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.
Life cycle
From seed to productDivision
Propagated by **division**: lift the clump and split it into pieces with 2–3 shoots, keeping the roots intact.
Establishment
Divided clumps recover, producing fine roots and new leaves within 1–2 weeks.
Growth & flowering
The plant blooms with **small white flowers, summer**; pollination is by insects and wind.
Maturity & harvest
Foliage dies back and reserves move into the underground storage organ; **2–3-year-old tuberous roots dug in autumn–winter**.
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