Gan su tian men dong
Asparagus kansuensis
Family: Asparagaceae
What it is like
A herb or small shrub. The roots have tubers at the end. These are 2-3 cm across. The stems are erect and have many branches. They are 17-27 cm long. They have dense nodes. The stems and branches have lines and ridges along them. There are spines on the main stem. They are straight and 2-5 mm long. They are slender and sharp. Flowers of both sexes occur and they can be single or in pairs.
There are between 160-300 Asparagus species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows on slopes between 900-1600 m altitude in S. Gansu in China.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China
How it is used for food
The tubers are eaten.
Edible parts
Root