Asparagus officinalis  L.  ssp. officinalis Liliaceae (Lily Family) Europe Garden Asparagus

                                               April Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Perennial herb with many cord-like fleshy roots; stems much branched ending in filiform or flattened green branchlets borne in the axils of scalelike leaves, young stems simple, stout, edible, later branching and becoming 1-2 m. high; fls. small, greenish-yellow, usually in racemes or umbels; perianth bell-shaped, ca. 6 mm. long; berry red; the plants largely dioecious.

Habitat:  Escape from gardens and fields, especially in low subsaline places; Santa Catalina Id.  May-June.

Name:  Greek, asparagos, ancient name for asparagus and officinalis, official.  The asparagus is the species that has long been recognized as a proper and official food for people.  (John Johnson).  

General:  Uncommon in the study area, having been found only on a small dredged fill area off of Back Bay Dr. just northerly of San Joaquin Hills Rd. and again along the old salt works dike.  In 1992 A. officinalis was found in the Santa Ana Heights flats at about where an extension of Mesa Dr. would intersect the bay.  In 2001 the plant was found in the marsh area below Eastbluff North. (my comments).      Asparagus is a powerful diuretic and thus valuable medicinally.  (Coon 239).     The Greeks ate the plant raw.  In 2000 B.C. Cato gave growing instructions.  The Romans knew and cultivated the plant, but preferred it as it grew wild in meadows with sandy soil.  It came into vogue in France during the reign of Louis XIV.  It has been valued for its medicinal properties both as a diuretic and a laxative.  Some have advocated its use to restore eyesight and ease toothache.  Green asparagus is a good source of vitamin A and a fair source of vitamins B & C.  (ref. not recorded).     When mature, asparagus is often used as a table decoration.  (Kirk 165).       It is generally known that eating asparagus will scent the urine.  On July 9, 1992, I was listening to KFI radio and heard Dr. Dean Edell discuss excerpts from an article he had read on the subject.  He said approximately the following:  Only 50% of the people who eat asparagus have scented urine, the other half do not.  The cause is definitely genetic and only half of a persons children will be so affected.  Apparently the scent was first noted when people in the 17th century began to use fertilizer containing sulfur; this fact was noted in a journal written in 1735.  (my comments).       The tea is a gentle but effective laxative where an irritating cathartic would be inappropriate, such as with the bedridden, elderly, or pregnant.  (Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West 29).       Used as a diaphoretic and as an aperient.   (Meyer 11).       Eating the green young shoots raw often causes dermatitis.  Also, the berries should not be eaten.  The degree of poisoning may very from a mildly reddened skin to a most painful swelling accompanied with blisters and itchiness.  The severity depends upon the amount eaten, and the sensitivity of the individual. (James 14).     About 150 species from Siberia to South Africa.  (Bailey 215).      Comparison of the DNA sequences for various genes, usually those found in the chloroplast of the plant cell has led biologists to propose many changes in the plant families as they are now known.  It is proposed to move the genus Asparagus from Liliaceae to Asparagaceae.  (Kelch, Dean G. “Consider the Lilies” FREMONTIA, A Journal of the California Native Plant Society Vol. 30 No. 2 April 2002 pp. 23-29).

Text Ref:  Bailey 216; Hickman, Ed. 1179; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 920; Roberts 44.

Photo Ref:  April-May 85 # 9; July 1 86 # 8; April-May 01 #24.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

First Found:  April 1985.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 108.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 5/27/04.  

                                 April Photo                                                                              May Photo