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] | |
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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 mucus 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]
Asparagus is a perennial flowering plant species in the genus Asparagus native to Eurasia. Widely cultivated as a vegetable crop, its young shoots are used as a spring vegetable.
Ricinus communis, the castor bean or castor oil plant, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus, Ricinus, and subtribe, Ricininae. The evolution of castor and its relation to other species are currently being studied using modern genetic tools. It reproduces with a mixed pollination system which favors selfing by geitonogamy but at the same time can be an out-crosser by anemophily or entomophily.
Asparagus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Asparagoideae. It comprises up to 300 species. Most are evergreen long-lived perennial plants growing from the understory as lianas, bushes or climbing plants. The best-known species is the edible Asparagus officinalis, commonly referred to as just asparagus. Some other members of the genus, such as Asparagus densiflorus, are grown as ornamental plants.
Althaea officinalis, the marsh mallow or marshmallow, is a species of flowering plant indigenous to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa, which is used in herbalism and as an ornamental plant. A confection made from the root since ancient Egyptian times evolved into today's marshmallow treat, but most modern marshmallow treats no longer contain any marsh-mallow root.
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Ruscus, commonly known as butcher's broom, is a genus of six species of flowering plants, native to western and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa, and southwestern Asia east to the Caucasus. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae. Like many lilioid monocots, it was formerly classified in the family Liliaceae.
Asparagus setaceus, commonly known as common asparagus fern, asparagus grass, lace fern, climbing asparagus, or ferny asparagus, is a climbing plant in the genus Asparagus. Despite its common name, the plant is not a true fern, but has leaves that resemble one.
Asparagus aethiopicus, Sprenger's asparagus, is a plant native to the Cape Provinces and the Northern Provinces of South Africa. Often used as an ornamental plant, it is considered an invasive weed in many locations. Asparagus fern, asparagus grass and foxtail fern are common names; however, it is unrelated to true ferns. A. aethiopicus has been confused with A. densiflorus, now regarded as a separate species, so that information about A. aethiopicus will often be found under the name A. densiflorus.
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Euphorbia candelabrum is a succulent species of plant in the family Euphorbiaceae, one of several plants commonly known as candelabra tree. It is endemic to the Horn of Africa and eastern Africa along the East African Rift system. It is known in Ethiopia by its Amharic name, qwolqwal, or its Oromo name, adaamii. It is closely related to three other species of Euphorbia: Euphorbia ingens in the dry regions of southern Africa, Euphorbia conspicua from western Angola, and Euphorbia abyssinica, which is native to countries including Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Ximenia americana, commonly known as tallow wood, hog plum, yellow plum, sea lemon, or pi'ut (Chamorro), is bush-forming shrub/small tree; a species from the Ximenia genus in the Olacaceae family. It is mainly found in the tropics, ranging from Africa, India and southeast Asia, to Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, West Indies, Central, North and South America. It is especially common in Africa and South America. It is not domesticated so it is only found occurring in the wild.
Boerhavia coccinea is a species of flowering plant in the four o'clock family which is known by many common names, including tar vinescarlet spiderling and red boerhavia.
Rotheca myricoides is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to Africa and widely cultivated elsewhere. In cultivation, it is frequently known by one of its synonyms, such as Clerodendrum myricoides.
Dicranopteris linearis is a common species of fern known by many common names, including Old World forked fern, uluhe (Hawaiian), and dilim (Filipino). It is one of the most widely distributed ferns of the wet Old World tropics and adjacent regions, including Polynesia and the Pacific. In parts of the New World tropics its niche is filled by its relative, Dicranopteris pectinatus.
Rhizophora mucronata is a species of mangrove found on coasts and river banks in East Africa and the Indo-Pacific region.
Rosa abyssinica is the only rose native to Africa. Europeans first learned of the rose in the writings of 19th-century Scottish botanist Robert Brown. Rosa abyssinica is included in the genus Rosa, and the family Rosaceae. No subspecies are listed in the Catalogue of Life.
Aristolochia paucinervis is a herbaceous plant in the family Aristolochiaceae endemic to the western Mediterranean Basin.
Solena amplexicaulis, commonly known as the creeping cucumber, is a species of plant in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to tropical southern Asia. The fruits, leaves, roots and shoots have use as food and in traditional medicine.
Landolphia buchananii is a liana within the Apocynaceae family. It is sometimes called Nandi rubber in English and known locally as Mugu among Kikuyus. Occurs in savannahs and montane forests in East Africa and Southeastern Nigeria.
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