Let’s learn about the care of Ononis natrix or Herb melera
Ononis natrix also known as Pega moscas, Gavo, Melera or Hierba melera . It belongs to the legume family, order of the fabales. Its origin is from the western Mediterranean.
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Characteristics of the Ononis natrix
Herbaceous plant that can grow up to 60 cm in height. The stems are abundant and branched at the base.
The leaves are trifoliate, with short petioles, with oval and serrated leaflets, of a light green color.
The flowers are axillary, 2 cm, yellow and fragrant, with the calyx of 5 triangular, elongated sepals, with long, glandular hairs. The corolla is yellow and the banner is lined with red veins. It blooms between April and August.
The fruit is a downy and downy legume, inside which the seeds are housed, brown in color and kidney-shaped.
Ononis natrix care
In nature it occurs in dry and stony disturbed areas. While in gardening it is not used as a decorative plant, but it could be used for its flowers.
It requires exposure to full sun. In addition, it supports mild frosts.
It is a species that requires a dry, loose and well-drained soil for it to develop optimally.
Although it is able to withstand drought, irrigation is good in flowering, as long as there is no humidity.
Pruning can be done to shape or remove faded flowers.
It reproduces by means of seeds.
Applications
It is considered a plant with medicinal properties. Regarding the root, it is used as a cleanser, diuretic and anti-inflammatory of the urinary tract.
How to use:
Cooking: you must put 50 g of roots in a liter of cold water. Then boil and let stand until cool. Take 4 to 5 cups a day.
Maceration : pour a liter of cold water into a container and add 60 g of crumbled dry root. Let stand for 12 hours. Drink 5 cups throughout the day.
Wine : marinate for 10 days, 50 g of dried root in a liter of dry white wine. Drink 3 glasses a day.
Powder : crush the dry root.
Perhaps, it is an undervalued plant to have in the garden. However, its properties stand out, which are beneficial for health.
But do you know it? Did you know about its properties?
Images courtesy of: Pedro L. Méndez , Donald Hobern ,
