Asphodelus aestivus

Asphodelus aestivus, the summer asphodel, is a species of asphodel, a common Western Mediterranean geophyte with a short vertical rhizome and basal leaves. Its flowers are actinomorphic, pinkish-white, with six perianth segments, 14–19 mm long and six stamens of the same length, in two whorls. Its distribution is limited to the Western Mediterranean, mainly found in Portugal and Spain on the European mainland.[2][3] There has been a lot of confusion over the nomenclature and taxonomy of the species, owing to its similarity to Asphodelus ramosus.[4][5] It grows in dry grasslands, phrygana and on rocky or sandy ground.[1]

Summer asphodel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Genus: Asphodelus
Species:
A. aestivus
Binomial name
Asphodelus aestivus

Physical characteristics

The Asphodelus aestivus is a geophyte, having an underground storage organ which enables the plant to survive adverse conditions, such as excessive heat and drought. Its leaves, growing to a height of 60 centimetres (24 in)–80 centimetres (31 in), contain alkaloids that are harmful to sheep and goats in the wet, winter months, but during the summer when their leaves dry out, they lose their toxicity.[6][7] In the Iberian Peninsula it flowers from June to September, although in the Algarve (SW Portugal) it may flower in May or at the end of April. There, the leaves are already withered by the time the plants flower.[8]

Uses

Some traditional folk usages of the plant (could refer to several species of Asphodelus) have been to make a glue from the plant's root. Serish is the name for the adhesive made from the root and used in Persian & Iranian papermaking and bookbinding, in particular as a surface size and to laminate paper together for the boards of Persian lacquer bindings.[9] A remedy against warts is also derived from its root.[7] According to Dioscorides, a concoction made from its roots (mixed with wine) induces vomiting.[10] Formerly, the entire plant was used in treating poisonous snake bites (its efficacy yet to be proven scientifically).

  • The flower of the Asphodelus aestivus
    The flower of the Asphodelus aestivus

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asphodelus aestivus.
  1. Allen, D.J. (2018). "Asphodelus aestivus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T123707265A114964130. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T123707265A114964130.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. "The Euro+Med PlantBase", the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, retrieved 2018-03-04
  3. "Plants of the World Online", the reference for global plant names, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2020-08-11
  4. Lifante, Zoila Díaz; Valdés, Benito (1994). "Lectotypification of Asphodelus ramosus (Asphodelaceae), a Misunderstood Linnaean Name". Taxon. 43 (2): 247–251. doi:10.2307/1222883. JSTOR 1222883.
  5. "Vascular plants of Greece: an annotated checklist", Englera 31, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, retrieved 2018-03-04
  6. Rhizopoulou, S. (1997). "Ecophysiological Adaptations of Asphodelus aestivus to Mediterranean Climate Periodicity: Water Relations and Energetic Status". Ecography. 20 (6): 626–633. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.1997.tb00431.x. JSTOR 3683251.
  7. Avi Shmida, MAPA's Dictionary of Plants and Flowers in Israel, Tel-Aviv 2005, s.v. Asphodelus aestivus (p. 77) ISBN 965-521-017-0 (Hebrew)
  8. See p. 177 in: Díaz Lifante, Zoila (1996). "Reproductive biology of Asphodelus aestivus (Asphodelaceae)". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 200 (3/4): 177–191. doi:10.1007/bf00984934. JSTOR 23642889. S2CID 189878402.
  9. Bainbridge, Abigail (2023). Conservation of Books. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780367754907.
  10. Dioscorides, De Materia Medica (Book II, § 199).
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