Editing Asarum (section)

== Description ==
''Asarum'' is a genus of low-growing herbs distributed across the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, with most species in East Asia (China, Japan, and Vietnam) and North America, and one species in Europe. Biogeographically, ''Asarum'' originated in Asia.

They have characteristic kidney-shaped leaves, growing from creeping rhizomes, and bear small, [[wikt:axil|axil]]lary, brown or reddish flowers.

The plant is called wild ginger because the rhizomes and leaves taste and smell similar to [[ginger]] root, but the two are not particularly related. The FDA warns against consuming ''Asarum'', as it is [[nephrotoxic]] and contains the potent [[carcinogen]] [[aristolochic acid]].<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Schaneberg BT, Applequist WL, Khan IA |title=Determination of aristolochic acid I and II in North American species of ''Asarum'' and ''Aristolochia'' |journal=Pharmazie |volume=57 |issue=10 |pages=686–9 |date=October 2002 |pmid=12426949  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Aristolochic Acid: FDA Warns Consumers to Discontinue Use of Botanical Products that Contain Aristolochic Acid |date=April 11, 2001 |website= |publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration |url=https://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/Alerts/ucm096388.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710094540/http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/Alerts/ucm096388.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2009}}</ref>
<ref>[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] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216065115/http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/2001/2001_91_e.html |date=February 16, 2006 }}.
</ref> The birthwort family also contains the genus ''[[Aristolochia]]'', known for [[carcinogens]].

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 between the leaf bases.

Wild ginger can easily be grown in a [[shade garden]], and makes an attractive [[groundcover]].
[[File:Asarum europaeum flower 050403.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''[[Asarum europaeum]]'' flower]]