Species
Asparagus plumosus
Etymology
Asparagus: An old Greek name for this plant possibly derived from a- (an intensifier) and sparasso 'to tear', referring to the prickles of some species
Common Name(s)
asparagus fern
Authority
Asparagus plumosus Baker (1875)
Family
Asparagaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Monocotyledonous Lianes
Synonyms
Asparagus setaceus
Habitat
Terrestrial. Forest margins, understorey, shrublands; waste areas, abandoned gardens - often appearing in hedgerows.
Features
Slender, scrambling or climbing perennial. Rootstock a cluster of fleshy tubers, often massive compared with the delicate size of the aerial stems and foliage. Stems to 3.8 m tall, almost woody below, green and much-branched above. Branches widely spreading with branchlets fern-like and cladodes all lying in one plane. Cladodes needle-like, extremely fine, 3-7 mm long, 7-20 at each node. Small white flowers are held at the end of the stems in groups of up to 4. Small (6mm diam) round dark purple-black berries containing 1-3 black seeds.
Similar Taxa
Slender, scrambling or climbing plant as with climbing asparagus. Note 7-20 cladodes (leaf-like) projections from each node of the main stem, are very fine and needle-like and distinguish this species.
Flowering
November, December
Flower Colours
White
Year Naturalised
1974
Origin
Africa
Reason For Introduction
Ornamental
Life Cycle Comments
Perennial.
Reproduction
produces small black globose seeds
Seed
1-3 seeds per berry, viability unknown.
Dispersal
Probably birds.
Tolerances
Will tolerate deep shade.
This page last updated on 23 Nov 2018