Polygamine Actinidia: Description, Varieties, Properties and Applications

Actinidia is a plant that is popular in South-East Asia and the Far East.Gardeners of central Russia probably didn’t even think about growing such an exotic liana on their land, because its homeland is subtropical forests. The most popular well-known variety of actinidia is kiwi (Chinese actinidia), and we will talk about the less common form - actinidia of polygamy.

Polygamine actinidia (polygamous) is a shrub vine. This means that if the plant finds support for itself, then it winds around it and grows up to 5 meters in length. In the case of growth in the dunes has the appearance of a low bush - up to half a meter tall. In a wild growing environment grows in the forests of Primorsky Krai of Russia, it is successfully grown by gardeners.

The liana has large green leaves of an ovoid shape with a pointed end (for this actinidia polygamous is also called “nose”), reaching 15 cm in size, the edges have a saw-like shape. The leaves have an unusual feature - at any time during the growing season of the plant, they can change color, their tips can turn white, and sometimes silvery streaks appear on the surface. The branches of the creepers are covered with flaky red-brown bark; young stems have a gray tint.

Flowering of actinidia polygamus lasts for a month, from the first days of June. The plant is dioecious, that is, flowers of different sexes are on different plants - they do not differ much in appearance, only in that male flowers grow in bundles of 2-3 pieces, and female flowers grow one by one. Flowers form in the axils at the leaf on fresh branches, they have a very pleasant bright aroma, similar to jasmine. Polygamous actinidia differs from other varieties in its precocity, the berries often ripen in late August - early September.

The fruits are small (about 3 grams) with a large number of seeds (more than 100), ripe - bright orange in color, have an elongated shape of a cylinder with a sharp end. In the unripe form, the fruits of this plant have a very spicy taste (therefore, polygamous actinidia is sometimes called “spicy fruit” or simply “pepper”). In the ripe form (if the harvest is carried out after frosts), the actinidia berries have the taste of sweet pepper with a hint of figs.

Allocate the following.

• "Apricot". This variety is the only one included in the state register of breeding achievements. Positive qualities of "Apricot" is resistance to pests and diseases, high sugar content of fruits, and, accordingly, a pleasant taste - sweet and sour, with notes of pepper. Fruits up to 5 grams in weight, bright orange, ripen in early September. Among the shortcomings - low frost resistance, in winter you need to cover. This variety is self-infertile, so on the site you need to have at least 2 plants for fruiting - female and male.
• "Beta". This variety stands out against the other high in vitamin A (6.5 mg per 100 grams of fruit). The weight of the cylindrical berries does not exceed 4 grams. The color of the fruit is orange with red hues. Ripening berries occur in the middle - end of September. The plant is self-infertile, you need a male pollinator.
• Perchik. A variety on which breeders have high hopes. Of the features - the highest content of vitamin C - 215 mg per 100 grams of berries. This is more than 300% of the daily norm for a person. In addition, Perchik is considered one of the large-fruited varieties - the weight of the berries reaches 6 grams. The taste is also distinguished due to the high content of sugars (14%) and considerable acidity (0.65%). The taste is reminiscent of a mixture of sweet peppers and figs.

• "Firebird". Against other varieties vividly stands out for its sharp burning taste. Large-fruited variety - berries up to 6 grams in weight. Berries are dark orange. Maturity occurs in mid to late September.
• "Yellow Spindle". The berries are orange-red, large - up to 6.5 grams in weight, sweet, fig-pepper taste. The plant is self-infertile. Ripening later.
• "Zlata". At the moment, one of the highest yields of actinidia gives this particular variety, while the berries are large - up to 6.5 grams, the taste is pleasant, sweet. Ripening is more late.
• "Forest". The largest berries of polygamous actinidia, clearly belong to this variety. Fruits reach a maximum of almost 8 grams. Taste fig-pepper. Ripening is more late.

In the countries of Southeast Asia, all parts of the actinidium plant are used. So, crushed and dried roots with berries are used as an anesthetic, and infusions of seeds and branches for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Actinidia seeds contain almost all of the essential fatty acids vital for the body — omega-3, omega-6, and others. The berries of this plant are saturated with large concentrations of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), provitamin A, thiamine and rutin. In addition, the fruit contains pectins, tannins and fiber. Such a composition makes the fruit extremely useful. Actions that have berries on the body:

• normalization of the cardiovascular system;
• strengthening the immune system, increasing resistance to viral diseases;
• elimination of toxins from the body;
• anthelmintic agent;
• relief from diseases of the respiratory system - bronchitis and tuberculosis.

There is a list of diseases in which the use of actinidia berries can harm a person:

• idiosyncrasy, allergic reaction;
• elevated blood hemoglobin levels;
• phlebeurysm;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with high acidity (gastritis, peptic ulcer);
• pregnancy.

Berries actinidia suitable for use as a raw, and as a component for desserts and salads. For example, from the fruits of this plant are obtained delicious fillers for baking - pies and buns. Actinidia makes excellent wines, marmalade and other homemade sweets. Berries are often dried or frozen for winter unchanged.

See how to plant actinidia and care for it in the next video.