Asarum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Asarum
Asarum caudatum (western wild ginger)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Piperales
Family:	Aristolochiaceae
Subfamily:	Asaroideae
Genus:	Asarum L.
Type species
Asarum europaeum
Species
See text

Asarum is a group of plants often called wild ginger. It belongs to the Aristolochiaceae family, also known as the birthwort family.

The name Asarum comes from a Latin word meaning "altar" or "sanctuary."

About Wild Ginger

Wild ginger plants are usually low to the ground. They grow in cool areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Most types are found in East Asia (like China, Japan, and Vietnam) and North America. Only one type grows in Europe. Scientists believe Asarum first appeared in Asia.

These plants have special kidney-shaped leaves. They grow from rhizomes, which are stems that creep along or just under the ground. Their small flowers are brown or reddish and grow near where the leaves meet the stem.

The plant is called wild ginger because its underground stem (rhizome) smells and tastes a bit like real ginger. However, wild ginger is not closely related to the ginger you use for cooking. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns people not to eat Asarum. It contains harmful chemicals that can damage your kidneys and may even cause cancer.

Wild ginger likes places that are damp and shady. It grows best in soil rich with humus, which is decayed plant and animal matter. Its heart-shaped leaves fall off in the autumn. Two new leaves grow each year from the tip of the rhizome. The interesting jug-shaped flowers appear in spring between the leaf bases. This is why the plant is sometimes called "little jug."

You can easily grow wild ginger in a shade garden. It makes a nice plant to cover the ground.

Asarum europaeum flower

How Scientists Classify Wild Ginger

For a long time, scientists thought of Asarum as one large group with about 85 different types (species). But now, some plant scientists (botanists) prefer to divide the group into smaller, separate groups. They do this based on things like the number of chromosomes and the shape of the flowers.

Some of these smaller groups include:

• Asarum sensu stricto (meaning Asarum in the strict sense): This group has about 17 species. They are found in Asia (mostly China), North America, and Europe.
• Heterotropa: This group has about 50 species and grows in Asia.
• Asiasarum: This group has three or four species and is found in Asia.
• Geotaenium: This group also has three or four species and grows in Asia.
• Hexastylis: This group has ten species and is found in North America.

Newer studies, which look at plant DNA and physical features, suggest that it might be better to group Asarum into two main subgroups, each with two sections. Even with these new studies, many botanists still consider these smaller groups as part of the larger Asarum family.

Types of Wild Ginger

Uses

Even though wild ginger smells like cooking ginger, it is not safe to eat. It contains chemicals that can be very harmful to your body. Historically, some types were used in traditional medicine, but due to their dangerous properties, they are not recommended for use.

See also

In Spanish: Jengibre salvaje para niños