Difference between revisions of "Wild ginger"

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{{Taxobox
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{{SPlantbox
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| color = lightgreen
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|familia=Aristolochiaceae
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| name = Wild ginger
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|genus=Asarum
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| image = wild ginger leaves.jpg
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|common_name=Wild ginger
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| image_width = 250px
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|Temp Metric=°F
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| image_caption = Wild ginger leaves<br>(''Asarum caudatum'')
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|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!
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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|image=Asarum maximum2.jpg
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| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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|image_width=240
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| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
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|image_caption=Asarum maximum
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| ordo = [[Piperales]]
 
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| familia = [[Aristolochiaceae]]
 
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| genus = '''''Asarum'''''
 
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| subdivision_ranks = Species
 
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| subdivision =
 
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See text.
 
 
}}
 
}}
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'''''Asarum''''' (''[[Syllable stress of Botanical Latin|Á-sa-rum]]'') is a genus of plants in the birthwort family [[Aristolochiaceae]], commonly known as '''Wild ginger'''.
  
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'''Wild ginger''' refers to an herbaceous plant genus ''Asarum'' (''[[Syllable stress of Botanical Latin|Á-sa-rum]]'') of the birthwort family [[Aristolochiaceae]].  
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Asarum consists  low-growing herbs , that are distributed over the north temperate zones with most species in Asia (mainly China, Japan and Vietnam), North America and one species in Europe. Biogeographically, ''Asarum'' originated in Asia
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They have characteristically kidney-shaped leaves, growing from creeping [[rhizome]]s. They bear small, [[wikt:axil|axil]]lary brown or reddish flowers.
  
 
''[[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 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]].
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''[[Asarum caudatum]]'' is found in [[British Columbia]] south through [[Washington]] and [[Oregon]] to central [[California]], and from the [[Coast Range]] east to western [[Montana]].  
 
''[[Asarum caudatum]]'' is found in [[British Columbia]] south through [[Washington]] and [[Oregon]] to central [[California]], and from the [[Coast Range]] east to western [[Montana]].  
  
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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]].
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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 [[nephrotoxic]] rodent [[carcinogen]] [[aristolochic acid]], which is the FDA warns against consuming.<ref>U.S. Food and Drug Administration |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/Alerts/ucm096388.htm</ref>
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<ref>[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].
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</ref>
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The birthwort family also contains the genus [[Aristolochia]], known for [[carcinogens]].
  
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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.
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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 between the leaf bases.
  
 
Wild ginger can easily be grown in a [[shade garden]], and makes an attractive [[groundcover]].
 
Wild ginger can easily be grown in a [[shade garden]], and makes an attractive [[groundcover]].
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[[Image:Asarum europaeum flower 050403.jpg|thumb|right|250px|European Wild Ginger (''Asarum europaeum'') - flower]]
 
  
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== Species ==
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{{Inc|
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*''[[Asarum arifolium]]''
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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.
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*''[[Asarum canadense]]'' : Wild Ginger, Black Snakeroot, Canada Wild Ginger, Canadian Snakeroot, Broad-leaved Asarabacca.
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*''[[Asarum caudatum]]'' : Long-tailed Wild ginger
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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.  
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**''Asarum caudatum caudatum'' : British Columbia Wild ginger.
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}}
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**''Asarum caudatum viridiflorum'' : Longtail Wild Ginger).
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*''[[Asarum europaeum]]'' : Asarabacca, European Wild Ginger, Haselwort, Wild Spikenard.
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==Cultivation==
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*''[[Asarum hartwegii]]'' : Hartweg's Wild Ginger.
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*''[[Asarum hongkongensis]]'' : Hong Kong Wild Ginger.
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*''[[Asarum lemmonii]]'' : Lemmon's Wild Ginger.
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===Propagation===
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*''[[Asarum marmoratum]]'' : Marbled Wild Ginger.
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*''[[Asarum naniflorum]]''
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*''[[Asarum splendens]]'': Chinese Wild Ginger.
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===Pests and diseases===
  
  
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== See also ==
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==Species==
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*''[[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>
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*''[[Asarum arifolium]]''
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*''[[Asarum bashanense]]''
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*''[[Asarum campaniflorum]]''
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*''[[Asarum canadense]]''
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*''[[Asarum caudatum]]''
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*''[[Asarum caudigerellum]]''
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*''[[Asarum caudigerum]]''
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*''[[Asarum caulescens]]''
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*''[[Asarum chengkouense]]''
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*''[[Asarum chinensis]]''
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*''[[Asarum controversum]]''
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*''[[Asarum crassisepalum]]''
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*''[[Asarum crassum]]''
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*''[[Asarum crispulatum]]''
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*''[[Asarum debile]]''
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*''[[Asarum delavayi]]''
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*''[[Asarum dimidiatum]]'' (synonym of ''Asiasarum dimidiatum'')
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*''[[Asarum epigynum]]'' (synonym of ''Geotaenium epigynum'')
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*''[[Asarum europaeum]]''
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*''[[Asarum forbesii]]'' (synonym of ''Heterotropa forbesii'')
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*''[[Asarum fukienense]]''
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*''[[Asarum geophilum]]'' (synonym of ''Geotaenium geophilum'')
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*''[[Asarum gusuk]]''
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*''[[Asarum hartwegii]]''
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*''[[Asarum hayatanum]]''
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*''[[Asarum heterotropioides]]'' (synonym of ''Asiasarum heterotropiodes'')
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*''[[Asarum himalaicum]]''
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*''[[Asarum hongkongense]]''
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*''[[Asarum hypogynum]]''
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*''[[Asarum ichangense]]''
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*''[[Asarum inflatum]]''
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*''[[Asarum insignis]]''
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*''[[Asarum kooyanum]]''
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*''[[Asarum lemmonii]]''
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*''[[Asarum leptophyllum]]''
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*''[[Asarum longerhizomatosum]]''
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*''[[Asarum macranthum]]''
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*''[[Asarum magnificum]]''
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*''[[Asarum majale]]''
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*''[[Asarum marmoratum]]''
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*''[[Asarum maruyamae]]''
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*''[[Asarum maximum]]''
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*''[[Asarum mikuniense]]''
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*''[[Asarum mitoanum]]''
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*''[[Asarum nanchuanense]]''
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*''[[Asarum nobilissimum]]''
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*''[[Asarum petelotii]]''
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*''[[Asarum porphyronotum]]''
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*''[[Asarum pulchellum]]''
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*''[[Asarum renicordatum]]''
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*''[[Asarum sagittarioides]]''
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*''[[Asarum senkakuinsulare]]''
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*''[[Asarum sieboldii]]'' (synonym of ''Asiasarum sieboldii'')
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*''[[Asarum splendens]]''
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*''[[Asarum taipingshanianum]]''
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*''[[Asarum tohokuense]]''
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*''[[Asarum tongjiangense]]''
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*''[[Asarum wagneri]]''
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*''[[Asarum wulingense]]''
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*''[[Asarum yunnanense]]'' (synonym of ''Geotaenium yunnanse'')
  
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==Gallery==
  
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== External links ==
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<gallery perrow=5>
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{{commonscat|Asarum}}
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File:Asarum canadense - wild ginger - desc-view into flower.jpg|Asarum canadense
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* [http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-bot.html U.S. FDA warning on aristolochic acid]
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File:Asarum canadense.jpg|Asarum canadense
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* [http://www.iarc.fr/ The International Agency for Research on Cancer].
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File:Asarum caudatum 10993.JPG|Asarum caudatum
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* [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].
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File:Asarum caudatum 1.jpg|Asarum caudatum
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File:Asarum caudatum 10987.JPG|Asarum caudatum
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File:Asarum kz.JPG|Asarum europaeum
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File:Asarum europaeum 170406.jpg|Asarum europaeum
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File:Asarum maximum1.jpg|Asarum maximum
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File:Showy Sichuan Ginger Leaves Asarum splendens 3000px.jpg|Asarum splendens
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</gallery>
  
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==References==
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<references/>
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
  
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== References ==
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==External links==
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{{Reflist}}
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*{{wplink}}
  
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[[Category:Herbs]]
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{{stub}}
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[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
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__NOTOC__
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[[Category:Piperales]]
 

Latest revision as of 02:45, 28 January 2010


Asarum maximum


Plant Characteristics
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Aristolochiaceae >

Asarum >


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!


Asarum (Á-sa-rum) is a genus of plants in the birthwort family Aristolochiaceae, commonly known as Wild ginger.

Asarum consists low-growing herbs , that are distributed over the north temperate zones with most species in Asia (mainly China, Japan and Vietnam), North America and one species in Europe. Biogeographically, Asarum originated in Asia

They have characteristically kidney-shaped leaves, growing from creeping rhizomes. They bear small, axillary brown or reddish flowers.

Asarum canadense is native to the forests of eastern North America. It is found from the Great Plains east to the 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 nephrotoxic rodent carcinogen aristolochic acid, which is the FDA warns against consuming.[1] [2] The birthwort family also contains the genus Aristolochia, known for carcinogens.

Wild ginger favors moist, shaded sites with humus-rich soil. The deciduous, heart-shaped 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 flowers, which give the plant an alternate name, little jug, are borne singly in Spring between the leaf bases.

Wild ginger can easily be grown in a shade garden, and makes an attractive groundcover.


Read about Wild ginger in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

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.


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

Propagation

Pests and diseases

Species

Gallery

  • Asarum canadense

  • Asarum canadense

  • Asarum caudatum

  • Asarum caudatum

  • Asarum caudatum

  • Asarum europaeum

  • Asarum europaeum

  • Asarum maximum

  • Asarum splendens

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Food and Drug Administration |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/Alerts/ucm096388.htm
  2. ↑ Health Canada advising not to use products labelled to contain Aristolochia.

External links


Retrieved from "http://gardenology.mywikis.net/w/index.php?title=Wild_ginger&oldid=94930"