Asparagus aethiopicus |
Asparagus asparagoides |
|
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emerald-fern, Sprenger asparagus-fern, Sprenger's asparagus fern |
African asparagus fern, smilax asparagus |
|
Habit | Shrubs, sprawling or scrambling; roots fibrous and tuberous. | |
Stems | to 2 m, wiry, branches numerous, finely ridged; cladophylls solitary or in fascicles of 3 or more per node, linear, flattened, straight or curved, 8–22 × 2 mm, with single prominent vein. |
slender, to 3 m, wiry, smooth to slightly ridged; cladophylls solitary at each node, broadly lanceolate to ovate, 15–35 × 5–15(–20) mm, leathery, with 20–24 parallel veins. |
Leaves | membranous, 1–2 mm; blade diamond-shaped, attached in middle, tapering to slender apex. |
membranous, 1–2 mm; blade broadly lanceolate. |
Inflorescences | in axillary racemes, 5–9(–17)-flowered. |
in axillary umbels, 1–3(–4)-flowered. |
Flowers | bisexual; perianth rotate to campanulate; tepals white to pale pink, 3–4 × 1.5–2 mm; pedicel 5–8 mm, jointed 2–3 mm above base. |
bisexual; perianth campanulate; tepals white, with green median stripe abaxially, 5–7 × 1–1.5 mm; pedicel 5–8 mm, with hard, raised joint 1–3 mm above base. |
Berries | red, 5–8 mm. |
red, 6–8 mm. |
Seed(s) | 1. |
1–4(–6). |
Vines | , erect to deflexed, branching, climbing to 1.5 m; roots tuberous. |
|
2n | = 40, 60. |
= 20. |
Asparagus aethiopicus |
Asparagus asparagoides |
|
Phenology | Flowering spring–summer. | Flowering spring–summer. |
Habitat | Waste places, abandoned gardens | Waste places, open forests, roadsides |
Elevation | 0–100 m (0–300 ft) | 0–100 m (0–300 ft) |
Distribution |
FL; s Africa [Introduced in North America] |
CA; s Africa [Introduced in North America]
|
Discussion | The name Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop (Asparagopsis densiflora Kunth) has been misapplied to this species (P. S. Green 1986; W. S. Judd 2001). Asparagus aethiopicus cv. ‘Sprengeri’ is the most common of the asparagus-fern cultivars. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Asparagus asparagoides is cultivated as an ornamental and has naturalized locally in southern Europe. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 26, p. 214. | FNA vol. 26, p. 214. |
Parent taxa | Liliaceae > Asparagus | Liliaceae > Asparagus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | A. sprengeri | Medeola asparagoides |
Name authority | Linnaeus: Mant. Pl., 63. (1767) | (Linnaeus) W. Wight: in W. D. Whitney and B. E. Smith, Cent. Dict. Cyclop. ed. 2 12: 845 sub Myrsiphyllum.1909 |
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