Raffi at 02:45, 28 January 2010

2010-01-28T02:45:13Z

Murali.lalitha at 18:31, 26 January 2010

2010-01-26T18:31:01Z

Envoy at 06:25, 4 November 2007

2007-11-04T06:25:07Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Wild ginger
| image = wild ginger leaves.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Wild ginger leaves<br>(''Asarum caudatum'')
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Piperales]]
| familia = [[Aristolochiaceae]]
| genus = '''''Asarum'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}

'''Wild ginger''' refers to an herbaceous plant genus ''Asarum'' (''[[Syllable stress of Botanical Latin|Á-sa-rum]]'') of the birthwort family [[Aristolochiaceae]].

''[[Asarum canadense]]'' is native to the forests of eastern [[North America]]. It is found from the [[Great Plains]] east to the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] Coast, and from southeastern [[Canada]] south to approximately the [[fall line]] in the southeastern [[United States]].

''[[Asarum caudatum]]'' is found in [[British Columbia]] south through [[Washington]] and [[Oregon]] to central [[California]], and from the [[Coast Range]] east to western [[Montana]].

The plant is called wild ginger because the [[rhizome]] tastes and smells similar to that of [[ginger root]], but the two are not particularly related. The root can be used as a [[spice]], but is a potent [[diuretic]], or urinary stimulant. ''Asarum canadense'' and other species in the genus contain the chemical [[aristolochic acid]], which is carcinogenic in rats. The birthwort family also contains the [[Aristolochia]] genus. Aristolochia is a human [[carcinogen]].

Wild ginger favors moist, shaded sites with [[humus]]-rich soil. The deciduous, heart-shaped [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite, and borne from the rhizome which lies just under the soil surface. Two leaves emerge each year from the growing tip. The curious jug-shaped [[flower]]s, which give the plant an alternate name, '''little jug''', are borne singly in [[Spring (season)|Spring]] between the leaf bases.

Wild ginger can easily be grown in a [[shade garden]], and makes an attractive [[groundcover]].
[[Image:Asarum europaeum flower 050403.jpg|thumb|right|250px|European Wild Ginger (''Asarum europaeum'') - flower]]

== Species ==
*''[[Asarum arifolium]]''
*''[[Asarum canadense]]'' : Wild Ginger, Black Snakeroot, Canada Wild Ginger, Canadian Snakeroot, Broad-leaved Asarabacca.
*''[[Asarum caudatum]]'' : Long-tailed Wild ginger
**''Asarum caudatum caudatum'' : British Columbia Wild ginger.
**''Asarum caudatum viridiflorum'' : Longtail Wild Ginger).
*''[[Asarum europaeum]]'' : Asarabacca, European Wild Ginger, Haselwort, Wild Spikenard.
*''[[Asarum hartwegii]]'' : Hartweg's Wild Ginger.
*''[[Asarum hongkongensis]]'' : Hong Kong Wild Ginger.
*''[[Asarum lemmonii]]'' : Lemmon's Wild Ginger.
*''[[Asarum marmoratum]]'' : Marbled Wild Ginger.
*''[[Asarum naniflorum]]''
*''[[Asarum splendens]]'': Chinese Wild Ginger.

== See also ==
*''[[Hexastylis]]'' (a closely related genus including ''[[Hexastylis speciosum]]'' (syn. ''Asarum speciosum'') or Alabama Wild Ginger)<ref>[[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500674 Flora of North America: H. speciosum]</ref>

== External links ==
{{commonscat|Asarum}}
* [http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-bot.html U.S. FDA warning on aristolochic acid]
* [http://www.iarc.fr/ The International Agency for Research on Cancer].
* [http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/2001/2001_91_e.html Health Canada advising not to use products labelled to contain Aristolochia].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Piperales]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:31, 26 January 2010
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		+	{{SPlantbox
		+	\|common_name=Wild ginger
		+	\|Temp Metric=°F
		+	\|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
		+	\|image=Upload.png
		+	\|image_width=240
		+	}}
		+	{{Inc\|
		+	Asarum (ancient obscure name). Including Hexastylis. Aristolochtaceae. Asarabacca. Low, nearly stemless herbs, sometimes planted in wild borders and used as ground-cover in shady places.
		+
		+	Perennial: sts. creeping, with odd purplish or brown fls. on the surface of the ground (or nearly so), underneath the heart-like or kidney-like Lvs.: corolla wanting or merely rudimentary, but calyx corolla-like, with a regular 3-parted limb; stamens 12, with tips on the filaments projecting beyond the anthers: ovary inferior, maturing into a rather fleshy globular caps.—A dozen or more species in the temperate parts of the northern hemisphere. The asarums inhabit rich, shady woods, spreading on the ground, and the fls. are unseen except by the close observer. They are of easy culture if transplanted to rich, moist places. They make attractive carpets in borders and groves. The species described are sold by dealers in native plants. Some of the species are reported to have medicinal properties. Several species of doubtful validity have been described from the southern states.
		+	}}
		+
	{{Taxobox		{{Taxobox
	\| color = lightgreen		\| color = lightgreen

Wild ginger - Revision history

Raffi at 02:45, 28 January 2010

Murali.lalitha at 18:31, 26 January 2010

Envoy at 06:25, 4 November 2007