Knyazhenika (scientific name Rubus arcticus) is a plant with nutritious and juicy berries that grows in many regions of the Russian Federation (in particular, in Karelia, the Far East, Siberia). However, you can see the princess on the territory of the Scandinavian states, for example, in Sweden. In the Swedish province of Norbotten, the princess was even chosen as the official flower emblem.
The main features of the princess
The princess is a low perennial plant with a creeping rhizome (it is located in the ground at a depth of twenty-five centimeters). The princess has branching stems, and this plant does not form the so-called mustache. The leaves of the princess to a certain extent resemble strawberry leaves, and the fruit has common features with blackberries or raspberries and weighs about 1-2 grams.
This berry is distinguished by a bright sour-sweet taste, and in its aroma you can catch something similar to an exotic pineapple. It is possible to meet the princess in deciduous or coniferous forests, in wet meadows, near swamps, lakes and rivers.
The flowering princess usually starts in the last days of May and lasts, as practice shows, from 25 to 35 days. It is quite easy to recognize its flowers - they open one at a time at the tips of the shoots and have at least five petals of a purple-pink hue.
In medieval Russia, this berry was highly respected - it was simply eaten and used for medicinal purposes. In Karelian settlements from ancient times princes were engaged in cultivation on purpose. In different sources, you can find other names for this berry - raspberry, mamura, moss raspberry, prince's berry, drupe.
Growing in the country
The prince takes root in new places practically without problems and does not require super-complicated care. It can be grown in summer cottages, you just need to provide conditions close to natural. It is advisable to plant at least two different varieties of the princess at the same time, since this berry needs cross-pollination.
It should be remembered that the final color of the princess's fruit will depend on the level of illumination. If the sun is not enough, the berries will turn out to be red and white. And with an abundance of sunlight, you can get dark cherry berries.
The collection of the princess is held up to three times per season, in July and August. And, as a rule, in the northern regions the yields of the princess are noticeably higher than in the southern ones (because the northern climate suits her better).
The benefits of the fruits and leaves of the princess
The princess has a lot of carbohydrates, there is glucose and fructose, citric and malic acids, tannins (tannins) and volatile essential oils. In addition, the berries (as well as the leaves) contain saponins and flavonoids in significant doses.
Princess berries are allowed to be eaten both immediately after collection and in processed form. They are quite suitable for making jams, compotes, a variety of liqueurs and juices. The drink from the newly collected princess helps to bring down the rising temperature, relieves thirst on hot days, tones up and has a general strengthening effect. Pre-dried leaves of this plant can also go into action - you can brew wonderful herbal tea from them.
