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asparagus, common asparagus, garden asparagus

climbing asparagus-fern, common asparagus fern, lace-fern

Habit Herbs, erect, 1–2.5 m; rhizomes fibrous.
Stems

annual, densely branched distally;

branches finely dissected, ascending to perpendicular, unarmed;

cladophylls in clusters of (2–)4–15(–25) per node, filiform, straight or curved, 1–3 cm.

to 4 m, wiry, smooth, branches planate;

cladophylls in fascicles of (5–)8–20 per node, filiform, 4–10 × 0.5 mm, ± rigid, with single vein.

Leaves

scalelike, 3–4 mm;

blade lanceolate, base hardened.

membranous, 1–2 mm;

blade forming short spine with reflexed apex, base hardened.

Inflorescences

in axillary racemes, 1–3-flowered.

terminally umbellate, 1–4-flowered.

Flowers

some unisexual;

perianth campanulate, yellow or yellowish green;

tepals connate 1–2 mm, greenish white, 3–8 × 1–2 mm;

pedicel 8–12 mm, jointed at or above middle.

bisexual, nodding;

perianth spreading, campanulate;

tepals white, 3–4 × 1–1.5 mm;

pedicel 1–3 mm, jointed at or just above base.

Berries

red, 6–10 mm.

purplish black, 4–5 mm.

Seeds

2–4.

1–3.

Vines

, woody, scrambling or climbing to 5 m;

roots fibrous.

2n

= 20, 40.

= 20.

Asparagus officinalis

Asparagus setaceus

Phenology Flowering summer. Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat Fields, fencerows, roadsides, disturbed areas Waste places, abandoned gardens
Elevation 0–2500 m (0–8200 ft) 0–100 m (0–300 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MS; MT; NC; ND; NE; NH; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; UT; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NL; NS; ON; PE; QC; SK; SPM; Europe; Asia; n Africa; naturalized in temperate regions worldwide [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; FL; s Africa; e Africa [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Eaten as a vegetable, Asparagus officinalis has been widely cultivated for its young shoots since ancient Greek times. The species is naturalized in many temperate climates. Mature asparagus has caused poisoning in cattle (J. M. Kingsbury 1964). Young plants can cause dermatitis, and the red berries are suspected of poisoning humans (E. M. Schmutz and L. B. Hamilton 1979). The species is dioecious (J. E. Lazarte and B. F. Palser 1979), and homomorphic sex chromosomes have been identified (H. Loptien 1979).

(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
A. aethiopicus, A. asparagoides, A. setaceus
A. aethiopicus, A. asparagoides, A. officinalis
Synonyms Asparagopsis setacea, A. plumosus
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 313. (1753) (Kunth) Jessop: Bothalia 9: 51. (1966)
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