Biology:Asparagus africanus
| African asparagus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asparagoideae |
| Genus: | Asparagus |
| Species: | A. africanus
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| Binomial name | |
| Asparagus africanus Lam.
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Asparagus africanus, also known as African asparagus, bush asparagus, wild asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, ornamental asparagus and sparrow grass, is an African species of plant that is found in a variety of habitats. It has multiple medicinal properties and is used to treat various ailments.
Description
Asparagus africanus is a spiny shrub up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall or a climbing plant with stems up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long.[2] Stems of up to 5 m (16 ft) long have also been recorded.[3] These plants have a rhizomatous root system, from which they can reshoot.[2][3] Multiple stems grow from a central crown.[3] Bunches of cladodes (modified branchlets) occur at the leaf scales. Each ends in a sharp point.[2][4] These look fern-like, giving rise to one of this species' common names (climbing asparagus fern).[3]
The plant produces white flowers, which, like the leaves, grow in clusters.[2] They have three sepals and three petals, which are similar in appearance. The six white filaments have yellow anthers.[4] Flowers are present between August and December.[2] The colour and the scent of these flowers attract insects, which pollinate the flowers.[4]
Plants produce round fruits. These are red when ripe and shrivel to reveal a single black seed.[3] These fruits may also be eaten by mammals and birds, aiding in dispersal.[4] Fruits may be present at any time of the year, assuming that conditions are suitable.[4] These berries contain toxic compounds, such as furostanol and may cause pain and vomiting.
Distribution and habitat
Asparagus africanus is a widely distributed species. It is found across most of Africa, as well as the Arabian Peninsula and India.[5] It grows in a variety of habitats, ranging from rainforests to grasslands to semi-deserts.[4] The plant can grow rapidly. In its climbing state it can quickly come to dominate the canopy, outcompeting other species.[3] It has also become naturalised in parts of Australia after being introduced as an ornamental plant.[6]
Conservation
The population is considered to be stable and the species is listed as being of least concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).[7]
This species is considered to be a problematic weed in Queensland.[6] For example, it is considered to threaten ecosystem functioning in the Boondall Wetlands Reserve.[3] It is listed as a category 3 restricted matter under the 2014 Biosecurity Act, meaning that it can not be gifted, sold or released without a permit in an attempt to reduce its spread.[8] As such, eradication programs are being established to remove it across its range in Australia.[6][3]
Uses
The new shoots are harvested and eaten as a vegetable. They are seen as being a good source of fiber and various vitamins. The roots are also boiled and eaten. The fruit are mainly only eaten during times of famine.[4]
The stems and underground components of the plants are used to treat a wide variety of conditions in a variety of cultures.[4] Research has found that they improve the functioning of the immune system in laboratory animals, providing insight as to why this plant is so widely utilised.[9] It is, for example, seen as a valuable medicinal plant by people living in Ethiopia.[10] The Zay people of Ethiopia use the cladodes on their skin to treat skin lesions. They also feed equines the roots and cladodes to treat geregelcha, a disease in which mucous continuously comes out of the nose of the animal.[11] The root tubers mixed with milk are used after birth to help expel the afterbirth.[4] It is also used as a form of birth control by rural women in Uganda.[12] In South Africa, it is used to treat headaches, STIs, stomach aches, sore throats and malaria, amongst other conditions.[13]
Compounds found in the roots have been found to be an effective anti-parasitic and anti-protozoan, including against Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly form of malaria in humans.[14][15] Methanolic extracts from the roots have also been found to have pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties.[16]
References
- ↑ "Asparagus africanus". Species. GBIF. http://www.gbif.org/species/2768551.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2012). Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region : 1: the core Cape flora. Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute, SANBI. ISBN 978-1-919976-74-7. OCLC 852384288. https://www.sanbi.org/sites/default/files/documents/documents/strelitzia-29-2012.pdf.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Office of Environment and Heritage (2013). Asparagus weeds Management Manual: Current management and control options for asparagus weeds Asparagus spp. in Australia. Sydney: Office of Environment and Heritage. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Animals-and-plants/Pests-and-weeds/asparagus-weeds-management-manual-130486.pdf.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Mei, Nomama (2017). "Asparagus africanus". http://pza.sanbi.org/asparagus-africanus.
- ↑ "Plants of the World Online | Kew Science" (in en). 2022. https://powo.science.kew.org/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 D., Armstrong, T.R. Breaden, R.C. Hinchliffe (2006). The control of climbing asparagus (Asparagus africanus Lam.) in remnant Brigalow scrub in south-east Queensland. OCLC 1130295968. http://worldcat.org/oclc/1130295968.
- ↑ von Staden, L. (2012). "Asparagus africanus Lam". http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=728-4.
- ↑ "View - Queensland Legislation - Queensland Government". https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-2014-007.
- ↑ Aduol, Oduor Michael; Ogila, O. Kenneth (2012). "Enhancement of the Nonspecific Immune System by Extracts of Asparagus africanus and Caesalpinia volkensii" (in en). Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences 2 (3). https://ajphs.com/article/2012/2/3/380-383.
- ↑ Lulekal, Ermias; Kelbessa, Ensermu; Bekele, Tamrat; Yineger, Haile (2008-04-28). "An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Mana Angetu District, southeastern Ethiopia". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 4 (1): 10. doi:10.1186/1746-4269-4-10. ISSN 1746-4269. PMID 18442379.
- ↑ Giday, Mirutse; Asfaw, Zemede; Elmqvist, Thomas; Woldu, Zerihun (2003-03-01). "An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Zay people in Ethiopia" (in en). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 85 (1): 43–52. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(02)00359-8. ISSN 0378-8741. PMID 12576201. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874102003598.
- ↑ Okello, Okidi Oscar P.; David, Nkwangu; Oloro, Joseph (2019) (in en-US). Anti-fertility activity of aqueous root bark extracts of Asparagus africanus Lam and Annona senegalensis Pers combination on female Sprague Dawley rats. http://ir.must.ac.ug/xmlui/handle/123456789/1869.
- ↑ HerausgeberIn., Rao, Venketeshwer (2020). Phytochemicals in Human Health.. IntechOpen. ISBN 978-1-78985-588-3. OCLC 1286308878. http://worldcat.org/oclc/1286308878.
- ↑ Kebede, Sintayehu; Afework, Mekbeb; Debella, Asfaw; Ergete, Wondwossen; Makonnen, Eyasu (2016-01-27). "Toxicological study of the butanol fractionated root extract of Asparagus africanus Lam., on some blood parameter and histopathology of liver and kidney in mice". BMC Research Notes 9 (1): 49. doi:10.1186/s13104-016-1861-5. ISSN 1756-0500. PMID 26817697.
- ↑ Oketch-Rabah, H. A.; Dossaji, S. F.; Christensen, S. Brøgger; Frydenvang, Karla; Lemmich, Else; Cornett, Claus; Olsen, Carl E.; Chen, Ming et al. (1997-10-01). "Antiprotozoal Compounds from Asparagus africanus" (in en). Journal of Natural Products 60 (10): 1017–1022. doi:10.1021/np970217f. ISSN 0163-3864. PMID 9358645. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/np970217f.
- ↑ Hassan, Hs; Ahmadu, Aa; Hassan, As (2008-10-16). "Analgesic And Anti-Inflammatory Activities Of Asparagus africanus Root Extract". African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines 5 (1): 27–31. doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v5i1.31252. ISSN 0189-6016. PMID 20162051. PMC 2816601. http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/31252.
Wikidata ☰ Q8207152 entry
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