Asarum

Asarum

taxobox
name = Asarum


image_caption = Wild ginger leaves
("Asarum caudatum")
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Magnoliids
ordo = Piperales
familia = Aristolochiaceae
genus = "Asarum"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = *"Asarum arifolium"
*"Asarum canadense"
*"Asarum caudatum"
*"Asarum europaeum"
*"Asarum hartwegii"
*"Asarum hongkongensis"
*"Asarum lemmonii"
*"Asarum marmoratum"
*"Asarum maximum"
*"Asarum naniflorum"
*"Asarum splendens"|

"Asarum" ("Á-sa-rum") is a genus of plants comprising about 10 species in the birthwort family Aristolochiaceae, commonly known as Wild ginger.

"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 chemical aristolochic acid, which is carcinogenic in rats. 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.

See also

*"Hexastylis", a closely related genus sometimes treated as synonymous with "Asarum"

External links

*commons-inline
* [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


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • asarum — [as′ə rəm] n. [ModL < L, wild spikenard < Gr asaron] the dried rhizomes and roots of certain wild ginger plants (esp. Asarum canadense), from which an aromatic oil used in perfumery and flavorings is extracted …   English World dictionary

  • Asărum — (A. L.), Pflanzengattung aus der Familie der Aristolochieen, zur Dodekandrie Monogymie L. Arten: A. europaeum, gemeine Haselwurzel (s.d.); A. canadense, in NAmerika, daselbst officinell; A. virginicum, eben daselbst, auch in China, soll unter der …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Asărum — Tourn. (Haselwurz), Gattung der Aristolochiazeen, ausdauernde Kräuter mit langgestielten nieren , herz oder fast pfeilförmigen Blättern und endständigen Blüten. 13 Arten in der gemäßigten Zone der nördlichen Halbkugel. A. europaeum L. (wilde… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Asarum — Asărum L., Haselwurz, Pflanzengattg. der Aristolochiazeen, A. europaeum L. (gemeine Haselwurz, Leberkraut [Abb. 124]), gewürzhaft duftende Pflanze in schattigen Wäldern, mit nierenförmigen Blättern; der Wurzelstock früher offizinell, in… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • asarum — ASARUM. s. m. Plante dont la tige est très courte, et dont les fleurs sont en formes de clochettes et odorantes. Voy. Cabaret …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • Asarum — Haselwurz Gewöhnliche Haselwurz (Asarum europaeum) Systematik Klasse: Einfurchenpollen Zweikeimblättrige (Ma …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Asarum —   Asarum …   Wikipedia Español

  • Asarum — Asaret Asaret …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Asarum — noun wild ginger • Syn: ↑genus Asarum • Hypernyms: ↑dicot genus, ↑magnoliopsid genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Aristolochiaceae, ↑family Aristolochiaceae, ↑birthwo …   Useful english dictionary

  • Asarum — pipirlapė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Kartuolinių (Aristolochiaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Asarum). atitikmenys: lot. Asarum angl. asarabacca; asarum; wild ginger vok. Haselwurz rus. копытень lenk. kopytnik …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

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