Asparagus officinalis |
Asparagus setaceus |
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asparagus, common asparagus, garden asparagus |
climbing asparagus-fern, common asparagus fern, lace-fern |
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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. |
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2n | = 20, 40. |
= 20. |
Asparagus officinalis |
Asparagus setaceus |
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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 |
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]
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CA; FL; s Africa; e Africa [Introduced in North America] |
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.) |
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Source | FNA vol. 26, p. 214. | FNA vol. 26, p. 214. |
Parent taxa | Liliaceae > Asparagus | Liliaceae > Asparagus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Asparagopsis setacea, A. plumosus | |
Name authority | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 313. (1753) | (Kunth) Jessop: Bothalia 9: 51. (1966) |
Web links |
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