Climbing asparagus
Asparagus racemosus

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A creeping or climbing herb or shrub. It has woody stems. It grows 2 m high. It spreads 2 m wide. The stems are slender and trailing. The leaves are light green and narrow. They are 5 cm long. The flowers are very small. The fruit are small round red berries.

The boiled tuber is claimed to improve milk supply for lactating women.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in thickets in drier parts of West Africa. It is best in rich moist soils and filtered sunlight. It is damaged by frost and drought. It can grow in arid places. It grows in limestone areas. It grows on rocky soils up to 1,400 m above sea level. In the Himalayas in India it grows between 700-2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, China, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Tibet, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The tubers (rhizome) are cooked and eaten. They are boiled and dried. The outer skin is removed and cut into small pieces then pounded. It is also used for pickles. The young leaves are used as a green vegetable. They are eaten cooked or raw. They are often mixed with other vegetables. They are also used for pickles. The leaves are also fermented and used for tea. The fruit are eaten as a dessert fruit. The flowering shoots are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The harvested shoots can be stored for 10 days.

It is commonly eaten in Bhutan. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Root, tubers, shoots, fruit, leaves, vegetable, leaves - tea, flower

How it is grown

It can be grown by seed or by division. Seed are best soaked in warm water for 24 hours before sowing. A spacing of 80-90 cm apart is suitable.

Yields can be 5-10 kg of roots per plant.

Its other names

Local names

Aipah, Aipak, Arke-bawk, Asparagus India, Atrang, Chan din, Gaisira, Hathawariya, Hundred roots, Jhijhirkani, Jhinjhelkandi, Kanyut, Kedar nani, Kilavari, Kizhangu, Kobi, Kurila, Kurilo, Kurla, Makuri, Ngakhagchu, Neevalli, Neer vekkaea, Ngalangma, Nirmittan, Nungarei, Nye shing, Nye sugpa, Phak shi shang, Puchu touru, Pujotoro, Rai su we, Sadamulam, Sam sib, Sansarpali, Santawar, Satabari, Satawari, Sataweri, Satmul, Seriti, Shatavari, Shatawari, Shin-matet, Sparrow grass, Wedegisankha-la

Synonyms

Asparagopsis abyssinica Kunth; Asparagus acerosus Roxb. [Illegitimate]; Protoasparagus racemosus (Willd.) Oberm.; and several others