The plant grows wild in the Mediterranean region. It is a bush member of the Lily family, attains a maximum height of approximately 3 feet, and has been called several names, including Box Holly and Knee Holly. It sports small greenish-white flowers in the spring, and red berries in the fall, reminiscent of a small red heart, which may be the 'doctrine of signature' indicator that lead the ancients to use this plant to Maintain a Healthy Circulatory System. The plant also shares some botanical aspects with Asparagus, in has been used in traditional diets when the young shoots are prepared in a similar fashion as asparagus as a food, although the tastes is more bitter. The young root is the part of the plant that is most often used in herbal preparations. It has been recognized by folk healers for millennia, and the roots were soaked in wine to make a traditional drink. The well known English herbalist, Nicholas Culpepper recommended that it be used in several ways, including by preparing the soaked roots into a poultice. The ability of this herb to help maintain a healthy circulatory system may relate to active constituents in this plant, including esculin and saponins.