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Asparagus officinalis L.

Asparagus, wild asparagus

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassLiliopsidaMonocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
SubclassLiliidaeIncludes lilies, orchids, and many others
OrderAsparagalesA diverse group that includes asparagus
FamilyAsparagaceaeAgaves, asparagus, hyacinths, and others
GenusAsparagusAncient Greek name for (duh) asparagus
SpeciesofficinalisSold as an herb, often applied to plants with real or supposed medicinal qualities

About plant names...

Many of us think of asparagus as the short stalks from the grocery story, delicious or awful-tasting, depend­ing on who you ask. But these young stalks are babies. They are harvested after the plants become well-established, leaving behind some to grow to maturity and continue to the next season. Asparagus is a native of Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia.

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus, wild asparagus)

From Thomé, Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm, Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz., 1885.

Plants: 3-5′ (1-1.5 m) tall. Erect stems branch extensively into progressively finer branches and feathery “leaves,” which are themselves fine stems.

Leaves: Foliage is delicate-looking and resembles soft needles at close range.

Flowers: Flowers are small and bell-shaped, and greenish white to yellowish.

Fruits: Red-orange berries are about ⅛-⅜″ (6-10 mm) in diameter. They are not edible.

Edibility: Young shoots are delicious. Don't eat the berries though. From Wikipedia:

There is a recipe for cooking asparagus in the oldest surviving book of recipes, Apicius’s third century AD De re coquinaria, Book III. It was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, who ate it fresh when in season and dried the vegetable for use in winter.

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

Wikipedia

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Luirig.altervista.org

SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus, wild asparagus)

8/7/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus, wild asparagus)

10/22/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Asparagus officinalis L. ssp. officinalis

 

Asparagus officinalis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 30 Aug 2021.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus, wild asparagus)

6/20/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus, wild asparagus)

8/1/2009 · Stan & Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus, wild asparagus)

10/2/2010 · Route 209, Milford, Penn­syl­vania ID is uncertain

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus, wild asparagus)

10/2/2010 · Route 209, Milford, Penn­syl­vania ID is uncertain

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus, wild asparagus)

10/22/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus, wild asparagus)

9/25/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus, wild asparagus)

10/22/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus, wild asparagus)

8/7/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Range:

About this map...