Asparagus asparagoides Wight
Liliaceae (Lily Family)South AfricaSmilax |
February Photo
Plant characteristics:
Perennial, tall, much-branched glabrous vine, climbing by twining, with a
cluster of tuberous roots; cladodes ovate, sharp-pointed, about 2.5 cm. long,
stiffish, shining, strongly many-veined; fls. 1 or 2 to a scale or true leaf,
greenish-white, about 9 mm. long, on very slender pedicels of nearly or quite
equal length; ovary 3-celled; pistil one with 3-lobed stigma; berry dark purple,
about 6 mm. in diam., with 1-3 seeds; seeds globular, black.
Habitat:
Plant in well-drained soil in partial shade.
Will thrive in sun near the coast. Plant
dies back in the summer, coming back from roots with fall rains.
Self-sows readily. (Sunset
Editors, New Western Garden Book, 1984. 190). Native of South
Africa. (Bailey 215).
Name:
Asparagus, the ancient Greek
name. (Munz, Flora
So. Calif. 920). Asparagoi-des,
asparagus-like. (Bailey 11). Greek, asparagos,
ancient name for the asparagus. Greek,
oides a contraction of -o+eidos,
denoting likeness of form. (Jaeger
28, 112). Asparagoides,
like asparagus. The plant does not
resemble table asparagus at all. (my
comment).
General:
Since it was first found in 1992, this plant has increased its range to
include all of the low lying areas below Eastbluff North.
It is now very common in the area. (my
comments 2003). About
150 species, from Siberia to S. Africa, one everywhere grown for food and a few
others common as ornamental plants. (Bailey
215). Naturalized.
(Hickman, Ed. 1359).
Text Ref:
Bailey 215; Hickman, Ed. 1179; Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book,
1984. 190.
Photo Ref:
May-July 92 # 8,9,15; Feb 94 # 5A; Aug 83-Mar 94 # 15A; Oct 02-Mar 03 #
7.
Identity: by John Johnson.
First Found: May 1992.
Computer Ref: Plant Data 436.
Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.
Last edit 8/6/05.
February Photo May Photo