Chinese asparagus

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese asparagus
• Wild Asparagus

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Asparagus cochinchinensis var. pygmaeus
• Asparagus cochinchinensis f. pygmaeus
• Asparagus sinicus
• Asparagus cochinchinensis var. longifolius
• Asparagus gaudichaudianus
• Asparagus lucidus
• Asparagus lucidus var. dolichocladus
• Asparagus cochinchinensis var. dolichoclados
• Asparagus dauricus var. elongatus
• Asparagus lucidus var. pygmaeus
• Asparagopsis sinica
• Asparagus insularis
• Melanthium cochinchinense

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Asparagus cochinchinensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is further classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Asparagales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asparagaceae and falls under the genus Asparagus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across various regions of China. It can be found growing within the landscapes of China South-Central and China North-Central. Additionally, its distribution extends to the coastal and inland areas of China Southeast. The species is also documented in the tropical environment of Hainan. Finally, its presence reaches the high-altitude territories of Tibet.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Asparagus cochinchinensis is characterized by its highly specific niche within its habitat, particularly regarding its vertical distribution. This species is found within a precise elevational range, centered at a mean altitude of 1750 m AMSL. This distribution is remarkably narrow, as the plant's minimum and maximum elevational limits both converge at 1750 m AMSL, indicating a specialized adaptation to this specific altitudinal band. Such a concentrated ecological profile suggests that the species is highly sensitive to the climatic and environmental gradients associated with this particular height above sea level.

Elevational range max:

1750 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Asparagus cochinchinensis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. Structurally, it is classified as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable environmental conditions. This growth strategy allows the plant to survive seasonal changes and re-emerge from its base to continue its developmental stages over many years.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Asparagus cochinchinensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb that functions as a climbing plant. It exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, often reaching a mean plant height of approximately 1.5 m. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and maintains a terrestrial existence rather than an epiphytic one.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Asparagus cochinchinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under typical environmental conditions. The plant's vegetative morphology features specialized leaf-like structures, often referred to as cladodes, which exhibit significant dimensional variability. These structures possess a minimum leaf length of 0.5 cm, a mean length of 4.25 cm, and can reach a maximum length of 8 cm. In terms of lateral dimension, the leaf width is quite narrow, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 0.2 cm. Additionally, from a nutritional physiological standpoint, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its metabolic requirements.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.25 cm

Leaf length min:

0.5 cm

Leaf width max:

0.2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Asparagus cochinchinensis is characterized by specific mechanisms of pollination and seed movement. Regarding its reproductive biology, self-fertilization is absent, indicating that the plant relies on cross-pollination to maintain genetic diversity. Once fertilization is successful and seeds are developed, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are spread by animals, which plays a critical role in the colonization of new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Asparagus cochinchinensis has 3 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, fruit, stem.

Root

1. Journal of Asian natural products research
2. Journal of natural products
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine
4. Scientific reports
5. Natural products and bioprospecting

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Chemicals

Asparagus cochinchinensis has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,3-bis-di-p-hydroxyphenyl-4-penten-1-one, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl benzoate, 3'-Hydroxy-4'-methoxy-4'-dehydroxynyasol, 4-hydroxy-3-prenylbenzoic acid, ARSENIC.

1,3-bis-di-p-hydroxyphenyl-4-penten-1-one

1. Journal of natural products

2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl benzoate

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

3'-Hydroxy-4'-methoxy-4'-dehydroxynyasol

1. Journal of natural products

4-hydroxy-3-prenylbenzoic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Dihydropinosylvin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Asparagus cochinchinensis has 202 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiinflammatory, ACE-Inhibitor, Acetylcholinergic, Analgesic, Androgenic.

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of immunopharmacology

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBPH

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Asparagus cochinchinensis has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Hepatocellular Carcinoma, aging, tumor.

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Aging

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Tumor

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Preparations

Asparagus cochinchinensis has 12 reported preparations identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ACNVs, Asparagi Radix, Exosome-Like Nanovesicles, Polysaccharides of the roots, Tiandong.

Acnvs

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Asparagi radix

1. BMC plant biology

Exosome-like nanovesicles

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Polysaccharides of the roots

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Tiandong

1. Scientific reports

Aqueous extracts of the roots

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Dried roots

1. Journal of natural products

Processed tuberous roots

1. BMC plant biology

Root and stem extracts

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Roots

1. Natural products and bioprospecting