Asparagus adscendens
Roxb.
Asparagaceae
Asparagopsis adscendens (Roxb.) Kunth
Asparagus satawur James A.Murray
Protasparagus adscendens (Roxb.) Kamble
Common Name:
General Information
Asparagus adscendens is a prickly, evergreen scrambling, perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock. It has wiry stems that become more or less woody and can persist for several years.
The plant is harvested from the wild for mainly local use as a food and a medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
E. Asia - Afghanistan, Pakistan, western Himalayas
Habitat
Found especially in Sal forests in Uttar Pradesh. Found at elevations of 600 - 1,200 metres in the Himalayas
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Pollinators | Bees |
| Self-fertile | No |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
We hve no specific information for this plant, but species in this genus are generally easily grown in any good garden soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. Prefers a rich sandy loam[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Edible Uses
The plant is a source of a nutritious starch that can be used like salep (which is obtained from various species of orchid)[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. The white tuber is harvested in the autumn and dried. When required for use it is ground into a powder and about 200g placed in a cup with sugar according to taste. Hot water or milk is poured slowly over the powder, stirring all the time. The powder swells and the resulting drink has an agreeable, mucilaginous taste that was generally relished by Europeans living in India in the 19th century[
615- Title
- Pharmacographia Indica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dymock W.; Warden C.J.H.; Hooper D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Education Society's Press, Byculla; Mombai.
- Year
- 1890
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on the principal plant medicines encountered in India in the 19th century.
].
The young shoots are probably edible, used like asparagus[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
The roots are demulcent, diaphoretic, galactogogue and stimulant[
61- Title
- A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Usher. G.
- Publisher
- Constable
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0094579202
- Description
- Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
,
158- Title
- Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gupta. B. L.
- Publisher
- Forest Research Institute Press
- Year
- 1945
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A good flora for the middle Himalayan forests, sparsly illustrated. Not really for the casual reader.
,
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.
]. They are useful in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and general debility[
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.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring or as soon as the seed is ripe in early autumn in a greenhouse. It usually germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 25°c[
134- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 2.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Rice. G. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1988
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Division in early spring as the plant comes into growth.
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Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
