leaves and grass.

Grass Hoof: photo

Reproduction

The hoof in the wild reproduces both vegetatively and with the help of seeds. Gardeners rarely use seed propagation of the hoof as it is a very long process that requires a lot of time and effort. Moreover, the plants themselves, which have grown from seeds, grow very slowly. It is much easier to use a vegetative reproduction method. The division of an adult bush is usually used. To do this, you need to choose the most powerful and healthy bush of the plant, dig it up and shake off the excess soil, while examining the root system. Carefully separate a part of the plant, keeping a few leaves on it. You can do without digging a bush and divide it with a shovel right in the ground. The separated part is planted immediately to a new permanent place. Before this, it is necessary to water the planting site abundantly.

Seating several parts, it is necessary to maintain a distance of about 30 cm. The optimal period for dividing the bush is early spring, before the formation of buds.

Grass Hoof: photo

Diseases and pests

Like any garden crops, this plant can be affected by various pests. Common ones are slugs and snails. There are usually not many of them, so they are destroyed mechanically. In general, this culture has a high immunity to diseases and pests.

Conclusion

Clefthoof is an unpretentious and evergreen plant that is distinguished by the beauty of its leaves, forming a rug in empty areas. In addition, the plant is unpretentious and can grow in the shade, so anyone can grow it on the site.

Grass Hoof: video about the plant