View source for Wild ginger

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| 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 = 
See text.
}}

'''Wild ginger''' refers to an herbaceous plant genus ''Asarum'' (''[[Syllable stress of Botanical Latin|Á-sa-rum]]'') of 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 [[Aristolochia]] genus.  Aristolochia is a human [[carcinogen]].

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]]

== Species ==
*''[[Asarum arifolium]]''
*''[[Asarum canadense]]'' : Wild Ginger, Black Snakeroot, Canada Wild Ginger, Canadian Snakeroot, Broad-leaved Asarabacca.
*''[[Asarum caudatum]]'' : Long-tailed Wild ginger
**''Asarum caudatum caudatum'' : British Columbia Wild ginger.
**''Asarum caudatum viridiflorum'' : Longtail Wild Ginger).
*''[[Asarum europaeum]]'' : Asarabacca, European Wild Ginger, Haselwort, Wild Spikenard.
*''[[Asarum hartwegii]]'' : Hartweg's Wild Ginger.
*''[[Asarum hongkongensis]]'' : Hong Kong Wild Ginger.
*''[[Asarum lemmonii]]'' : Lemmon's Wild Ginger.
*''[[Asarum marmoratum]]'' : Marbled Wild Ginger.
*''[[Asarum naniflorum]]''
*''[[Asarum splendens]]'': Chinese Wild Ginger.


== See also ==
*''[[Hexastylis]]'' (a closely related genus including ''[[Hexastylis speciosum]]'' (syn. ''Asarum speciosum'') or Alabama Wild Ginger)<ref>[[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500674 Flora of North America: H. speciosum]</ref>


== External links ==
{{commonscat|Asarum}}
* [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]]
[[pl:Kopytnik (roślina)]]
[[pt:Asarum]]
[[sq:Asarum]]
[[vi:Chi Tế tân]]
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