Asparagus racemosus
Asparagus racemosus
Asparagus racemosus (shatavari, asparagus fern) is a species of asparagus native from Africa through southern Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, to northern Australia. It grows 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) tall and prefers to take root in gravelly, rocky soils high up in piedmont plains, at 1,300–1,400 m (4,300–4,600 ft) elevation. It was botanically described in 1799.88
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thumb|right|Close-up on flowers Asparagus racemosus is a climber having stems up to 4 m long. Its roots are both fibrous and tuberous.
Shatavari has small pine-needle-like phylloclades (photosynthetic branches) that are uniform and shiny green. In July, it produces minute, white flowers on short, spiky stems, and in September it fruits, producing blackish-purple, globular berries. It has an adventitious root system with tuberous roots that measure about one metre in length, tapering at both ends, with roughly dozens on each plant.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Australia33%
- India12%
- South Africa5%
- Indonesia4%
- Sri Lanka4%
- Tanzania4%
- Kenya3%
- Other regions35%
Uses
- Shatavari is used in Indian traditional medicine for menstrual, pregnancy and other health benefits.
- A recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial by Mhatre et.al ni 2026 has found that it decreased follicular count and increased endometrial thickness Some claim less high-quality clinical evidence to support using shatavari as a safe or effective therapy for any condition or disease.
- Studies of its effects on lactation have shown no significant effects.
References
- 1Asparagus racemosus — Wikipedia — Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), 2026
- 2''Asparagus racemosus'' Willd.. — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
- 3Flora of Australia — Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the, 2020
- 4Liliaceae – Famine Foods — Purdue University, 2017
- 5GBIF — occurrence records of Asparagus racemosus — GBIF, 2026
- 6Hình ảnh — Wikimedia Commons (6 ảnh, giấy phép CC/PD) — Wikimedia Commons, 2026