Traditional uses and benefits of Chinese asparagus

Item: Traditional uses and benefits of Chinese asparagus
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Chinese asparagus Quick Facts
Name:	Chinese asparagus
Scientific Name:	Asparagus cochinchinensis
Origin	Southern part of Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and other provinces to the eastern, central and southern parts of Southwest China. Chinese asparagus is also found in Korea, Japan, Laos, and Vietnam
Colors	Whitish, ripening to red
Shapes	Globose berry, 5–6 mm in diameter
Taste	Sweet, bitter
Health benefits	Support for fever, cough, hemoptysis, diabetes, constipation, swollen, throat pain, impotence and cancer

Asparagus cochinchinense commonly known as Chinese asparagus is a species in the genus Asparagus which consists of between 217 and 242 species and belongs to the family of the Asparagaceae (Asparagus Family). No subspecies are listed in the Catalogue of Life. The plant is native to southern part of Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and other provinces to the eastern, central and southern parts of Southwest China. Chinese asparagus is also found in Korea, Japan, Laos, and Vietnam. Few of the popular common names of the plants are Chinese Asparagus, Cochinchinese Asparagus, Shiny Asparagus and Wild Asparagus. The plant is often gathered from the wild for use in traditional medicine, and the roots are sometimes used locally for food. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

The root of A. cochinchinensis has been used as a traditional medicine in those countries for thousands of years, and it is considered a therapeutic drug owing to its anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antiseptic, antitussive, antibacterial, nervine, sialogoue, antipyretic, and stomachic effects, although there is a lack of scientific evidence of these effects. Moreover, it is commonly used in combination with other herbs to treat the lungs, spleen, immune system and aging.

Chinese Asparagus Facts

Name	Chinese asparagus
Scientific Name	Asparagus cochinchinensis
Native	Southern part of Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and other provinces to the eastern, central and southern parts of Southwest China. Chinese asparagus is also found in Korea, Japan, Laos, and Vietnam
Common Names	Chinese Asparagus, Cochinchinese Asparagus, Shiny Asparagus, Wild Asparagus
Name in Other Languages	Chinese: Tian Men Dong (天门冬 ), Tian men dong (天門冬 ) English: Chinese Asparagus, Cochinchinese Asparagus, Shiny Asparagus, Wild Asparagus Japanese : Kusa Sugi Kazura (クサスギカズラ), Nangoku Kusa Sugi Kazura, Tachi-Tenmondo, Nangoku kusa sugi kazura (ナンゴククサスギカズラ), Temmondou (テッモンドウ) Khmer : Tumpèang Korean : Cheun Mun Dong (천문동) Portuguese: Espargo De Jardim Russian : Sparzha Blestiashchaia (Спаржа блестящая) Swedish: Kinesisk sparris, Taiwan : Tian Men Dong, Chōnmuntong Vietnam : Thiên Môn Ðông, Thiên Môn, Tút Thiên Nam, Tóc Tiên Leo, Dây Tóc Tiên, Mè Nằm, Nằm Săm, Co Sin Sương, Sùa Sú Tùng, Dù Mào siam
Plant Growth Habit	Evergreen or deciduous perennials or subshrubs, sometimes herbaceous climbing plant
Growing Climates	Thinly forested slopes, roadsides and waste fields from near sea level. It is also found near seashores all over Japan
Soil	Full sun on deep, well drained, fertile, loamy soil but is partially shade tolerant and drought tolerant and can grow in dry, sandy soils
Plant Size	2.5 m long
Root	Tuberous root is spindle-shaped and expanded in the middle or near the end. The enlarged part is 3-5 cm long and 1-2 cm thick
Stem	Smooth, often curved or twisted, up to 1-2 m long, branches angulate or narrowly winged
Leaf	Leafy branches are usually in clusters of 3, flattened or slightly sharp triangulates due to midrib keel, slightly sickle-shaped, 0.5-8 cm long, ca. 1-2 mm wide; Scaly leaves on stems extend at base into stiff spines 2.5-3.5 mm long, with shorter or inconspicuous spines on branches
Flowering season	May to June
Flower	Bisexual, yellowish-white, 6–7 mm long, 1–3, arising from axils of cladodes; pedicels 7–8 mm long, jointed in the middle or above; male and female flowers separate with perianth in six segments; stamens six, fi laments arising from base of perianth segments, anthers versatile and the ovary is oblong.
Fruit Shape & Size	Globose berry, 5–6 mm in diameter
Fruit Color	Initially whitish, ripening to red
Seed	Seed one, small and black
Propagation	By sowing and division propagation
Taste	Sweet, bitter
Plant Parts Used	Root, tuber
Season	August to October
Other Facts	In China, the plant is used as biological pest control against maggots and mosquito larvae.
Precautions	It not recommended using if suffering from diarrhea, cold and dampness. Avoid use in case of cough due to cold.

Plant Description

Chinese asparagus is an evergreen or deciduous perennials or subshrubs, sometimes herbaceous climbing plant that normally grows about 2.5 m tall. The plant is found growing in thinly forested slopes, roadsides and waste fields from near sea level. It is also found near seashores all over Japan. The plant grows well in full sun on deep, well drained, fertile, loamy soil but is partially shade tolerant and drought tolerant and can grow in dry, sandy soils. Tuberous root is spindle-shaped and expanded in the middle or near the end. The enlarged part is 3-5 cm long and 1-2 cm thick. Stems are smooth, often curved or twisted, up to 1-2 m long, branches angulate or narrowly winged.

Leaves

Leafy branches are usually in clusters of 3, flattened or slightly sharp triangulates due to midrib keel, slightly sickle-shaped, 0.5-8 cm long and 1-2 mm wide; Scaly leaves on stems extend at base into stiff spines 2.5-3.5 mm long, with shorter or inconspicuous spines on branches.

Flowers

Chinese asparagus flowers usually in 2 axillary, light green; Pedicels are 2- 6 mm long, joints usually midway, sometimes variate; Male flowers: perianth 2.5-3 mm long; Filaments are not adnate to perianth segments; Female flowers are similar in size to male flowers. The flowering period of Chinese asparagus (Asparagus cochinchinensis) is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from August to October.

Fruits

Fertile flowers are followed by globose berries, 6-7 mm in diameter with single seed. They are initially whitish, ripening to red.

Different function and purpose of Chinese asparagus

Decoration application

Chinese asparagus can be used as a small pot, and it is suitable for indoor ornamental pot, and it is also a good leaf arrangement for bouquet. Chinese asparagus is commonly used in a thousand barrel basin, placed on a few high frames, green leaves fine and soft hanging down like a waterfall, with a sense of movement. It can also be suspended to appreciate.

The international popular cultivation of Chinese asparagus, branches into upright shape, dense leaflet composition such as foxtail, beautiful. Potted Chinese asparagus is suitable for decorating family rooms or halls, and can also be cut stems and leaves as lining leaves for Flower arrangement.

Medicinal value

Chinese asparagus (Asparagus cochinchinensis) is used medicinally for the treatment of fever, cough, vomiting blood, lung impotence, lung carbuncle, sore throat, thirst, constipation, urination. Root tuber is a common Chinese medicine, which has the effect of moistening dryness, clearing fire and relieving cough.