Water Nut (Chilim)

Currently, a lot of plants are listed in the Red Book of our country. Water walnut (Chilim) - a plant that has a very unusual and interesting appearance, is also included in the protection book. Of particular interest is the fact that on ripe fruits, unusual processes are formed, resembling horns. This plant has a lot of useful properties, however, currently this culture is on the verge of extinction. Chilim, as you might have guessed, grows mainly on water bodies, it is used in many areas of human activity, for example, in cooking and traditional medicine. Today we will tell you how where you can find this plant in our country, what it looks like, and why the water nut got such an interesting name. At the end, we will share with you the secrets of using this culture in cooking and medicine, and also tell you about the rules for growing this plant in your backyards near water bodies.

Water walnut: description

Chilim water nut: photo

The name Chilim, as the water nut is called, came from the Turks. In translation, this name means a smoking pipe, the name is more understandable to us - water nut, however, at present, this culture has other names as well. Due to the fact that shoots resembling horns are formed on the nuts, the water nut is called the devil, this plant is also called the floating flyer, as well as the floating nut. Due to the fact that the water nut grows in water bodies, naturally, this culture is called the water nut. It is believed that this plant is very ancient, so where exactly this culture spread across the globe is not known for certain, we can only assert that the self-name Chilim is of Turkic origin.

Water walnut: characteristics and features

Chilim water nut: photo

The fruits of the water nut begin to form in the fall, they are usually small in length, no more than a few centimeters, the width of the nut is no more than 2.5 cm.However, the fruits themselves are considered quite heavy, therefore air chambers are formed inside the fruit, due to which the nuts stick water surface. More than 10 fruits are formed on one plant of the water nut. They usually have a fairly dense shell, and the growths frighten animals and birds, as you remember, it is because of these horns that the nut is called devilish. Fish do not eat it either. These plants start to rot in late autumn, but the fruits remain ripe for a long time. In the spring, the nuts germinate, which means that new ones are formed next to this plant. However, if unfavorable climatic conditions have developed in the reservoir, then the fruits will wait in the wings, nuts can lie at the bottom of the pond for a long time, it is believed that even for tens of years. Moreover, it is important to note that after a long period of time the nuts will be able to germinate again. If you open the shell of the fruit, you will see large seeds of a characteristic white color. They occupy all the internal space. This is the nut. It is believed that these damn fruits appeared on our planet millions of years ago. Ancient people have long used this product by eating raw nuts.

And in eastern countries, the water nut chilim was even used for medicinal purposes. Needless to say, many people still use this product in cooking. An interesting fact, this plant was even grown in China in order to pamper yourself with delicious dishes. However, in our country, water nuts were fried, baked, eaten raw. Sometimes waternuts were dried, then heavily chopped and added to dishes.Back in the last century, Russians and Ukrainians often ate waternuts. However, due to the fact that the climatic conditions have changed somewhat, nowadays in many regions you can no longer find the water nut. In our country, Chilim still grows in the east, in Western Siberia, in the Dnieper region, as well as in some other regions. You can find it in some Asian countries. The best conditions for the growth of a water nut are stagnant waters, where the flow is either absent or very slow. This culture grows well on a muddy bottom, in swamps and lakes. However, the water must be clean, if the reservoir is polluted, then the water nut may die. It is very difficult to grow Chilim at home, therefore this plant is listed in the Red Book. As you remember, water walnut belongs to the rogues. The water walnut is considered a one-year-old, so it is difficult to grow it. And in its natural habitat, this plant is currently very rare, this culture blooms only in the heat, and in European countries this plant is practically not found. Shoots of water walnut are long, flexible enough. The foliage is oval or diamond-shaped in shape, denticles are formed along the edges, so the leaves are very similar to birch. When the water nut begins to develop, it takes root at the bottom, and grows in the thickness. Due to the fact that the fabric is breathable, the nuts do not sink, but are located on the water surface, as you remember, there are small air chambers inside the nut. Water walnut blooms in summer, the plant forms not very large flowers, white, their petals are black. And due to the fact that the buds are formed by the water nut under water, you can see them only in the morning or in the evening. Interestingly, the culture is pollinated even when the buds are still closed. Due to the fact that the plants are self-pollinated, fruits are often formed in it. When the culture dies, the seeds of the water walnut wait in the wings; in unfavorable climatic conditions, the nuts are able to lie at the bottom for tens of years without losing their properties.

Water nut: benefits

Chilim water nut: photo

As we noted earlier, water walnut is used in traditional medicine. In our country, not everyone knows about its beneficial properties, but in eastern countries practically not a single recipe of traditional medicine can do without this product. Healers used water walnut to treat diseases of the genitourinary system, cope with tumors, diarrhea, and fight stress. It is believed that nuts do an excellent job with viruses, so they were eaten even when a person had a sore throat, this product is able to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, it also relieves pain and heals open wounds. This product is able to improve the vitality of the body, it helps a person recover from any diseases. Let's say that not only the fruits themselves, but also the green part of the plant, including the flowers, are used in folk medicine. This water product can be consumed by absolutely everyone, however, before using this or that preparation containing a nut, it is still better to consult a doctor, so do not self-medicate.

Application

Chilim water nut: photo

And now water nut is used by many healers and healers. As we noted earlier, this plant helps to get rid of inflammatory processes, diseases of the gallbladder, kidneys, genitourinary system, as well as other ailments. This plant is used by culinary specialists and cosmetologists. Various tinctures and decoctions are prepared from it. Chillim water walnut is both taken internally and used for external application, lotions are made from water walnut juice, and the mouth cavity is rinsed with tinctures. Very often the fruits are dried, after which they are crushed and added to various decoctions.In Altai, amulets and various souvenirs were made from water walnut. It is interesting that even animals were fed with water nuts, but at present this product is practically not used, but even now these fruits can be easily added to various salads, there will be no harm from them, unless of course you have an individual intolerance to this product. In folk medicine, it is customary to use both stems and flowers, and the fruits of this plant. As we noted earlier, with the help of this product you can cope with vascular diseases, infections of the genitourinary system, with the help of a water nut, you can get rid of eye diseases, food poisoning, as well as increase immunity, and normalize the nervous system. Healers used water walnut in order to avoid adverse effects from the bites of various insects, and the juice of the leaves is still used to treat diseases of the eyes, as well as the throat. In order to get rid of sore throat, it is recommended to dilute 15 ml of juice in pure water and rinse the throat with this composition two to three times a day. In order to strengthen the body, you can use the dried leaves and flowers of the plant. If you have a weakened immune system, often suffers from various ailments of the gastrointestinal tract, then you can use various tinctures from this product. However, you should still consult your doctor first, otherwise you may harm yourself and your body. But there will be no benefit from such self-medication. As we noted earlier, water walnut can be eaten even fresh, it is added to various desserts and salads. The fruit tastes good, very juicy. Sometimes the nuts are steamed and also baked. This fruit tastes a bit like a chestnut. Many culinary specialists dry water nuts and then grind them into flour, from this mixture they bake bread, pancakes and pancakes. Nuts and apples go well. And here is the promised recipe. Take 100 g of peeled nuts, stew them a little in slightly salted water, add some apples, previously cut into pieces, to them, and boil the mixture again. After that, add a little sugar and butter there, served hot on the table. Not everyone knows, but you can use water walnut for cosmetic purposes. This product has high tonic properties, so if you have any rashes on your skin, then you can wipe these places with the juice of this plant. Combination or oily skin after such masks will become softer and more tender. So, as you understand, this product has a lot of useful properties, in addition to its unusual appearance, water walnut is often used for culinary, cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Special amulets for the house are even made from it.

Water walnut: planting

We are sure that after such a detailed description of the beneficial properties of this amazing plant, many of you wanted to grow a water nut in your personal plot. If you have a small pond or aquarium with a dense layer of soil at the bottom, then you may well try to do this. Of course, growing a water nut is not an easy process, but it's still worth trying. The temperature on the site should be high enough, the seeds of this culture are planted in the spring. However, before placing them in a pond, you should soak the nuts in camphor alcohol for a while, and then carefully remove the shell from it so that the water nut develops. These fruits are planted in small containers, which are filled with silt in advance. If you do everything right, the first sprout will appear soon enough, which means that the nut has begun to develop. When the first leaves appear on the water nut, you must transplant the plant into a clean body of water. If the water is dirty, the plant will not develop, so if necessary, change the water in the aquarium or in an artificial lake, in a pond.If, after a month, the nut has not begun to bloom, then the plant usually dies. In order for the seeds to remain intact and unharmed, there should not be any large mollusks in the reservoir, they love to feast on this plant.

Conclusion

Chilim water nut: video

Of course, water walnut is very difficult to find in its natural habitat, however, despite the fact that water walnut is included in the Red Book of our country, it is quite possible to buy it. And if you follow all the recommendations, then it is quite possible to grow this plant in an aquarium or reservoir. Do not forget about the wonderful beneficial properties of the water nut, this culture is indeed extremely unusual and interesting, which means that it is worth planting Chilim on your site.