Scientific Name
Asparagus officinalis
Common Name
Asparagus

CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES.

Characteristics

Family
Liliaceae
Plant Description
Erect, perennial herb, thick, succulent, and unbranched when young; leaves alternate, scale-like and often spiny, terminal branchlets very narrow and needle-like, clustered; flowers axillary, drooping, 6-parted, bell-shaped, yellow-green; fruit a bright red berry.
Origin
Europe, Asia, North Africa.
Distribution
Throughout.
Where Found
Landscape in vegetable gardens; weedy in disturbed areas, naturalized.
Mode
Ingestion, dermatitis.
Poisonous Part
Young raw shoots (stems), berries.
Symptoms
Contact dermatitis from young, raw shoots. Eating of berries may cause gastrointestinal problems.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Young spears (shoots). HARVEST TIME: Collect asparagus spears in the early spring, while very young. Only collect spears from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: Wash spears thoroughly with warm water to remove dirt and debris. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Peel off the outer skin to within an inch of the top of the spear. Tie spears into bundles (about eight to a bundle) and place lengthwise, into boiling salted water. Boil for about 10 minutes, until tender but not soggy. Serve hot with melted butter, or cold with oil and vinegar and seasonings. SOURCE: Crowhurst, A. The Weed Cookbook. Lancer Books, New York. 190 pp.
Toxic Principle
Unknown.
Severity
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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