ASARABACCA (Asarum europeum), a low, stemless perennial plant of the birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae), native to the woods of Europe and north temperate Asia, and occurring wild in some English counties. It is a small creeping herb with a pungent-aromatic rootstock, kidney-shaped leaves and small pur plish bell-shaped flowers. It was formerly grown for medicinal purposes, the underground stem having cathartic and emetic properties. The allied North American species are commonly called wild ginger (q.v.) .