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]]