Fern asparagus
Asparagus filicinus

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

An erect shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows to 1.75 m high. The stems and branches are without spines. They have lines or ridges along them. The stem is flattened in the form of a leaf and they are curved and clustered. The rootstock has a short rhizome or underground stem. The roots are swollen at the base. The flowers are greenish or reddish. There are flowers of both sexes. They can be single or in pairs on stalks. The fruit are berries. They are round and black or deep green. They are 5-6 mm across. There are 2 or 3 seeds.

There are between 160-300 Asparagus species.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in Nepal from 2000-2400 m altitude. It grows in rocky and shady places. It China it grows in shady, moist places along valleys between 1200-3000 m altitude in S China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tibet, Thailand, Zambia

How it is used for food

The tender shoots are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Shoots, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or splitting the roots.

Its other names

Local names

Ban kurilo, Gaja tungtun, Jangali kurilo, Kairua, Ka-nyut, Kurilo, Nirshing, Rapuk, Nye shing, Satavari, Sharanoi, Yang chi tian men dong

Synonyms

Asparagus filicinus var. giraldii C.H.Wright; Asparagus filicinus var. megaphyllus F.T.Wang & Tang; Asparagus qinghaiensis Y.Wan;