African asparagus | |
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Scientific classification
![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Asparagaceae |
Subfamily: | Asparagoideae |
Genus: | Asparagus |
Species: | A. africanus
|
Binomial name | |
Asparagus africanus | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Asparagus africanus, also known as African asparagus, bush asparagus, wild asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, ornamental asparagus and sparrow grass, is an African species of plant that is found in a variety of habitats. It has multiple medicinal properties and is used to treat various ailments.
Asparagus africanus is a spiny shrub up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall or a climbing plant with stems up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long. [2] Stems of up to 5 m (16 ft) long have also been recorded. [3] These plants have a rhizomatous root system, from which they can reshoot. [2] [3] Multiple stems grow from a central crown. [3] Bunches of cladodes (modified branchlets) occur at the leaf scales. Each ends in a sharp point. [2] [4] These look fern-like, giving rise to one of this species' common names (climbing asparagus fern). [3]
The plant produces white flowers, which, like the leaves, grow in clusters. [2] They have three sepals and three petals, which are similar in appearance. The six white filaments have yellow anthers. [4] Flowers are present between August and December. [2] The colour and the scent of these flowers attract insects, which pollinate the flowers. [4]
Plants produce round fruits. These are red when ripe and shrivel to reveal a single black seed. [3] These fruits may also be eaten by mammals and birds, aiding in dispersal. [4] Fruits may be present at any time of the year, assuming that conditions are suitable. [4] These berries contain toxic compounds, such as furostanol and may cause pain and vomiting.
Asparagus africanus is a widely distributed species. It is found across most of Africa, as well as the Arabian Peninsula and India. [5] It grows in a variety of habitats, ranging from rainforests to grasslands to semi-deserts. [4] The plant can grow rapidly. In its climbing state it can quickly come to dominate the canopy, outcompeting other species. [3] It has also become naturalised in parts of Australia after being introduced as an ornamental plant. [6]
The population is considered to be stable and the species is listed as being of least concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). [7]
This species is considered to be a problematic weed in Queensland. [6] For example, it is considered to threaten ecosystem functioning in the Boondall Wetlands Reserve. [3] It is listed as a category 3 restricted matter under the 2014 Biosecurity Act, meaning that it can not be gifted, sold or released without a permit in an attempt to reduce its spread. [8] As such, eradication programs are being established to remove it across its range in Australia. [6] [3]
The new shoots are harvested and eaten as a vegetable. They are seen as being a good source of fiber and various vitamins. The roots are also boiled and eaten. The fruit are mainly only eaten during times of famine. [4]
The stems and underground components of the plants are used to treat a wide variety of conditions in a variety of cultures. [4] Research has found that they improve the functioning of the immune system in laboratory animals, providing insight as to why this plant is so widely utilised. [9] It is, for example, seen as a valuable medicinal plant by people living in Ethiopia. [10] The Zay people of Ethiopia use the cladodes on their skin to treat skin lesions. They also feed equines the roots and cladodes to treat geregelcha, a disease in which mucous continuously comes out of the nose of the animal. [11] The root tubers mixed with milk are used after birth to help expel the afterbirth. [4] It is also used as a form of birth control by rural women in Uganda. [12] In South Africa, it is used to treat headaches, STIs, stomach aches, sore throats and malaria, amongst other conditions. [13]
Compounds found in the roots have been found to be an effective anti-parasitic and anti-protozoan, including against Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly form of malaria in humans. [14] [15] Methanolic extracts from the roots have also been found to have pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties. [16]
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African asparagus | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Asparagaceae |
Subfamily: | Asparagoideae |
Genus: | Asparagus |
Species: | A. africanus
|
Binomial name | |
Asparagus africanus | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Asparagus africanus, also known as African asparagus, bush asparagus, wild asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, ornamental asparagus and sparrow grass, is an African species of plant that is found in a variety of habitats. It has multiple medicinal properties and is used to treat various ailments.
Asparagus africanus is a spiny shrub up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall or a climbing plant with stems up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long. [2] Stems of up to 5 m (16 ft) long have also been recorded. [3] These plants have a rhizomatous root system, from which they can reshoot. [2] [3] Multiple stems grow from a central crown. [3] Bunches of cladodes (modified branchlets) occur at the leaf scales. Each ends in a sharp point. [2] [4] These look fern-like, giving rise to one of this species' common names (climbing asparagus fern). [3]
The plant produces white flowers, which, like the leaves, grow in clusters. [2] They have three sepals and three petals, which are similar in appearance. The six white filaments have yellow anthers. [4] Flowers are present between August and December. [2] The colour and the scent of these flowers attract insects, which pollinate the flowers. [4]
Plants produce round fruits. These are red when ripe and shrivel to reveal a single black seed. [3] These fruits may also be eaten by mammals and birds, aiding in dispersal. [4] Fruits may be present at any time of the year, assuming that conditions are suitable. [4] These berries contain toxic compounds, such as furostanol and may cause pain and vomiting.
Asparagus africanus is a widely distributed species. It is found across most of Africa, as well as the Arabian Peninsula and India. [5] It grows in a variety of habitats, ranging from rainforests to grasslands to semi-deserts. [4] The plant can grow rapidly. In its climbing state it can quickly come to dominate the canopy, outcompeting other species. [3] It has also become naturalised in parts of Australia after being introduced as an ornamental plant. [6]
The population is considered to be stable and the species is listed as being of least concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). [7]
This species is considered to be a problematic weed in Queensland. [6] For example, it is considered to threaten ecosystem functioning in the Boondall Wetlands Reserve. [3] It is listed as a category 3 restricted matter under the 2014 Biosecurity Act, meaning that it can not be gifted, sold or released without a permit in an attempt to reduce its spread. [8] As such, eradication programs are being established to remove it across its range in Australia. [6] [3]
The new shoots are harvested and eaten as a vegetable. They are seen as being a good source of fiber and various vitamins. The roots are also boiled and eaten. The fruit are mainly only eaten during times of famine. [4]
The stems and underground components of the plants are used to treat a wide variety of conditions in a variety of cultures. [4] Research has found that they improve the functioning of the immune system in laboratory animals, providing insight as to why this plant is so widely utilised. [9] It is, for example, seen as a valuable medicinal plant by people living in Ethiopia. [10] The Zay people of Ethiopia use the cladodes on their skin to treat skin lesions. They also feed equines the roots and cladodes to treat geregelcha, a disease in which mucous continuously comes out of the nose of the animal. [11] The root tubers mixed with milk are used after birth to help expel the afterbirth. [4] It is also used as a form of birth control by rural women in Uganda. [12] In South Africa, it is used to treat headaches, STIs, stomach aches, sore throats and malaria, amongst other conditions. [13]
Compounds found in the roots have been found to be an effective anti-parasitic and anti-protozoan, including against Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly form of malaria in humans. [14] [15] Methanolic extracts from the roots have also been found to have pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties. [16]
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
{{
cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(
help)
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)