Spices & Medicinal Herbs
Spices
Vegetables
Herbs
Popular Herbs
Aloe Vera
Apple mint
African rue
Basil
Bayberry
Black Walnut
Capsicum
Coriander
Chives
Echinacea
Garlic
Lavender
Marshmallow
Mullein
Musli
Oregano
Stevia

Herb : Asarum

(Botanical name: Asarum europaeum)

Classification

Asarum europaeum, also known as Asarabacca, European Wild Ginger, Haselwort, and Wild Spikenard, is a European species of wild ginger.

History

It is a native of Europe is found in W. Asia, Virginia, Ohio, and New York.

Plant Description

It is a perennial plant growing to 0.1m by 0.5m, consisting of a very short fleshy stem, bearing two large, dark-green, kidney-shaped evergreen leaves, and a solitary purplish-green drooping flower.

The rounded glossy leaves of this low carpeting ginger make it an ideal groundcover for a woodland setting. The evergreen foliage hides the odd, bell-shaped flowers which turn brown as they age. Shiny, rounded leaves are nicely etched by their pale yellow veins.

The stems are 10-15 cm long. The leaves are petiolate and reniform and about 10 cm wide. It occurs mostly in deciduous woodland or coniferous forests. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to August.

Flowers are inconspicuous, small, hidden away under the leaves. They are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and bloom in spring.

Cultivation

It prefers a rich moist neutral to acid soil with very high moisture content. It prefers a bit acidic soil, the pH ranging from 6.1 to 6.5. It is suitable for bogs and water gardens. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). The root has a pungent, aromatic smell like mild pepper and ginger mixed, but more strongly aromatic.

The flowers are malodorous and are pollinated by flies. It blooms from late spring to summer. The seed heads should be allowed to dry on the plant and then should be removed and collected.
Plants are slow to increase. It is best to pot the divisions up and keep them in light shade in the greenhouse until they are growing away strongly.

Parts Used

The root of the plant and the leaves are used.

Main Constituents

The root and leaves are acrid and contain a volatile oil, a bitter matter, and a substance like camphor. An essential oil in the root contains 50% asarone and is 65% more toxic than peppermint oil.

Uses

Disclaimer: The site does not advice you to take any action, we only provide information based on research done by various people world wide. One should consult their doctor, physician or an expert before taking any action or herbal/natural remedy mentioned on this website.


Spices :: Herbs :: Vegetables
Copyright © 2006-2023 Spices and Medicinal Herbs