Chinese asparagus
Asparagus cochinchinensis

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A herb. The roots are swollen. The form tubers which are 3-5 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The stems are climbing and 1-2 m long. They are slightly woody. The branches are angled and have narrow wings. The leaf spur sometimes has spines. The spines are 2.5-3.5 mm long on the main stems. The true leaves are reduced to small scales. In the axils of these scale leaves there are 2-3 leaf-like small branches. These are 3 angled. The flowers are in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is a berry. It is green and 6-7 mm across. There are 1 or 2 seeds.

The tubers are used in medicine. There are between 160-300 Asparagus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on thinly forested slopes and waste fields from near sea level to 1700 m altitude. It is often in arid areas. It can be on coral or limestone rocks. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, China, Europe, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Laos, Mediterranean, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The tubers are candied and eaten. They are also boiled. The fruit are also eaten.

It is sold in local markets in China. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bambu tali, Laosha, Tian men dong, Tian men dong, Tumpeang, Tenmondo

Synonyms

Asparagus lucidus Lindley; Melanthium cochinchinense Loureiro; Asparagus sinica Miquel; Asparagus cochinchinensis var. longifolius F.T.Wang; Asparagus dauricus Link. var. elongatus Pmpanini; Asparagus gaudichaudianus Kunth.; Asparagus insulare Hance; Asparagus sinicus (Miquel) C.H.Wright;