The flower that fears cold the least, it can bloom even at minus 20 degrees, takes 5 years to bear fruit, and is revered as a divine thing
There are many peculiar plants in this world, some extremely heat-tolerant, some extremely cold-tolerant. In the plateau mountain regions of our country, there is a flower known as the one that fears cold the least in the world, able to grow under extremely cold conditions. Its seeds can germinate at 0 degrees, and its seedlings can grow and bloom at minus 20 degrees. This plant not only has to fight against freezing temperatures, but also cope with the thin oxygen of the plateau region, so its growing environment can truly be called extremely harsh. But it is precisely this extreme environment that creates its unique medicinal value, making it very precious.
This flower is called "alpine snow lotus" (Saussurea involucrata), mainly distributed in the Tianshan, Kunlun, and Altai mountains of our country, among which the one produced in the Tianshan region is also called "Tianshan snow lotus." People who like martial arts novels should be familiar with this name; in martial arts novels, the Tianshan snow lotus has always been regarded as a miracle cure that can "bring the dead back to life," and its appearance always triggers a scramble for it. In real life, the Tianshan snow lotus does not have the effect of "bringing the dead back to life," but is regarded as a top-grade tonic.
The Tianshan snow lotus takes five years from germination to blooming, and its flowering period lasts as long as 8 months. The blooming snow lotus can be used as medicine and has been a precious medicinal herb since ancient times, mainly used to warm the kidneys and boost yang, dispel wind and dampness, and promote menstruation and blood circulation; it is a tonic for treating various cold-related conditions. The Tianshan snow lotus is very hard to come by, because due to illegal poaching, it could once be seen at lower altitudes, but now it can only be seen at altitudes of 3000-5000 m. Wild Tianshan snow lotus is now a nationally protected plant and must not be illegally dug up.
The Tianshan snow lotus is regarded by local herders as a "divine thing" and a "holy object." In the past, when herders saw a blooming snow lotus on the road, they would feel very happy, believing it could bring good fortune and that everything would go as they wished, and they would not easily dig it up. Herders would also collect the water droplets on the snow lotus, believing that drinking the water on a holy object could cure illness and ward off evil, and prolong life, so they cherished the snow lotus very much. Later, as the value of the snow lotus was discovered, a large amount of illegal poaching turned it into an endangered plant, and today it is already very difficult to see snow lotus flowers in areas below 3000 m.
Because snow lotus flowers are collected by pulling them up roots and all, they will not grow again after being picked, and each one picked means one fewer left, so when you see a wild snow lotus flower, do not pick it; we must protect our country's rare resources.