Wild ginger 181365 225868315 2008-07-15T19:50:42Z 216.249.135.4 {{Taxobox | name = Wild ginger | image = wild ginger leaves.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Wild ginger leaves<br>(''Asarum caudatum'') | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Piperales]] | familia = [[Aristolochiaceae]] | genus = '''''Asarum''''' | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = *''[[Asarum arifolium]]'' *''[[Asarum canadense]]'' *''[[Asarum caudatum]]'' *''[[Asarum europaeum]]'' *''[[Asarum hartwegii]]'' *''[[Asarum hongkongensis]]'' *''[[Asarum lemmonii]]'' *''[[Asarum marmoratum]]'' *''[[Asarum maximum]]'' *''[[Asarum naniflorum]]'' *''[[Asarum splendens]]''}} '''Wild ginger''' refers to an herbaceous plant genus '''''Asarum''''' (''[[Syllable stress of Botanical Latin|Á-sa-rum]]'') of about 10 species in the birthwort family [[Aristolochiaceae]]. ''[[Asarum canadense]]'' is native to the forests of eastern [[North America]]. It is found from the [[Great Plains]] east to the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] Coast, and from southeastern [[Canada]] south to approximately the [[fall line]] in the southeastern [[United States]]. ''[[Asarum caudatum]]'' is found in [[British Columbia]] south through [[Washington]] and [[Oregon]] to central [[California]], and from the [[Coast Range]] east to western [[Montana]]. The plant is called wild ginger because the [[rhizome]] tastes and smells similar to that of [[ginger root]], but the two are not particularly related. The root can be used as a [[spice]], but is a potent [[diuretic]], or urinary stimulant. ''Asarum canadense'' and other species in the genus contain the chemical [[aristolochic acid]], which is carcinogenic in rats. The birthwort family also contains the genus [[Aristolochia]], known for [[carcinogens]]. Wild ginger favors moist, shaded sites with [[humus]]-rich soil. The deciduous, heart-shaped [[leaf|leaves]] are opposite, and borne from the rhizome which lies just under the soil surface. Two leaves emerge each year from the growing tip. The curious jug-shaped [[flower]]s, which give the plant an alternate name, '''little jug''', are borne singly in [[Spring (season)|Spring]] between the leaf bases. Wild ginger can easily be grown in a [[shade garden]], and makes an attractive [[groundcover]]. [[Image:Asarum europaeum flower 050403.jpg|thumb|right|250px|European Wild Ginger (''Asarum europaeum'') - flower]] == See also == *''[[Hexastylis]]'', a closely related genus sometimes treated as synonymous with ''Asarum'' == External links == *{{commons-inline}} *[http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-bot.html U.S. FDA warning on aristolochic acid] *[http://www.iarc.fr/ The International Agency for Research on Cancer]. *[http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/2001/2001_91_e.html Health Canada advising not to use products labelled to contain Aristolochia]. == References == {{Reflist}} [[Category:Herbs]] [[Category:Medicinal plants]] [[Category:Piperales]] [[da:Hasselurt]] [[es:Asarum]] [[fr:Asaret]] [[ja:カンアオイ属]] [[pl:Kopytnik (roślina)]] [[pt:Asarum]] [[sq:Asarum]] [[vi:Chi Tế tân]]