Saturday02 November 2024
good-news.com.ua

A unique plant with multicolored leaves, originally from Crimea, has been spotted in Dnipropetrovsk region (PHOTO).

A unique shrub from Crimea has appeared in the city and its surroundings.
В Днепропетровской области обнаружили редкое растение с многоцветными листьями, привезенное из Крыма (ФОТО).

In the city of Dnipro, along the banks of the river, one can encounter a plant of incredible, mesmerizing beauty. This refers to the sumac, also known as the paradise tree. The autumn palette has transformed the shrub, coloring its leaves in vibrant, fiery hues—from scarlet to deep crimson. Photographs of this magical plant were shared in the Facebook community "Dnipro Rapids" by Vadim Manyuk. This was reported by "Vidomo".

This sprawling shrub (sometimes a small tree) is quite exotic for central Ukraine. Its natural habitat is typically confined to the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and Crimea, where it thrives best.

The sumac is the only representative of its genus in Ukraine, making its "discovery" here in Dnipro an even more significant event.

This raises the question: how did this plant end up so far from its usual growing areas? It may have been planted by humans, or the seeds could have been carried by the wind or birds. Further studies could shed light on this fascinating biological phenomenon.

The paradise tree is an undemanding plant, but it cannot survive everywhere. The sumac is very light-loving and prefers open, well-lit areas. It thrives on dry, rocky, calcareous, and chalky slopes.

Notably, the sumac demonstrates high resistance to air pollution, making it a potentially suitable plant for urban greening. The lifespan of this remarkable plant ranges from 80 to 100 years, indicating its longevity and ability to enhance landscapes for decades.

However, the beauty of the sumac is far from its only virtue. This plant possesses a number of beneficial properties that have been utilized by humans for centuries. Sumac is used to produce natural dyes, allowing the coloring of wool, silk, wood, and leather in various shades: yellow, brown, orange. The leaves provide black dye, while the roots yield red. This characteristic has made sumac a valuable resource for the textile industry and artisans.

The hard wood of the sumac, although not particularly strong, is used to make small carpentry items, souvenirs, and even musical instruments.

The leaves and flowers contain essential oil, which is used in perfumery, adding another aspect of practical application for the plant. Finally, sumac possesses valuable medicinal properties.

Additionally, this plant contains substances with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects, and tannin extracted from the plant finds applications in medicine, textile production, and winemaking.