Asparagaceae FAMILY

Asparagus racemosus

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

5/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Asparagus racemosus is a perennial, usually climbing, plant producing stems up to 7 metres tall from a tuberous rootstock. A famous Ayurvedic medicinal herb, it is said to be particularly useful as a women's herb. It is commonly harvested from the wild to the extent that overcollection in some areas of its range are causing conservation concerns[ 272 Title Plants and People of Nepal Publication Author Manandhar. N. P. Publisher Timber Press. Oregon. Year 2002 ISBN 0-88192-527-6 Description Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeWidespread from tropical Africa through Arabia, tropical Asia to northern Australia

HabitatFound at elevations up to 1,200 metres in the Himalayas, eastwards from Kashmir[ 240 Title Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Publication Author Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Publisher Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. Year 1986 ISBN - Description Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader. ]. Broad-leaved forests along streams or valleys at elevations of 2,100 - 2,200 metres in western China[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].