Asarum canadense
Canadian wild ginger
Asarum canadense, commonly known as Canadian mayapple, is a perennial herb native to North American woodlands. Characterized by its distinctive heart-shaped leaves and ground-level flowers, this plant holds significant ethnobotanical value. Historically used in traditional medicine, it contains bioactive compounds that warrant careful study regarding their therapeutic potential.
- Scientific name: Asarum canadense
- Family: Aristolochiaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known as Asarum canadense, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae within the order Piperales. Finally, it is a member of the family Aristolochiaceae and is categorized under the genus Asarum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Piperales | WCVP |
| Family | Aristolochiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Asarum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Asarum canadense, is recognized by various regional common names across different languages. In French, it is referred to as Asaret du Canada, while in Azerbaijani, it is called Kanada çobandüdüyü. In Polish, the species is known as kopytnik kanadyjski. Furthermore, in Chinese, both the generic and simplified forms use the name 加拿大细辛 (zh/zh-cn) to identify it.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fr | Asaret du Canada | Wikidata |
| az | Kanada çobandüdüyü | Wikidata |
| pl | kopytnik kanadyjski | Wikidata |
| zh | 加拿大细辛 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 加拿大细辛 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 加拿大細辛 | Wikidata |
| ar | زنجبيل بري | Wikidata |
| fr | Gingembre sauvage | Wikidata |
| fr | Asaret du canada | Wikidata |
| fr | Asaret Du Canada | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide distribution across various regions of North America. In Western Canada, its presence can be noted within the province of Manitoba. Moving toward the east, it is found throughout Ontario, Québec, and New Brunswick. The species also extends into the North-Central United States, specifically in Illinois. Consequently, its habitat spans from the Canadian prairies to the eastern forests and central American plains.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Canada | Manitoba | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | New Brunswick | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Québec | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Kansas | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Minnesota | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Missouri | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | North Dakota | WCVP |
Chemicals
Asarum canadense has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include aristolochic acid I.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aristolochic acid I | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |