LATIN NAME: Asparagus cochinchinensis   COMMON NAME: Tian Men Dong Botanical Profile Tian men dong is native to China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, growing as a climbing perennial with fine, needle-like cladodes typical of the wider asparagus genus, scrambling through supporting vegetation by way of small hooked spines along its wiry stems. Below ground, it produces clusters of swollen, tuberous roots, which are the part collected and used in traditional Chinese medicine. Science & Conservation Tian men dong tuber has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine, classically associated with formulas addressing dry cough and supporting what traditional theory describes as yin fluids, and modern phytochemical research has identified steroidal saponins in the tuber that continue to be studied for their pharmacological properties. This combination of deep classical use and ongoing research interest makes it one of the more actively studied tuberous roots in the traditional Chinese herbal pharmacy. Landscape & Practical Uses Tian men dong tuber … Continue reading Asparagus cochinchinensis seed | Tian Men Dong