Asparagus setaceus |
Asparagus aethiopicus |
|
---|---|---|
climbing asparagus-fern, common asparagus fern, lace-fern |
emerald-fern, Sprenger asparagus-fern, Sprenger's asparagus fern |
|
Habit | Shrubs, sprawling or scrambling; roots fibrous and tuberous. | |
Stems | 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. |
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. |
Leaves | membranous, 1–2 mm; blade forming short spine with reflexed apex, base hardened. |
membranous, 1–2 mm; blade diamond-shaped, attached in middle, tapering to slender apex. |
Inflorescences | terminally umbellate, 1–4-flowered. |
in axillary racemes, 5–9(–17)-flowered. |
Flowers | bisexual, nodding; perianth spreading, campanulate; tepals white, 3–4 × 1–1.5 mm; pedicel 1–3 mm, jointed at or just above base. |
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. |
Berries | purplish black, 4–5 mm. |
red, 5–8 mm. |
Seed(s) | 1–3. |
1. |
Vines | , woody, scrambling or climbing to 5 m; roots fibrous. |
|
2n | = 20. |
= 40, 60. |
Asparagus setaceus |
Asparagus aethiopicus |
|
Phenology | Flowering spring–summer. | Flowering spring–summer. |
Habitat | Waste places, abandoned gardens | Waste places, abandoned gardens |
Elevation | 0–100 m (0–300 ft) | 0–100 m (0–300 ft) |
Distribution |
CA; FL; s Africa; e Africa [Introduced in North America] |
FL; 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.) |
|
Source | FNA vol. 26, p. 214. | FNA vol. 26, p. 214. |
Parent taxa | Liliaceae > Asparagus | Liliaceae > Asparagus |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Asparagopsis setacea, A. plumosus | A. sprengeri |
Name authority | (Kunth) Jessop: Bothalia 9: 51. (1966) | Linnaeus: Mant. Pl., 63. (1767) |
Web links |