If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Temperate Plants

Asparagus adscendens

Roxb.

Asparagaceae

+ Synonyms

Asparagopsis adscendens (Roxb.) Kunth

Asparagus satawur James A.Murray

Protasparagus adscendens (Roxb.) Kamble

Common Name:

Asparagus adscendens
Foliage
Photograph by: Atudu
Creative Commons License
Asparagus adscendens Asparagus adscendens

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 *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height0.00 m
PollinatorsBees
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

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 Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).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.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Asparagus+adscendens>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.