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Asparagus acutifolius

Table of Contents

Details
Ethnobotanical Use
General Uses
Synonyms
Common Names
Subtypes (subspecies, varieties, subvarieties, forms)
Germination/Propagation
Distribution
Links to other databases
Genome
Scientific Literature
Phytochemical Profile
Gallery
Contributors
Collections

Details Top

Internal ID UUID6440149e8f2aa910215524
Scientific name Asparagus acutifolius
Authority L.
First published in Sp. Pl. : 314 (1753)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
Wild asparagus shoots (young tender spears) are gathered seasonally from semi-natural Mediterranean habitats for culinary use. They are prepared as a vegetable using sautéing, grilling, or blanching and are used as an ingredient in risottos, omelettes, and preserved preparations such as oil or vinegar pickles. Commercial processing is typically small-scale; shoots are sold fresh or preserved in brine/oil by local producers and delicatessen outlets. Edibility is well established for the tender shoots of the species.

Industrial and craft applications:
No significant industrial or craft applications beyond limited local foraging are documented for Asparagus acutifolius.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Shoots are utilized as a non-medicinal food ingredient, primarily in Mediterranean regional cuisine. Standard food processing methods for asparagus are applied (brief cooking to retain texture, canning or pickling for preservation). The species contributes culinary value through shoot tenderness and flavor rather than through nutrient or phytochemical content.

Colorants and tanning:
No documented use of Asparagus acutifolius in colorants or tanning is reported.

Wood and fiber:
No significant timber or fiber use is documented. The plant does not produce commercially harvested stems or fibers.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented use in perfumery or cosmetics is reported.

Properties relevant to use:
Suitability as a food derives from tender young shoots that remain low in fiber at harvest size, enabling conventional culinary preparation.

Standards and regulation:
Fresh and processed foods derived from this species in the European Union are subject to general food safety and labelling regulations (e.g., Regulation (EC) No 178/2002; Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011). No species-specific standards are known to exist.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Shoots are primarily sourced from wild or semi-natural habitats via local foraging. Overharvesting can impact regeneration, and foraged supply is typically non-standardized, seasonally limited, and location-dependent. No certified cultivation or traceability standards specific to this taxon have been identified.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Asparagus acutifolius var. achhalii Valdés Lagascalia 18: 327 (1996)
Asparagus acutifolius var. brachyclados Bornm. Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 48: 641. 1898
Asparagus acutifolius var. gracilis Baker J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 14: 602. 1875
Asparagus acutifolius var. mitis P.Palau Treb. Inst. Catalana Hist. Nat. 7: 32 (1976 publ. 1977)
Asparagus aetnensis Tornab. Atti Acc. Gioenia Sci. Nat. Catania , ser. 2, 12: 345 (1856)
Asparagus ambiguus DC. Not. Rep. Fl. Lig. 401.
Asparagus brevifolius Tornab. Atti Acc. Gioenia Sci. Nat. Catania , ser. 2, 12: 359 (1856)
Asparagus commutatus Ten. Fl. Napol. 3: 374 (1827)
Asparagus corruda Scop. Fl. Carniol. , ed. 2, 1: 248 (1771)
Asparagus inarimensis Tornab. Atti Acc. Gioenia Sci. Nat. Catania , ser. 2, 12: 368 (1856)
Asparagus acutifolius var. eremicus O.Bolòs & Vigo Fl. Man. Paísos Catalans 4: 131 (2001)
Asparagus acutifolius var. commutatus (Ten.) Nyman Consp. Fl. Eur. 716. 1882
Asparagus acutifolius var. ambiguus (De Not.) Nyman Consp. Fl. Eur. 716. 1882
Asparagus acutifolius var. brevifolius (Tornab.) Nyman Consp. Fl. Eur. 716. 1882

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Spanish esparragos finos
Spanish esparraguera triguera
Spanish esparraguera silvestre
Spanish esparraguera de esparragos trigueros
Spanish espárraguera borde
Spanish esparraguera borde
Spanish espárrago castellano
Spanish brusca
Spanish corruda
Spanish esparrago castellano
Spanish espárragos del campo
Spanish esparrago corriente
Spanish espárrago corriente
Spanish esparrago de pincho
Spanish esparrago negrillo
Spanish espárrago negrillo
Spanish esparrago salvaje
Spanish esparrago triguero espinoso
Spanish esparragos del campo
Arabic هليون بري
Bulgarian бодлива зайча сянка
Catalan esparreguera boscana
Catalan esparreguera fonollera
Catalan esparreguera de ca
Czech chřest pichlavý
Czech chřest ostrolistý
German spitzblättriger spargel
Finnish neulaparsa
Croatian oštrolisna šparoga
Italian asparagi selvatici
Italian asparago selvatico
Italian asparago spinoso
ku melajoya strîlok
ku Çavmarka strîlok
Macedonian остролисна шпаргла
mwl spargos
Portuguese espargo-bravo-menor
Portuguese espargo-bravo
Turkish tilkişen
vec sparaxełe

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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No variety added yet.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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No subvariety added yet.

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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No forms added yet.

Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-temperate
    • Western Asia
      • Cyprus
      • East Aegean Islands
      • Lebanon-Syria
      • Palestine
      • Turkey
  • Europe
    • Southeastern Europe
      • Albania
      • Bulgaria
      • Greece
      • Italy
      • Sicilia
      • Turkey-in-Europe
      • Yugoslavia
    • Southwestern Europe
      • Baleares
      • Corse
      • France
      • Portugal
      • Sardegna
      • Spain

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000631143
Tropicos 50098342
INPN 84264
Flora of Italy 6963
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:530992-1
The Plant List kew-274916
Open Tree Of Life 1037417
Observations.org 114905
NCBI Taxonomy 191654
IUCN Red List 176508
IPNI 530992-1
iNaturalist 210513
GBIF 2768995
Freebase /m/0gxz_g9
EPPO ASPAC
EOL 987589
Elurikkus 299981
USDA GRIN 4489
Wikipedia Asparagus_acutifolius
PFAF Asparagus acutifolius

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Wild Edible Plants Used in Dalmatian Zagora (Croatia) Ninčević Runjić T, Jug-Dujaković M, Runjić M, Łuczaj Ł Plants (Basel) 11-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11053949
doi:10.3390/plants13081079
PMID:38674488
Saving the local tradition: ethnobotanical survey on the use of plants in Bologna district (Italy) Chiocchio I, Marincich L, Mandrone M, Trincia S, Tarozzi C, Poli F J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 12-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10936038
doi:10.1186/s13002-024-00664-1
PMID:38475780
Long-Term Monitoring of the Traditional Knowledge of Plant Species Used for Culinary Purposes in the Valencia Region, South-Eastern Spain Belda A, Jordán-Nuñez J, Micó-Vicent B, López-Rodríguez D Plants (Basel) 08-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10975046
doi:10.3390/plants13060775
PMID:38592810
Traditional Use of Wild Edible Plants in Slovenia: A Field Study and an Ethnobotanical Literature Review Papež Kristanc A, Kreft S, Strgulc Krajšek S, Kristanc L Plants (Basel) 24-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10934440
doi:10.3390/plants13050621
PMID:38475472
First Report of Diplodia quercivora and Neofusicoccum vitifusiforme Associated with Cankers and Necrosis of Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) in Declining Stands in Southern Italy Del Grosso C, Palmieri D, Marchese L, Melissano L, Lima G J Fungi (Basel) 03-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10820903
doi:10.3390/jof10010035
PMID:38248945
Update of the Xylella spp. host plant database – systematic literature search up to 30 June 2023 Gibin D, Gutierrez Linares A, Fasanelli E, Pasinato L, Delbianco A EFSA J 15-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC10722330
doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8477
PMID:38107375
Synecology of Lagoecia cuminoides L. in Italy and evaluation of functional compounds presence in its water or hydroalcoholic extracts Perrino EV, Mahmoud ZN, Valerio F, Tomaselli V, Wagensommer RP, Trani A Sci Rep 27-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10684886
doi:10.1038/s41598-023-48065-w
PMID:38017138
Floral Aroma and Pollinator Relationships in Two Sympatric Late-Summer-Flowering Mediterranean Asparagus Species Llorens L, Tomàs J, Ferriol P, García MT, Gil L Plants (Basel) 10-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10537274
doi:10.3390/plants12183219
PMID:37765383
Drought Stress Tolerance in Vegetables: The Functional Role of Structural Features, Key Gene Pathways, and Exogenous Hormones Abbas K, Li J, Gong B, Lu Y, Wu X, Lü G, Gao H Int J Mol Sci 09-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10530793
doi:10.3390/ijms241813876
PMID:37762179
Ecological Strategies for Resource Use by Three Bromoviruses in Anthropic and Wild Plant Communities Babalola B, Fraile A, García-Arenal F, McLeish M Viruses 21-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10458945
doi:10.3390/v15081779
PMID:37632121
Wild Asparagus Shoots Constitute a Healthy Source of Bioactive Compounds Chileh Chelh T, Rincon-Cervera MA, Gomez-Mercado F, Lopez-Ruiz R, Gallon-Bedoya M, Ezzaitouni M, Guil-Guerrero JL Molecules 31-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10421306
doi:10.3390/molecules28155786
PMID:37570757
Bitter Is Better: Wild Greens Used in the Blue Zone of Ikaria, Greece Pieroni A, Morini G, Piochi M, Sulaiman N, Kalle R, Haq SM, Devecchi A, Franceschini C, Zocchi DM, Migliavada R, Prakofjewa J, Sartori M, Krigas N, Ahmad M, Torri L, Sõukand R Nutrients 21-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10385191
doi:10.3390/nu15143242
PMID:37513661
Genome-wide analysis of genetic diversity in a germplasm collection including wild relatives and interspecific clones of garden asparagus Sala T, Puglisi D, Ferrari L, Salamone F, Tassone MR, Rotino GL, Fricano A, Losa A Front Plant Sci 04-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10354869
doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1187663
PMID:37476175
Update of the Xylella spp. host plant database – systematic literature search up to 31 December 2022 Gibin D, Pasinato L, Delbianco A EFSA J 13-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10262070
doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8061
PMID:37325259
Annual changes in biomass amount and feeding potential of shrubby rangelands in maquis formation Alatürk F, Hanoğlu Oral H, Gökkuş A, Ali B PeerJ 25-Apr-2023
PMCID:PMC10143608
doi:10.7717/peerj.15204
PMID:37123014

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal glycosides / Steroidal saponins
(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(2S)-4-[(1R,2S,4S,6R,7S,8R,9S,12S,13S,16S,18R)-16-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3,5-bis[[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxy]oxan-2-yl]oxy-6-methoxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosan-6-yl]-2-methylbutoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 24179563 Click to see 1037.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(2S)-4-[(1R,2S,4S,6R,7S,8R,9S,12S,13S,16S,18R)-16-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-6-methoxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosan-6-yl]-2-methylbutoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 24179564 Click to see CC1C2C(CC3C2(CCC4C3CCC5C4(CCC(C5)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)O)O)OC7C(C(C(CO7)O)O)O)C)C)OC1(CCC(C)COC8C(C(C(C(O8)CO)O)O)O)OC 905.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(2S)-4-[(1R,2S,4S,6R,7S,8R,9S,12S,13S,16S,18R)-6-hydroxy-16-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3,5-bis[[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxy]oxan-2-yl]oxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosan-6-yl]-2-methylbutoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 163010402 Click to see 1023.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
(2S,3R,4S,5R)-2-[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6R)-4-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[(1R,2S,4S,5'S,6R,7S,8R,9S,12S,13S,16S,18R)-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosane-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl]oxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxyoxane-3,4,5-triol 162876562 Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CCC6C5(CCC(C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)OC8C(C(C(CO8)O)O)O)O)OC9C(C(C(CO9)O)O)O)C)C)C)OC1 843.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
(2S,3R,4S,5R)-2-[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6R)-4-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[(1R,2S,4S,5'S,6R,7S,8S,9S,12S,13S,16S,18R)-8-hydroxy-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosane-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl]oxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxyoxane-3,4,5-triol 24179565 Click to see 859.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[(1R,2S,4S,5'S,6R,7S,8S,9S,12S,13S,16S,18R)-8-hydroxy-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosane-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl]oxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 24179566 Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3(C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CCC6C5(CCC(C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)OC8C(C(C(CO8)O)O)O)O)OC9C(C(C(C(O9)CO)O)O)O)C)C)O)C)OC1 889.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
(3I(2),5I(2),25S)-Spirostan-3-yl O-I(2)-D-glucopyranosyl-(1a2)-O-[I(2)-D-xylopyranosyl-(1a4)]-I(2)-D-glucopyranoside 101591768 Click to see 873.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
2-[4-[16-[4-Hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3,5-bis[(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxy]oxan-2-yl]oxy-6-methoxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosan-6-yl]-2-methylbutoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 74218486 Click to see 1037.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
2-[4-[16-[4,5-Dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-6-methoxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosan-6-yl]-2-methylbutoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 74218487 Click to see 905.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
2-[4-[6-Hydroxy-16-[4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3,5-bis[(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxy]oxan-2-yl]oxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosan-6-yl]-2-methylbutoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 163010401 Click to see 1023.20 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
2-[4-Hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-(5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosane-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl)oxy-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl]oxyoxane-3,4,5-triol 73307349 Click to see 843.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
2-[4-Hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-(8-hydroxy-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosane-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl)oxy-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl]oxyoxane-3,4,5-triol 74218488 Click to see 859.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
2-[4-Hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(8-hydroxy-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icosane-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl)oxy-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol 74218489 Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3(C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CCC6C5(CCC(C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)OC8C(C(C(CO8)O)O)O)O)OC9C(C(C(C(O9)CO)O)O)O)C)C)O)C)OC1 889.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033
Sarsasapogenin 3-O-[beta-D-Glucopyranosyl-(1->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside] 73802021 Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CCC6C5(CCC(C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)OC8C(C(C(CO8)O)O)O)O)OC9C(C(C(C(O9)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C)OC1 873.00 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2007.02.033

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