Genus: Asparagus

[= Myrsiphyllum, Protasparagus]

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Monocotyledons > Order: Asparagales > Family: Asparagaceae

About 120 species, distributed through Africa, Europe and Asia, and has also been introduced to Australia. A total of 86 species are native to southern Africa, and one species, Asparagus officinalis (Garden asparagus), is cultivated in the region.

The asparagus vegetable that we eat is derived from young shoots of Asparagus officinalis (asparagus). However, the shoots of some indigenous southern African species are also eaten.

Species native to southern Africa

List from Plants of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI), Flora of Zimbabwe and Flora of Mozambique.

Asparagus acocksii
Asparagus aethiopicus
Asparagus africanus
Asparagus aggregatus
Asparagus alopecurus
Asparagus angusticladus
Asparagus asiaticus
Asparagus asparagoides
Asparagus aspergillus
Asparagus bayeri
Asparagus bechuanicus
Asparagus biflorus
Asparagus buchananii
Asparagus burchellii
Asparagus capensis
Asparagus clareae
Asparagus coddii
Asparagus concinnus
Asparagus confertus
Asparagus cooperi
Asparagus crassicladus
Asparagus declinatus
Asparagus densiflorus
Asparagus denudatus
Asparagus devenishii
Asparagus divaricatus
Asparagus edulis
Asparagus exsertus
Asparagus exuvialis
Asparagus falcatus
Asparagus fasciculatus
Asparagus filicladus
Asparagus flagellaris Recorded from Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Asparagus flavicaulis
Asparagus fourei
Asparagus fractiflexus
Asparagus glaucus
Asparagus graniticus
Asparagus humilis Recorded from Mozambique.
Asparagus intricatus
Asparagus juniperoides
Asparagus kraussianus
Asparagus laricinus
Asparagus lignosus
Asparagus longicladus
Asparagus lynnetteae
Asparagus macowanii
Asparagus mariae
Asparagus microraphis
Asparagus minutiflorus
Asparagus mollis
Asparagus mucronatus
Asparagus multiflorus
Asparagus multituberosus
Asparagus natalensis
Asparagus nelsii
Asparagus nodulosus
Asparagus oliveri
Asparagus ovatus
Asparagus oxyacanthus
Asparagus pearsonii
Asparagus pendulus
Asparagus petersianus Recorded from Mozambique.
Asparagus plumosus
Asparagus psilurus Recorded from Mozambique.
Asparagus racemosus
Asparagus ramosissimus
Asparagus recurvispinus
Asparagus retrofractus
Asparagus rigidus
Asparagus rubicundus
Asparagus scandens
Asparagus schroederi
Asparagus sekukuniensis
Asparagus setaceus
Asparagus spinescens
Asparagus stellatus
Asparagus stipulaceus
Asparagus striatus
Asparagus suaveolens
Asparagus subulatus
Asparagus sylvicola
Asparagus transvaalensis
Asparagus undulatus
Asparagus virgatus
Asparagus volubilis

Other species, cultivated in southern Africa

List from Glen (2002).

Asparagus officinalis (Garden asparagus) Native from Europe to southwestern Asia.

Publications

• Fellingham, A.C. & Meyer, N.L. 1995. New combinations and a complete list of Asparagus species in southern Africa (Asparagaceae). Bothalia 25: 205-209.
• Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.
• Jessop, J. 1966. The genus Asparagus in southern Africa. Bothalia 9: 31-96.
• Malcomber, S.T. & Sebsebe, D. 1993. The status of Protasparagus and Myrsiphyllum in the Asparagaceae. Kew Bulletin 48: 63-78.
• Merxmüller, H. 1970. Asparagus. Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika  147: 25-32.
• Obermeyer, A.A. 1984. Revision of the genus Myrsiphyllum Willd. Bothalia 15: 77-88.
• Obermeyer, A.A. & Immelman, K.L. 1992. Asparagaceae. Flora of Southern Africa 5,3: 11-82.