Ruscus hypophyllum

Thick-leaf Butchers broom

Asparagaceae Edible: Shoots, Buds, Fruit 657 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Ruscus hypophyllum is a species of shrub in the family Asparagaceae. They have a self-supporting growth form. Individuals can grow to 0.42 m.

Description

An erect shrub. It grows 45-55 cm tall. It has a simple stem which is finely ribbed. The flattened green leaf like stems are 25-35 cm long and 5-6 cm wide. The lower ones are opposite and higher ones are in rings. They are narrowly oval and taper to the base. The flowers are white or pale blue. The fruit are 8-10 mm across. They are red and have 2 seeds.

Edible Uses

Young fattened buds or shoots are boiled and seasoned with oil and lemon, or cooked in scrambled eggs. The fruit is also edible.

Traditional Uses

The young fattened buds or shoots are boiled and seasoned with oil and lemon. They can be cooked in scrambled eggs.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It is resistant to drought.

Where It Grows

Algeria, Asia, Australia, Caucasus, Europe, Georgia, Italy, Mediterranean, Morocco, North Africa, Pakistan, Sicily, Spain, Tunisia,

Notes

Also put in the family Ruscaceae.

Also Known As

Dzmerkhli

References (5)

Bussman, R. W., et al, 2016, A comparative ethnobotany of Khevsureti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Tusheti, Svaneti, and Racha-Lechkhumi, Republic of Georgia (Sakartvelo), Caucasus. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2016) 12:4
Bussman, R. W. et al, 2017, Ethnobotany of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Sakartvelo (Republic of Georgia), Caucasus. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 16(1) pp 7-24
Bussman, R. W., et al, 2021, Unity in diversity—food plants and fungi of Sakartvelo (Republic of Georgia), Caucasus. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2021) 17:72 p 6
Geraci, A., et al, 2018, The wild taxa utilized as vegetables in Sicily (Italy): a traditional component of the Mediterranean diet. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2018) 14:14
Lentini, F. and Venza, F., 2007, Wild food plants of popular use in Sicily. J Ethnobiol Ethnomedicine. 3: 15