Asphodelaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Asphodelus aestivus

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Asphodelus aestivus is a herbaceous perennial plant that can be evergreen in mild winter areas. The plant produces one or more rosettes of long, spear-shaped leaves and one to several flowering stems up to 2 metres tall. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental. Although the exact range extent of this species is slightly unclear, even under the smallest estimate of only occurring in the Iberian Peninsula it does not meet the thresholds for a threatened rating. It is recorded as common and abundant in places, has been observed relatively recently, occurrs in some protected areas and is under no specific threat. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouthwest Europe - Portugal Spain. The plant probably also has a wider range in the Mediterranean from France to Greece and possibly also in N. Africa

HabitatRocky places, hills, dry places[ 89 Title Flowers of the Mediterranean. Publication Author Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Publisher Hogarth Press Year 1987 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1 Description A very readable pocket flora that is well illustrated. Gives some information on plant uses. ] and on poor uncultivated ground[ 42 Title Hardy Bulbs.; Including Half-hardy Bulbs and Tuberous and Fiberous-rooted Plants Publication Author Grey. C. H. Publisher Williams & Norgate. Year 1938 ISBN - Description Rather dated now, but an immense work on bulbs for temperate zones and how to grow them. Three large volumes. ]. Dry grassland and rocky or sandy ground[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].