Asparagus officinalis
Wild Asparagus in Austria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Asparagaceae Genus: Asparagus Species: A. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Liliopsida is a Botanical name for the class containing the family Liliaceae (or Lily Family Asparagales is an order of Flowering plants The order must include the family Asparagaceae, but other families included in the order have varied markedly Asparagaceae is the Botanical name of a family of Flowering plants. The Genus Asparagus in the plant family Asparagaceae comprises up to 300 Species. officinalis
Binomial name
Asparagus officinalis L.

Asparagus officinalis is a flowering plant species in the genus Asparagus from which the vegetable known as asparagus is obtained. The Genus Asparagus in the plant family Asparagaceae comprises up to 300 Species. The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however It is native to most of Europe, northern Africa and western Asia. ^[1][2][3] It is now also widely cultivated as a vegetable crop. The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however ^[4]

Biology

Asparagus is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 100-150 cm tall, with stout larissa stems with much-branched feathery foliage. A herbaceous plant (or in botanical use a Herb) is a Plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of A perennial plant or perennial ( Latin per, "through" annus, "year" is a Plant that lives for more than The 'leaves' are in fact needle-like cladodes (modified stems) in the axils of scale leaves; they are 6–32 mm long and 1 mm broad, and clustered 4–15 together. The flowers are bell-shaped, greenish-white to yellowish, 4. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also 5–6. 5 mm long, with six tepals partially fused together at the base; they are produced singly or in clusters of 2-3 in the junctions of the branchlets. Tepals are elements of the Perianth, or outer part of a flower which include the Petals or Sepals The term tepal is usually used when all segments It is usually dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants, but sometimes hermaphrodite flowers are found. Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of Sexual reproduction systems found across the Plant kingdom The fruit is a small red berry 6–10 mm diameter. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. Green asparagus is eaten worldwide, commonly with eggs in China and with beef in Britain. It is not considered a delicacy as it is very cheap and easy to obtain. ^[5] This does not hold for white asparagus, see below. Asparagus officinalis is a flowering plant species in the genus Asparagus from which the Vegetable known as asparagus is obtained These are considered a popular but expensive May-June seasonal delicacy in northwest Europe, locally nicknamed "white gold".

Plants native to the western coasts of Europe (from northern Spain north to Ireland, Great Britain, and northwest Germany) are treated as Asparagus officinalis subsp. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. prostratus (Dumort. ) Corb. , distinguished by its low-growing, often prostrate stems growing to only 30–70 cm high, and shorter cladodes 2–18 mm long. ^[1][5] It is treated as a distinct species Asparagus prostratus Dumort. by some authors. ^[6][7]

§==History== Asparagus has been used from very early times as a vegetable and medicine, owing to its delicate flavour and diuretic properties. A diuretic is any Drug that elevates the rate of urination ( Diuresis) There is a recipe for cooking asparagus in the oldest surviving book of recipes, Apicius’s third century AD De re coquinaria, Book III. A recipe is a set of instructions that show how to prepare or make something especially a culinary dish. 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. It lost its popularity in the Middle Ages but returned to favour in the seventeenth century. ^[8]

Uses

Culinary

Three types of asparagus on a shop display, with white asparagus at the back and green asparagus in the middle. The plant at the front is Ornithogalum pyrenaicum, is commonly called wild asparagus, and sometimes "Bath Asparagus". Ornithogalum pyrenaicum, also called Prussian asparagus, wild asparagus, Bath Asparagus, Pyrenees star of Bethlehem or spiked

Only the young shoots of asparagus are eaten. Asparagus is low in calories, contains no fat or cholesterol, and is very low in sodium. It is a good source of folic acid, potassium, dietary fiber, and rutin. Folic acid (also known as Vitamin M and Folacin) and Folate (the Anionic form are forms of the water-soluble Vitamin B9 Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. Rutin, also called rutoside, quercetin-3-rutinoside and sophorin, is a Citrus Flavonoid Glycoside found in Buckwheat The amino acid asparagine gets its name from asparagus, the asparagus plant being rich in this compound. In Chemistry, an amino acid is a Molecule containing both Amine and Carboxyl Functional groups In Biochemistry, this Asparagine (abbreviated as Asn or N; Asx or B represent either asparagine or Aspartic acid) is one of the 20 most common natural

The shoots are prepared and served in a number of ways around the world. In Asian-style cooking, asparagus is often stir-fried. Cantonese restaurants in the United States often serve asparagus stir-fried with chicken, shrimp, or beef, also wrapped in bacon. Guangzhou ( Jyutping: Gwong²zau¹; Yale: Gwóngjàu) is the Capital and a Sub-provincial city The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The chicken ( Gallus gallus, sometimes G gallus domesticus) is a domesticated Fowl which is traditionally believed to have descended from True shrimp are swimming decapod Crustaceans classified in the Infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh Beef is the Culinary name for Meat from Bovines especially domestic Cattle (cows Bacon is a cut of Meat taken from the sides belly or back of a Pig that has been cured, smoked, or both Asparagus may also be quickly grilled over charcoal or hardwood embers. It is also used as an ingredient in some stews and soups. In the French style, it is often boiled or steamed and served with hollandaise sauce, melted butter or olive oil, Parmesan cheese or mayonnaise. Hollandaise sauce is an Emulsion of Butter and Lemon juice using Egg yolks as the emulsifying agent usually seasoned with Salt and Olive oil is a fruit oil obtained from the olive ( Olea europaea; family Oleaceae along with Lilacs Jasmine and ash trees Parmigiano-Reggiano is a hard fat Granular cheese, cooked but not pressed named after the producing areas of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Mayonnaise (sometime abbreviated to mayo in American English and other languages is a thick Condiment made primarily from Vegetable oil and Egg The best asparagus tends to be early growth (meaning first of the season) and is often simply steamed and served along with melted butter. Tall, narrow asparagus cooking pots allow the shoots to be steamed gently, their tips staying out of the water.

Asparagus can also be pickled and stored for several years. Pickling, also known as brining or corning, is the process of preserving Food by Anaerobic fermentation in Brine (a solution Some brands may label them as "marinated" which means the same thing.

The bottom portion of asparagus often contains sand, and as such proper preparation is generally advised in cooking asparagus.

Medicinal

Asparagus rhizomes and root is used ethnomedically to treat urinary tract infections, as well as kidney and bladder stones. In Botany, a rhizome is a horizontal stem of a Plant that is usually found underground often sending out Roots and Shoots Ethnomedicine is a sub-field of Ethnobotany or Medical anthropology that deals with the study of Traditional medicines not only those that have relevant A urinary tract infection ( UTI) is a bacterial Infection that affects any part of the Urinary tract. It is also believed to have aphrodisiac properties, owing to its phallic shape.

Ingestion of Asparagus may bring on an attack of gout^[9] in certain individuals due to the high level of purines. Gout (also called metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of Uric acid. Purine ( 1) is a heterocyclic Aromatic Organic compound, consisting of a Pyrimidine ring fused to an Imidazole ring

Cultivation

See also: List of asparagus diseases

Since asparagus often originates in maritime habitats, it thrives in soils that are too saline for normal weeds to grow in. This article is a list of diseases of Asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis) Thus a little salt was traditionally used to suppress weeds in beds intended for asparagus; this has the disadvantage that the soil cannot be used for anything else. 'Crowns' are planted in winter, and the first shoots appear in spring; the first pickings or 'thinnings' are known as sprue asparagus. Sprue have thin stems. ^[10]

Green asparagus for sale in New York City. The City of New York

White asparagus, known as spargel, is cultivated by denying the plants light and increasing the amount of ultraviolet light the plants are exposed to while they are being grown. Spargel is the German name for Asparagus. Most asparagus in Germany is white as it is grown covered in soil ( Hilling) in order to prevent Photosynthesis Less bitter than the green variety, it is very popular in the Netherlands, France,Belgium and Germany where 57,000 tonnes (61% of consumer demands) are produced annually. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. ^[11]

Purple asparagus differs from its green and white counterparts, having high sugar and low fibre levels. Fiber or fibre is a class of Materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces similar to lengths of thread. Purple asparagus was originally developed in Italy and commercialised under the variety name Violetto d'Albenga. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Since then, breeding work has continued in countries such as the United States and New Zealand.

Companion planting

Asparagus is a useful companion plant for tomatoes. Companion planting in gardening and agriculture is planting of different crops in close physical proximity on the theory that they will help each other The tomato plant repels the asparagus beetle, as do several other common companion plants of tomatoes, meanwhile asparagus may repel some harmful root nematodes that affect tomato plants[1].

Commercial production

Asparagus output in 2005 shown as a percentage of the top producer (China – 5,906,000 tonnes).
     100      10      1

As of 2007, Peru is the world's leading asparagus exporter, followed by China and Mexico. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. ^[12] The top asparagus importers (2004) were the United States (92,405 tonnes), followed by the European Union (external trade) (18,565 tonnes), and Japan (17,148 tonnes). The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. ^[13] The United States' production for 2005 was on 218. 5 km² (54,000 acres) and yielded 90,200 tonnes,^[14] making it the world's third largest producer, after China (5,906,000 tonnes) and Peru (206,030 tonnes). ^[15] US production was concentrated in California, Michigan, and Washington. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. ^[14] The crop is significant enough in California's Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta region that the city of Stockton holds a festival every year to celebrate it. The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is an expansive inland River delta and Estuary in northern California in the United States. Stockton is a City in California and the seat of San Joaquin County (the fifth largest agricultural county in the United States

Vernacular names and etymology

Asparagus in Mildura, Victoria, Australia

Asparagus officinalis is widely known simply as "asparagus", and may be confused with unrelated plant species also known as "asparagus", such as Ornithogalum pyrenaicum known as "Prussian asparagus" for its edible shoots. Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia, part of the Rural City of Mildura. Ornithogalum pyrenaicum, also called Prussian asparagus, wild asparagus, Bath Asparagus, Pyrenees star of Bethlehem or spiked

The English word "asparagus" derives from classical Latin, but the plant was once known in English as sperage, from the Medieval Latin sparagus. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Medieval Latin was the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages, primarily as a medium of scholarly exchange and as the Liturgical language of the medieval This term itself derives from the Greek aspharagos or asparagos, and the Greek term originates from the Persian asparag, meaning "sprout" or "shoot". Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly

Asparagus was also corrupted in some places to "sparrow grass"; indeed, the Oxford English Dictionary quotes John Walker as having written in 1791 that "Sparrow-grass is so general that asparagus has an air of stiffness and pedantry". John Walker (1730–1803 was Professor of Natural History at the University of Edinburgh from 1779 to 1803 In Gloucestershire and Worcestershire where arguably the best asparagus is grown it is also known simply as "grass". Another known colloquial variation of the term, most common in parts of Texas, is "aspar grass" or "asper grass". A colloquialism is an expression not used in formal speech, writing or Paralinguistics. In the Midwest United States and Appalachia, "spar grass" is a common colloquialism. Appalachia is a term used to describe a region in the eastern United States that stretches from southern New York state to northern Alabama, A colloquialism is an expression not used in formal speech, writing or Paralinguistics. Asparagus is commonly known in fruit retail circles as "Sparrows Guts", etymologically distinct from the old term "sparrow grass", thus showing convergent language evolution.

It is known in French and Dutch as asperge, in Italian as asparago (old Italian asparagio), in Portuguese as espargo hortense, in Spanish as espárrago, in German as Spargel, in Hungarian as spárga. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Spargel is the German name for Asparagus. Most asparagus in Germany is white as it is grown covered in soil ( Hilling) in order to prevent Photosynthesis Hungarian ( magyar nyelv) is a Uralic language (more specifically a Ugric language) unrelated to most other languages in Europe.

In a South Indian language, Kannada, it is known as Ashadhi, Majjigegadde or Sipariberuballi. Kannada (kn [[wiktಕನ್ನಡ ಕನ್ನಡ]] Kannaḍa) is one of the major Dravidian languages of India, spoken predominantly in the state

Asparagus and urine

The effect of eating asparagus on one's urine has long been known. Marcel Proust claimed that asparagus ". Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust (maʁsɛl pʁust (10 July 1871 &ndash 18 November 1922 was a French Novelist Essayist and Critic . . transforms my chamber-pot into a flask of perfume. " Certain constituents of asparagus are metabolized giving urine a distinctive smell due to various sulfur-containing degradation products, including various thiols, thioesters, and ammonia. Metabolism is the set of Chemical reactions that occur in living Organisms in order to maintain Life. Sulfur or sulphur (ˈsʌlfɚ see spelling below) is the Chemical element that has the Atomic number 16 In Organic chemistry, a thiol is a compound that contains the functional group composed of a Sulfur atom and a Hydrogen atom (-SH Thioesters are compounds resulting from the bonding of Sulfur with an Acyl group with the general formula R-S-CO-R'. ^[16] Derivatives of asparagusic acid are also found in urine. Asparagusic acid, S2(CH22CHCO2H is an organosulfur Carboxylic acid present in the vegetable Asparagus The speed of onset of urine smell has been estimated to occur within 15-30 minutes of ingestion. ^[17] All individuals produce the odorous compounds after eating asparagus, but only about 40% of the population have the autosomal genes required to smell them. An autosome is a non-sex Chromosome. It is an ordinarily paired type of chromosome that is the same in both Sexes of a species. ^[18][19][20]

References

External links

• Los Angeles' Most Expensive Asparagus
• PROTAbase on Asparagus officinalis
• Asparagus officinalis - Plants for a Future database entry
• World Asparagus Situation and OutlookPDF (55. 0 KiB) - 2005 USDA report
• Asparagus Production Management and Marketing - commercial growing (OSU bulletin)
• The Stockton Asparagus Festival - held annually every April in Stockton, California
• Growing Asparagus Guide to growing Asparagus