Asparagus

(Asparagus officinalis)

Other Names:
Garden asparagus, sparrow graww

Range:


Family:
Asparagaceae - Asparagus Family

Growth Type:
Herbaceous perennial

Height:
Can grow to 5 feet tall.

Leaves:
The leaves are actually leaf scales along the stems. What appear to be the leaves of the older plant are in fact multi branched modified stems approximately 1¼ inch long and 1/32 inch wide. These 'false leaves' are clustered together in groups of as many as 15, and they grow from the axils of the actual leaf scales.

Stem/Trunk:
Stems are stout and branching in the older plant. The young shoots are harvested before the bud starts to open, typically when less than 1 foot tall. After the buds open the stems become too fibrous to eat.

Root:
The root is referred to as a crown.

Flower Appearance:
The greenish-white to yellowish bell shaped flowers are approximately ¼ inch long, with six tepals partially fused together at the base. They grow singly or in clusters of two or three at branches.

Seed/Fruit:
The toxic fruit is a red berry approximately ¼ inch in diameter.

Miscellaneous characteristics:
text

Habitat:
Asparagus prefers full sun and disturbed soils. It can be found along ditches, on abandoned homesteads, and along forest margins.

Parts Used:
Young shoots

Culinary Uses:
The young shoots can be eaten raw, or as a cooked vegetable. Older stems may be peeled to remove the fibrous outer layer, and cooked.

The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.

Energetics
Taste: Sweet
Thermal: Cooling
Humidity: Moistening

Medicinal Uses:
Treats Cancer, Carcinoma
A volume diuretic for anabolic individuals with chronic hyperacidic urine and high specific gravity. Use to increase urine output for the treatment of edema and gravel. Effectively treats autoimmune disorders like crohn's disease, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc., by modulating the immune system. A russian study demonstrated that I. obiquus efectively cured psoriasis. May be effective in the treatment of congestive heart failure. May help slow or stop the growth of cancerous tumors. As demostrated by Wang et al. (2012) that A. officinalis saponins (SSA) inhibit the viability of various cancer cells including breast, colon, and pancreatic.

Medicinal Actions:
Analgesic, Antifungal, Antihydrotic, Antihypertensive, Anti-Inflammatory, Antilithic, Antineoplastic, Antioxidant, Cardiac, Carminative, Diuretic, Hypoglycemic, Sedative