Wheel cabbage, also known as plantain and wheel grass, is a very common herb in rural areas. Its name comes from its ubiquitous distribution, which can often be seen next to parked vehicles, hence the name wheel dish. This plant is widely distributed in the countryside, growing in the fields, in front of the house, and behind the house, and is an out-and-out farmer friend. It has a unique morphology and is highly recognizable for its ovoid leaves and whisker-like roots. Its spike-like pale green flowers and black-brown seeds add to its charm. According to records, wheel vegetables have a history of more than 2,500 years in China, as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty, there is a description of wheel vegetables in the Book of Songs. At present, wheel vegetables are widely distributed in various provinces of China, and are commonly found in fields and roadsides. In addition to being widely cultivated and ornamental, wheel vegetables also have a very practical value, especially for farmers. It has 4 major features, let's take a closer look at them below.
1. Wheel vegetables are eaten as wild vegetables and have a long history. According to historical records, wheel vegetables were eaten as wild vegetables as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty. There is also a record of the consumption method of wheel vegetables in the Ming Dynasty's "Materia Medica". In the spring, farmers will go to the field to pick the young stems and leaves of the wheel cabbage, clean it and blanch it with boiling water to remove the bitterness and then it can be mixed cold or fried. Wheel cabbage has an excellent taste, not only delicious, but also rich in nutrients, especially the calcium content is very high, it is a pure natural high-calcium wild vegetable. In addition, wheels also contain a variety of vitamins and proteins, making them suitable for people of all ages.
Second, wheel vegetables can make plantain tea. In addition to being eaten as a wild vegetable, plantain tea can also be used to make tea, especially for people with urinary tract problems, plantain tea has a good health effect. Plantain tea can be drunk by soaking the leaves of the cabbage in hot water, which has diuretic, heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. It can help relieve urinary tract infections, urethritis and other diseases, protect urinary tract health, and is a very beneficial herbal tea.
3. Wheel cabbage has high medicinal value and can be used in Chinese herbal medicine. Wheel cabbage is not only a high-quality wild vegetable, but also a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine. Its whole herb can be used for medicinal purposes, and has the effects of clearing heat and diuretic, expelling phlegm, cooling blood, and detoxifying. According to the ancient book "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica", wheel vegetables have the effects of analgesic, diuretic, dehumidification and paralysis, and long-term use can also delay aging. Therefore, in the folk, there are often people picking the leaves of wheel vegetables to cut wounds, and its medicinal value is recognized and loved by farmers.
Fourth, the wheel vegetable has high ecological value and can be used for soil fixation. Cranilla is an evergreen plant with strong vitality and adaptability. Even in the harsh winter months, the cabbage grows tenaciously. Therefore, in areas of landslides and soil erosion, if the seeds of C. carniflora are sown, it will grow rapidly and fix the soil, which is of great significance for preventing landslides and protecting the soil. Therefore, it has a high value in ecological environment restoration and land protection.
To sum up, as a common rural plant, in addition to its beautiful appearance and common distribution, it also has rich utilization value for farmers. It has been eaten as a wild vegetable for thousands of years and has advantages in both taste and nutrition. Cabbage can also be used to make plantain tea, which has a good health care effect on urethral system problems. As a Chinese herbal medicine, it has the effects of clearing heat, diuretic, detoxifying, etc., and is widely used in folk medicine. In addition, the cabbage also has high ecological value and plays an important role in soil fixation and ecological environment restoration. Therefore, farmers can make good use of wheeled vegetables in their daily lives to play a variety of functions and bring benefits to themselves and the environment.