This species is closely allied to Asparagus cochinchinensis, and can only be distinguished by a combination of characters[].

Common Name: Shatavari

General Information

Asparagus racemosus is a perennial, usually climbing, plant producing stems up to 7 metres tall from a tuberous rootstock.
Shatavari is a famous Ayurvedic medicinal herb, it is said to be particularly useful as a women's herb. It is commonly harvested from the wild to the extent that overcollection in some areas of its range are causing conservation concerns[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Widespread from tropical Africa through Arabia, tropical Asia to northern Australia

Habitat

Found at elevations up to 1,200 metres in the Himalayas, eastwards from Kashmir[]. Broad-leaved forests along streams or valleys at elevations of 2,100 - 2,200 metres in western China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Found in the subtropics to tropics, but usually avoiding the wetter regions. It requires a distinct dry season in order to flourish[]. It is not very frost-hardy and generally needs to be grown in a frost-free or fairly frost-free climate[, ].
Easily grown in any good garden soil[]. Prefers a rich sandy loam[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Tender young shoots - cooked as a vegetable[]. A preserve prepared from the blanched shoots is said to be very agreeable[].

The tuber are candied as a sweetmeat[]. The only flavour is said to be that of the sugar[]. The roots are 5 - 13cm long[].

Medicinal

Shatavari (this is an Indian word meaning 'a woman who has a hundred husbands') is the most important herb in Ayurvedic medicine for dealing with problems connected women's fertility[]. The rhizome is a soothing tonic that acts mainly on the circulatory, digestive, respiratory and female reproductive organs[].

The root is alterative, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, demulcent, diuretic, galactagogue and refrigerant[, ]. It is taken internally in the treatment of infertility, loss of libido, threatened miscarriage, menopausal problems, hyperacidity, stomach ulcers and bronchial infections[]. Externally it is used to treat stiffness in the joints[]. The root is used fresh in the treatment of dysentery. It is harvested in the autumn and dried for use in treating other complaints[].

The whole plant is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, rheumatism, diabetes and brain complaints[].

Other Uses

The squeezed root is used for washing clothes[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak stored seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in containers in a lightly shaded position. It usually germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 25°c[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position until ready to plant out.
Division as the plant comes into growth.

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