Overview
Smooth or slightly prickly climber from S. Africa, with threadlike "leaves" in clusters of 8-20; foliar sprays generally in one plane . Flowers tiny, white, in clusters of 1-4; fruits black. Several varieties of foliage are used in floral arrangements .
Interesting Facts
Common Names
Click on the language to view common names.
Common Names in Chinese:
Wen Zhu
Common Names in Danish:
Slørasparges
Common Names in English:
Asparagus Fern, Asparagus-Fern, Climbing Asparagus Fern, Climbing Asparagus-Fern, Common Asparagus Fern, Cypress Asparagus Fern, Feather Fern, Fern Asparagus, Lace-Fern, Ornamental Asparagus, Plumosa Fern
Common Names in French:
Asperge Monte Au Ciel (Reunion), Asperge Monte En L´air (Reunion), Asperge Plumeuse
Common Names in German:
Feder-Spargel, Zierspargel
Common Names in Japanese:
Asuparagasu Setakeusu
Common Names in Spanish:
Ala De Pájaro, Esparrago Plumoso, Esparraguera Plumosa
Common Names in Thai:
Chamchuri Phaeng (Bangkok), Prong Fa (Central Thailand - As a Plumosus Var Plumosus)
Description
Genus Asparagus
Herbs, shrubs
, or vines
, perennial
, from rhizomes, usually with fusiform
tubers, often with fernlike appearance
. Stems photosynthetic, erect
, spreading
or climbing
, branched; cladophylls
solitary or fasciculate, in nodes of reduced, scarious
leaves. Leaves small, scale-like, membranous, or sometimes spiny
with hardened base
, subtending
cladophylls. Inflorescences axillary
or terminal
, racemose, or umbellate
, paired
or solitary; racemes
short. Flowers bisexual
or unisexual
; perianth greenish, white, or yellowish, campanulate
to rotate; tepals 6, distinct
or shortly connate
basally, equal; stamens 6, distinct, equal; anthers
versatile, 2-locular, dehiscence introrse
; ovary superior, 3-locular, septal nectaries present; style 3-branched distally; pedicel with conspicuous
joint
. Fruits baccate
, red or purplish black, globose
, often with tepals persisting at base. Seeds 1-6, black, globose to angular. x
= 10.
Species 170-300: introduced
; Europe, Asia, Africa; some widely introduced, expected elsewhere.
Asparagus is a moderately important horticultural genus, with one species commonly grown for its edible young shoots
and a number of others grown ornamentally. The genus is treated here in a broad sense (K
. Kubitzki and P. J. Rudall 1998; W. S. Judd 2001) and encompasses species that have been segregated in several genera (A. L. Takhtajan 1997; S. T. Malcomber and Sebsebe D. 1993). Embryological features (P. J. Rudall et al.
1998) and DNA-based analyses (M.
W. Chase et al. 1996; M. F. Fay et al. 2000; P. J. Rudall et al. 1997) support
the monophyly
of Asparagus and the Asparagaceae.[1]
Physical Description
Species Asparagus setaceus
Vines , woody, scrambling or climbing to 5 m ; roots fibrous . 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 . Leaves membranous, 1-2 mm; blade forming short spine with reflexed apex, base hardened. Inflorescences terminally umbellate , 1-4-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. Berries purplish black, 4-5 mm. Seeds 1-3. 2n = 20. [source]
Habit: Evergreen .
Flowers:
Bloom Period:
Waste
places, abandoned gardens; 0--100 m
[2].
•
Flower Color: near white, white
Foliage: Soft, beautiful feather-like foliage .
Size/Age/Growth
Size: 36-48" tall.
Landscaping
Landscape Uses: Lovely in hanging baskets or flower arrangements . • Care: Easy to grow.
Habitat
Waste places, abandoned gardens; 0--100 m [2].
Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 2,107 meters (0 to 6,913 feet).[3]
Biology
Growth
Culture: Space 18-24" apart.
Soil: Minimum pH: 5.6 • Maximum pH: 7.8
Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Bright indirect or filtered light.
Moisture: Water Requirements: Water thoroughly, then allow to dry out just a little before rewatering. Loves misting.
Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11. (map)
Taxonomy
- Domain:
Eukaryota
(
)
- Whittaker & Margulis,1978
- eukaryotes
- Kingdom:
Plantae
()
- Haeckel, 1866
- Plants
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
()
- Cavalier-Smith, 1981
- Phylum:
Tracheophyta
()
- Sinnott, 1935 ex Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Vascular Plants
- Subphylum:
Euphyllophytina
()
- Infraphylum:
Radiatopses
()
- Kenrick & Crane, 1997
- Class:
Magnoliopsida
()
- Brongniart, 1843
- Dicotyledons
- Subclass:
Liliidae
()
- Takhtajan, 1967
- Superorder:
Lilianae
()
- Takhtajan, 1967
- Order:
Asparagales
()
- Bromhead, 1838
- Suborder:
Asparagineae
()
-
- Family:
Asparagaceae
()
- A.L. de Jussieu, 1789, nom. cons.
- Subfamily:
Asparagoideae
()
- Tribe:
Rhododendreae
()
- Genus:
Asparagus
()
- C. Linnaeus, 1753
- Asparagus-fern [Greek asparasso, to rip, alluding to the spiny leaves of some species]
- Specific epithet:
setaceus
- (Kunth) Jessop
- Botanical name: - Asparagus setaceus (Kunth) Jessop
- Specific epithet:
setaceus
- (Kunth) Jessop
- Genus:
Asparagus
(
- Tribe:
Rhododendreae
(
- Subfamily:
Asparagoideae
(
- Family:
Asparagaceae
(
- Suborder:
Asparagineae
(
- Order:
Asparagales
(
- Superorder:
Lilianae
(
- Subclass:
Liliidae
(
- Class:
Magnoliopsida
(
- Infraphylum:
Radiatopses
(
- Subphylum:
Euphyllophytina
(
- Phylum:
Tracheophyta
(
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
(
- Kingdom:
Plantae
(
Synonyms
Asparagus plumosus Baker • Protasparagus Setaceus
Notes
Publishing author
: Jessop Publication
: Bothalia 9 1966 (30 Nov. 1966)
Basionym
author: (Kunth)
Similar Species
Members of the genus Asparagus
ZipcodeZoo has pages for 52 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:
A. acerosus (Wild Asparagus) · A. acutifolius (Lesser Asparagus) · A. africanus (African Asparagus) · A. aphyllus (Israel Wild Asparagus) · A. asparagoides (African Asparagus Fern) · A. declinatus (Bridal Veil) · A. densiflorus (Asparagus Fern) · A. densiflorus 'Meyersii' (Meyersii Foxtail Fern Asparagus Densiflorus) · A. densiflorus 'Myersii' (Myer's Foxtail Fern) · A. densiflorus 'Sprengeri Compacta' (Compact Sprenger Asparagus Fern) · A. denudatus (Asparagus Fern) · A. draco (Canary Island Dragon Tree) · A. falcatus (Asparagus Fern) · A. filicinus (Fern Asparagus) · A. graminifolius (Lilyturf) · A. macowanii (Ming Fern) · A. officinalis officinalis (Asparagus) · A. officinalis prostratus (Wild Asparagus) · A. officinalis 'Ariane' (Asparagus 'ariane') · A. officinalis 'Bejo 2241' (Asparagus 'bejo 2241') · A. officinalis 'Bejo 2245' (Asparagus 'bejo 2245') · A. officinalis 'Millenium' (Asparagus) · A. officinalis 'Raffaelo' (Asparagus 'raffaelo') · A. officinalis 'Ramires' (Asparagus 'ramires') · A. pyramidalis (Asparagus Fern) · A. racemosus (Indian Asparagus) · A. scandens (Climbing Asparagus) · A. setaceus (Asparagus Fern) · A. tenuifolius (Narrow-Leaved Asparagus) · A. terminalis (Chinese Colli) · A. verticillatus (Climbing Asparagus) · A. virgatus (Broom Fern) · A. 'Apollo' (Hybrid Asparagus) · A. 'Atlas' (Asparagus) · A. 'Connover's Colossal' (Asparagus) · A. 'Dariana' (Asparagus) · A. 'French Market' (Asparagus) · A. 'Golia' (Asparagus) · A. 'Grande' (Hybrid Asparagus) · A. 'Ida Lea' (Asparagus) · A. 'Jersey Gem' (Hybrid Asparagus) · A. 'Jersey Giant' (Hybrid Asparagus) · A. 'Jersey King' (Hybrid Asparagus) · A. 'Jersey Knight' (Hybrid Asparagus) · A. 'Jersey Supreme' (Hybrid Asparagus) · A. 'Marte' (Asparagus) · A. 'Martha Washington' (Hybrid Asparagus) · A. 'Mary Washington' (Mary Washington Hybrid Asparagus Asparagus) · A. 'Precoce D'argenteuil' (Asparagus) · A. 'Purple Passion' (Asparagus) · A. 'Theilim' (Asparagus) · A. 'Uc 157' (Hybrid Asparagus)
More Info
- Search for Pictures: images.google.com
- Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
- Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Further Reading
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 52 2005 Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1890- url p. 127, p. 399.
- Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. Washington, etc.: Entomological Society of Washington url p. 582, p. 598.
- Cooney-Sovetts, C. and R. Sattler. 1986. Phylloclade development in the Asparagaceae: An example of homoeosis. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 94: 327-371.
- Jessop, J. P. 1966. The genus Asparagus in southern Africa. Bothalia 9: 31-96.
- Malcomber, S. T. and Sebsebe D. 1993. The status of Protasparagus and Myrsiphyllum in the Asparagaceae. Kew Bull. 48: 63-78.
Notes
Contributors
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 31, 2012.
Data Sources
Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 17, 2007:
- Comisión nacional para el conocimiento y uso de la biodiversidad, Herbario del Instituto de Ecología, A.C., México
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Virtual Herbarium Darwin Core format
- Herbier de la Guyane, Herbier de la Guyane
- Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad
- , Biodiversidad de Costa Rica
- Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden
- USDA PLANTS, USDA PLANTS Database
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2664480
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Kew-275292
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13733091
- Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:143508-3
- GRIN Nomen Number: 104822
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 193453
- International Plant Names Index (IPNI) ID: 143508-3
- MoBot NameID: 18403288
- Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: PMLIL08040
- U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: ASPL5
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 21452
Footnotes
- Gerald B. Straley & Frederick H. Utech "Asparagus". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 20, 50, 53, 54, 213. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
- "Asparagus setaceus". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 213, 214. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
- Mean = 546.890 meters (1,794.259 feet), Standard Deviation = 905.460 based on 247 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
