Asparagus filicinus Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nep. 49. 1825. Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 6: 314. 1892; R. R. Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. Kashm. 49. 1872; Stearn in H. Hara, Stearn & L. H. J. Williams, Enum. Fl. Pl. Nepal 1: 71. 1978; Noltie, Fl. Bhutan 3(1): 61. 1994; C. Xin.
Vern.: Allipali
S. I. Ali & Sher Wali Khan
Dioecious herb. Rootstock a short rhizome with fleshy swollen fasciculate roots up to 120 (-200) cm, glabrous, striate, ridged. Stem erect, herbaceous, unarmed. Cladodes in whorls 4-6 (-8), linear, falcate, 3-15 (-20) x 0.6-1 mm, flat. Flowers of both sexes solitary or paired, in the axil of cladode, in the middle or upper part of the stem. Pedicels slender, 1-2 cm, articulate, lower part slightly exceeding the upper part. Male flowers: perianth white, creamy or greenish, 2.5-3.5 mm. Filaments 1.5-2.0 mm, free, anthers 0.5-1.0 mm. Female flower: perianth 2 mm. Ovary 0.8-2.0 mm, style c. 0.2 mm, trilobed. Berry deep red-black, 5-6 mm in diameter.
Fl. Per.: May-July
Holotype: Nepal (Nepaul), Suembu (Sembu), 2.6.1802, Dr. Buchanan (Buchanan-Hamilton) (BM).
Distribution: Pakistan (Hazara, Baltistan), Kashmir, Bhutan, India, China, Myanmar and Thailand.
The root is considered vermifuge and taeniafuge. It is a powerful diuretic, used in cholera and rheumatism. (Kirtikar & Basu l. c. 2499).
