Lofant is a Tibetan honey plant, the seeds of which are increasingly being distributed in the domestic market and via the Internet. Unfortunately, there was a lot of confusion with the varieties of this plant – the risk of acquiring the wrong variety for our beekeepers is a very real prospect.
Therefore, let’s talk in more detail about the most famous types of lofant, and about their true value for our apiaries.
The content of the article
- 1 Types and distribution
- 2 Description and difference of varieties
- 2.1 How to distinguish
- 3 Agrotechnics
- 4 Honey productivity
- 5 Useful Properties
Types and distribution
The scientific name for any type of lofant is a multi-grate. It belongs to the genus of the same name, which, in turn, is part of the family of lamines.
Only two species are grown near apiaries:
- Tibetan or wrinkled polygrizzlyoften called Korean mint. The area of this plant is East Asia. It is it that is able to take root and grow well in the conditions of the Russian climate.
- Anise or fennel multicolor (in Russia it is better known as anise lofant). The homeland of this honey plant is North America. Here he gives a strong bribe of pollen and nectar, but in the Russian regions he shows himself mediocre. Moreover, it freezes out for 2-3, and sometimes even for the first year of cultivation, as it tolerates winter temperatures only up to -8, -10 degrees.
Description and difference of varieties
Tibetan variety is a perennial semi-herbaceous shrub, reaching a height of 1-1,2 meters. The plant has tetrahedral stems, oval leaves with jagged edges. Small white flowers are collected in 20-centimeter spikelets, crowning the tops of the stems and lateral branches.
The smell of the inflorescences is mild, aniseed – hence the confusion with another variety of the multifilament!
This plant is traditionally used in India, Nepal, China to obtain a medicinal variety of honey.
American (aniseed or fennel) species in their homeland they are called Mexican mint, nettle-leaved grate. It is also a perennial with erect, ribbed stems. Such stems, despite the impressive height of up to 1,5 meters, are soft to the touch – they easily break when pressed. Leaves are elongated, lanceolate, serrated along the perimeter.
In its homeland, the lofant is anise melliferous plant, which brings good yields of marketable honey. In North America, a specific variety with a bright aniseed aroma is obtained from it – for this, the plant is specially planted in large areas near apiaries.
It blooms with purple or dark pink small flowers, collected in spikelets. Inflorescences bloom for a long period from May-June to September, depending on the climatic characteristics of the region.
In European countries with a suitable mild climate, the variety is grown in gardens as an ornamental and spice plant. In particular, the leaves with a strong smell of anise are used to flavor dishes from meat, fish, salads. And from dried raw materials, including stems and flowers, they prepare medicinal and refreshing teas.
How to distinguish
The main differences between the varieties:
- the difference in the color of the spikelets – white in the Tibetan variety, purple in the American one (aniseed or fennel);
- the difference in the structure of the leaves – lanceolate, slightly elongated, in the American, almost oval in the Tibetan variety;
- the difference in height – the American variety is higher – up to 1,5 meters.
However, sometimes it is extremely difficult to distinguish a variety by eye due to the work of breeders. In this case, the correct conclusion can only be made by an experienced biologist who is well acquainted with the plant.
Agrotechnics
Both varieties are propagated by seeds, which are formed on an adult plant from the second year of life. Each spikelet ripens 8-10 seeds.
They are sown in the spring, taking into account the dimensions of the future shrub – in diameter, each stem, together with the branches, can take up to 50 centimeters. The recommended row spacing is 60-70 cm, the distance between plants in a row is not less than 40 cm, the seeding depth is 2-2,5 cm.
Sowing is carried out only in wet soil!
Reproduction by seedlings is considered more reliable and productive – after all, flowering will begin from the first year. Seeds are sown in early spring in boxes or in open ground under a film. Water well. The seed can be pre-soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate, dried and cooled for a day using a refrigerator shelf.
Seedlings appear in 5-6 days. Water them with the addition of a drop of boric acid solution per liter of water to combat the “black leg”.
In the ground, seedlings from boxes are transferred simultaneously with the planting of tomatoes or a week before them. Row spacing 60-70 cm, row spacing 25-30 cm.
In the first year, the plants are regularly watered, loosened the soil, and removed weeds. In the fall, the tops with spikelets are cut off (12-15 cm from the ground), and the bushes are spud up before winter. The resulting green mass is dried under a canopy. It is used for baths or inhalation for colds, conservation, culinary purposes.
From about the third year of life, the plantings do not require such careful maintenance. They themselves displace all weeds from the occupied area, and fully adapt to the new place. But they continue to cut off the tops in the fall to obtain medicinal raw materials and seeds.
Important: the anise variety (the one that comes from America), including English selection, freezes out completely for 2-3 years at the latitude of Moscow. The zones recommended for cultivation are the southern strip (south of 45 degrees), southern Ukraine.
The Tibetan variety, like the American one, blooms from the second year of life with normal seed propagation. The pleasant smell of blossoming flowers attracts bees and other pollinating insects like bumblebees and dragonflies.
Note: Any multicolor does not tolerate waterlogged soils! In conditions of high humidity, plants die.
Honey productivity
In the conditions of Russia flowering Tibetan variety starts in mid-July and lasts until early autumn.
From the second year of life and the beginning of friendly flowering, one hectare of plantations gives from 350 to 400 kg of marketable honey.
The plant tolerates severe winters and summer droughts well. The productivity of nectar and pollen is practically independent of weather conditions.
In the conditions of the domestic climate, this type of honey can be mixed with the nectar of other plants – a monofloral honey is obtained, which has a herbaceous aroma with a light note of anise.
In the climatic conditions of the United States, the anise species of the multicolor has a honey productivity from 300 to 500 kg per hectare. It is a light commercial grade with a pronounced aniseed aroma.
Useful Properties
The Tibetan grape variety is an excellent immunity stimulant.
Starting from the second year of its cultivation, you can cut the green mass for medicinal purposes twice a season:
- at the end of flowering (cut 40 cm from the ground);
- and after the autumn collection of seeds (15 cm from the ground).
In addition to obtaining medicinal decoctions, water infusions, the plant is added in dry crushed form when baking bread and confectionery products, preserving vegetables, and preparing drinks.
This perennial contains valuable essential oils that, when mixed with honey, contribute to:
- relieving stress and fatigue (according to reviews, it is enough just to sit by the flowering garden for half an hour to recuperate!);
- elimination of inflammatory processes in the stomach and intestines;
- relief from acute respiratory infections, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma;
- normalization of metabolic processes in the body.
Outwardly, honey is added to cosmetic and medical masks. It fights against fungal skin lesions, promotes facial rejuvenation, prevents hair loss.
The honey from the multicolor is especially useful for men. It is used for impotence and inflammation of the prostate gland.
Note: However, with all the healing properties of the lofant, there are serious contraindications for taking it. Decoctions and preparations from it are not used after surgical interventions, as well as in oncology. It is also undesirable to use lofant honey in such conditions.
