What aspect is cited as the reason the toxic *Asarum* shares a common name with *Zingiber officinale*?
Answer
The similarity is coincidental, based on a faint, somewhat spicy aroma from crushed leaves or rhizomes
The similarity in the common name 'wild ginger' between the toxic *Asarum* species and the safe culinary ginger, *Zingiber officinale*, is explicitly described as merely a coincidence. This shared nomenclature arises because the crushed foliage or rhizomes of the *Asarum* plant can emit an aroma that is faintly spicy. This olfactory similarity tempts foragers, but it does not reflect any actual relationship, as botanically and chemically, the two plants are worlds apart and belong to entirely different families.
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