asparagus plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• asparagus
• garden asparagus
• Sparrow Grass
• wild asparagus

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Asparagus officinalis var. oxycarpus
• Asparagus altilis subsp. polyphyllus
• Asparagus officinalis subsp. polyphyllus
• Asparagus officinalis var. silvestris
• Asparagus litoralis
• Asparagus officinalis var. altilis
• Asparagus officinalis var. littoralis
• Asparagus officinalis var. strictus
• Asparagus altilis subsp. oxycarpus
• Asparagus trichophyllus var. medius
• Asparagus setiformis var. tenuior
• Asparagus scaber var. litoralis
• Asparagus officinalis var. sativus
• Asparagus officinalis var. campestris
• Asparagus officinalis var. collinus
• Asparagus officinalis subsp. altilis
• Asparagus officinalis var. viridis
• Asparagus officinalis var. pallidus
• Asparagus officinalis var. ruficeps
• Asparagus fiori
• Asparagus hedecarpus
• Asparagus hortensis
• Asparagus altilis
• Asparagus caspius
• Asparagus esculentus
• Asparagus vulgaris
• Asparagus setiformis
• Asparagus oxycarpus
• Asparagus paragus
• Asparagus sativus
• Asparagus polyphyllus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Asparagales and placed in the family Asparagaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Asparagus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark. It is also documented to exist within the territories of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. These locations highlight the plant's specific range throughout the northernmost parts of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Asparagus officinalis is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal spectrum, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2600 m AMSL. This species is primarily found inhabiting forest ecosystems, where it integrates into the complex structural layers of the woodland environment. Its wide elevational tolerance suggests an adaptability to diverse thermal regimes and varying atmospheric pressures, allowing it to colonize habitats from low-lying coastal or lowland forest zones to high-altitude montane forest regions.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Asparagus officinalis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. Functioning as a cryptophyte, the plant relies on specialized underground structures to survive unfavorable conditions, often exhibiting a life form classified as a hemicryptophyte where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface. Throughout its development, the plant displays a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage during dormant periods as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Asparagus officinalis is characterized by a growth form classified as a non-woody herb and, more specifically, a forb. This terrestrial plant is independent, functioning as a non-parasitic species, and is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. As a climber, it is described as self-supporting rather than an obligatory or facultative vine or liana. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 0.93 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.933333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Asparagus officinalis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, typical of many temperate perennial species, which facilitates carbon fixation through the Calvin cycle. As a non-carnivorous plant, it relies entirely on autotrophic nutrient acquisition from the soil rather than capturing prey. The morphological architecture of its photosynthetic structures is highly specialized; the leaves (often referred to as cladodes) are diminutive, with a minimum leaf length of 0.05 cm and a maximum length of 0.1 cm, while the width ranges from a minimum of 0.05 cm to a maximum of 0.1 cm. These small, needle-like structures result in a mean leaf size of approximately 0.27335 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 109.55 cm²/g, a metric that reflects its leaf mass per area and provides insight into its resource allocation strategies and metabolic efficiency regarding light interception and water use.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

0.1 cm

Leaf length min:

0.05 cm

Leaf size mean:

0.27335 cm²

Leaf width max:

0.1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.05 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

109.55 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Asparagus officinalis is characterized by a sexual process through a dioecious mating system, meaning that self-fertilization is absent. The flowering period typically begins in May and concludes in July. Pollination is a biotic process, specifically relying on an insect pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as berries. These berries generally measure between 0.7 cm and 0.8 cm in both length and width, with a mean dimension of approximately 0.725 cm for both metrics. Each fruit contains a significant number of seeds, ranging from 11 to 100 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves have a consistent width and length of 3 mm, a mean volume of 24 mm³, and a mean mass of approximately 0.03367 g, with individual seed masses ranging from 0.01985 g to 0.04 g. Dispersal is achieved via a zoochorous syndrome, specifically through endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed after being consumed by animals. There is no evidence of asexual reproduction in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.725 cm

Fruit length min:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.725 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

0.04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0336718333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.01985 g

Seed volume max:

24 mm³

Seed width mean:

3 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

11-100

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Asparagus officinalis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Journal of integrative plant biology
2. Steroids

Chemicals

Asparagus officinalis has 121 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include RUTIN, linoleic acid, (+/-)-1-monopalmitin, 1,2-o-diferuloylglycerol, 1,3-O-diferuloylglycerol.

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cancers

linoleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

(+/-)-1-monopalmitin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

1,2-o-diferuloylglycerol

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

1,3-O-diferuloylglycerol

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

1,3-o-di-p-coumaroylglycerol

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

1-o-feruloyl-3-o-p-coumaroylglycerol

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

4-vinyl guaiacol

1. Dr. Duke

4-vinyl phenol

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-CAROTENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Asparagus officinalis has 638 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antiviral, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HETE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Asparagus officinalis has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include breast cancer, Liver cancer, body weight, cancer, cervix cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations