Wild Asparagus - Asparagus acutifolius

Wild Asparagus

Αγρελιά

Agrelia

Scientific Name: Asparagus acutifolius, Asparagus horridus (Asparagus stipularis)

other names: Σπαράγγι

AVAILABLE: JAN-APR

EDIBLE PARTS:

Description

preparation

  1. Asparagus acutifolius: pick the young tender pink-brown-green shoots
  2. Asparagus horridus: pick the young tender light green shoots
  3. lightly boil and serve with olive oil & lemon

extra info

There are 3 varieties of Asparagus that can be distinguised by their cladodes. Cladodes or Phylloclades on asparagus are the spiked leaf-like structures. 

In A. acutifolius the cladodes are smaller and in bunches compared to the single larger cladode on A. horridus 

Asparagus officinalis, the cultivated variety available in the supermarket. small green cladodes hugging the stem

Asparagus acutifolius
dark green cladodes in bunches of 5-10 measuring 2-8 mm long

Asparagus horridus
solitary light green/grey cladodes or sometimes in bunches of 3, measuring 5-40 mm long.

Also available in

December

recipes