Southern wart Staphylea pinnata L. is a naturally occurring shrub in Central Europe. In Poland, it is found very rarely: in the wild in the south-eastern part of the country, in Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska and in Silesia. It grows naturally in thickets and on rocky slopes in warm places. Requires soils with a high calcium content. Growing in natural positions, it is subject to strict species protection.
The name "rosary bush" comes from the seeds of this original plant, which are used to make rosaries, and from hardwood, crosses. The type of Staphylea was already known in antiquity - the Celts and Slavs planted this plant on the mounds of their dead.It was also used for magical purposes because it was believed to protect against evil spirits and lightning.
Twigs of bobbins were used in the past to incense cattle before the first spring grazing in the meadows, they were also used to bless the fields. In eastern Poland, Easter palms were decorated with them or shoots with buds were placed in vases, accelerating their flowering to obtain a wonderful decoration for Easter. In the kitchen, flower buds were also used for pickling and served as a substitute for capers. Oil was pressed from the seeds and the rooms were lit.
The southern kłokoczka grows up to 2-5 m in height , has erect, quite stiff branches and shoots covered with white vertical stripes. The leaves have seasonal, pinnate, composed of 3-5 sharp-toothed leaves, which are arranged opposite on the stem and turn yellow in autumn. At the turn of May and June, white or pink flowers develop, gathered in a hanging panicle 15 cm long with a few inflorescences.
The bumblebee flowers are very honey-bearing and are an excellent benefit for bees. After flowering, the plant forms seed heads in the form of very nice, "puffed", 2-3-chamber bags with parchment walls, inside which there are large, very hard, brown, shiny seeds. The diameter of the seeds can be up to 1 cm, they also have a very characteristic flat mark. The seed heads are green at first and turn brown in autumn. When moved by the wind, they clack in a characteristic way - hence the Slavic name: kłokoczka.
This shrub grows in the garden practically well in any soil, but not too dry, preferably fertile and fresh, slightly acidic to alkaline. In the bed, the southern camel should be planted in a sunny or slightly shaded place. It is a real gardening rarity and it is quite rare in nurseries. Under no circumstances can it be obtained from natural sites, because it is legally protected.
