asparagus#473

my four hundred & seventy-third consecutive daily photograph ...

... labour-intensive to grow, asparagus are the young shoots of a cultivated lily plant.  They're considered to be one of the delicacies of the vegetable world, with a price tag to match, & have a distinct, intense savoury flavour.  Sprue is the term for young, very slender asparagus.

While French asparagus is purple, the British & American varieties are green.  In contrast, Spanish & much Dutch asparagus is white, as it's grown beneath the soil & cut just as the tips emerge.

All types pack a nutritional punch, with high levels of vitamins A & C, potassium, iron & calcium, & they're also diuretic, giving urine an unmistakable aroma (which, curiously, not everyone can smell!).

... & many thanks to osuzanna for hosting the Tiny Tuesday challenge ...