Тема 6 Spotlight on Russia ГДЗ Spotlight 8 класс
ACTIVITY Go on a nature walk in your local park or woodland and make a note of the plants you see. Did you see lily-of-the-valley?
DISCUSS Do you know any other traditional herbal medicines?
Russia has many beautiful plants and flowers, and one of the prettiest is the lily-of-the-valley. It is not just found in valleys, but in shaded areas in gardens and woods.
Many plants often grow close together to make large, dense patches.
Lily-of-the-valley has two broad glossy leaves at the base of the plant. Its flowers are small, white, fragrant and bell-shaped. The petals on each flower curl backwards and upwards at the tips. The flowers hang downwards from a single leafless stalk. In the autumn, it produces shiny red berries.
Pretty as it is, lily-of-the-valley is highly poisonous in every part. So it might surprise you to know that Russian peasants have long been using it as a traditional medicine! When collected, dried and prepared in the right way, the plant can be a remedy for a number of health conditions, mostly relating to the heart.
Mostly, people use lily-of-the-valley for decorating their homes or giving as a gift. It is also a popular flower in bridal bouquets. Today, people also like to see it growing in its natural surroundings, as a charming symbol of the Russian woodlands.
