Asparagus aethiopicus

Asparagus aethiopicus, Sprenger's asparagus, is a plant native to the Cape Provinces and the Northern Provinces of South Africa. Often used as an ornamental plant, it is considered an invasive weed in many locations. Asparagus fern, asparagus grass and foxtail fern are common names; however, it is unrelated to true ferns.[3] A. aethiopicus has been confused with A. densiflorus, now regarded as a separate species,[4][5] so that information about A. aethiopicus will often be found under the name A. densiflorus.

Asparagus aethiopicus
Naturalized in Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Asparagoideae
Genus: Asparagus
Species:
A. aethiopicus
Binomial name
Asparagus aethiopicus
Synonyms[2]
List
  • Asparagopsis aethiopica (L.) Kunth
  • Asparagopsis lancea (Thunb.) Kunth
  • Asparagus aculeatus Voss
  • Asparagus laetus Salisb.
  • Asparagus lanceus Thunb.
  • Asparagus maximus Voss
  • Asparagus sprengeri Regel
  • Protasparagus aethiopicus (L.) Oberm.

Name and description

The species was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1767. The attribution "Sprenger's Asparagus," refers to Carl Ludwig Sprenger who made it popular in Europe as an ornamental plant.

Asparagus aethiopicus is a branching perennial herb with tough green aerial stems which are sparsely covered with spines. The oval-shaped leaves are actually leaf-like cladodes, which are 0.8–2 cm long and 0.1-0.2 cm wide, and arise in groups of four or more from the stem. Occurring in spring, the small white or pinkish-white flowers are 0.3-0.5 cm long and arise in clusters off the stem. Flowers are followed in summer by small round berries 0.5 cm in diameter, which bear a black 3 mm diameter seed. Initially green, the berries mature and turn red in the winter. The root system is a mat of fibrous roots with bulbous water storage tubers, originating from a toughened "crown" at the base of the leaves, this crown including fragments left in the ground may resprout.[6][7][8]

  • Flowers
    Flowers
  • Fruit
    Fruit

Distribution

Asparagus aethiopicus is native to southern regions of South Africa, mainly in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and the Northern Provinces.

Its natural habitat is rocky shale slopes and coastal scrub, in relatively dry areas.[9][10]

In the United States, it has been declared a weed in Hawaii,[11] and Florida.[12] It has also been declared a weed in New Zealand,[13] and has become established around major urban areas in Australia including Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast, Southeastern Queensland, and Adelaide,[7] as well as Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.[14] Seeds are spread by fruit-eating birds and improper disposal of garden refuse.[7] The pied currawong is a culprit in Sydney.[15] It can be eradicated using various herbicides depending on the situation,[6][16] or manual removal of the woody crown found at the junction between the leaves and roots, the non-reproductive water storage tubers can be safely left in the ground to decompose .[6][17]

Growing Asparagus aethiopicus

Asparagus aethiopicus is grown as an indoor plant in cooler climates, or as an ornamental garden plant in urban gardens, rockeries or in pots. Two cultivars are seen in cultivation, 'Sprengeri' is a scrambling form with sparser foliage, while 'Meyeri' has more erect stems to 70 cm (28 in) and denser foliage.[13]

Consuming the berries of A. aethiopicus can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain, and contact with the skin may cause dermatitis. The plant is toxic to domestic cats and dogs.[18]

References
  1. Romand-Monnier, F. & von Staden, L. (2013). "Asparagus aethiopicus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 208. e.T13507050A44531856. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T13507050A44531856.en.
  2. The Plant List, Asparagus aethiopicus L.
  3. Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to Gardening in Canada. The Reader's Digest Association (Canada) Ltd.: 1979. Calkins, Carrol C., ed. ISBN 0-88850-081-5
  4. "FNA Vol. 26 Page 213, 214: Asparagus aethiopicus". Flora of North America. Flora of North America. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  5. "Asparagus densiflorus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  6. "NSW WeedWise". weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  7. Wolff, Mark A. (1999). Winning the war of Weeds: The Essential Gardener's Guide to Weed Identification and Control. Kenthurst, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 43. ISBN 0-86417-993-6.
  8. Asparagus aethiopicus - SANBI PlantZAfrica.com
  9. Asparagus aethiopicus distribution and map - Redlist
  10. Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. M. Welman, E. Retief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. Van Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2). as Protasparagus aethiopicus
  11. "Asparagus densiflorus (Liliaceae) - HEAR species info". hear.org. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  12. Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s 2007 List of Invasive Plant Species
  13. Asparagus densiflorus Archived September 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  14. "Asparagus aethiopicus". Flora of Australia Online. ABRS, ©Commonwealth of Australia. 1994. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  15. "Asparagus Densiflorus - Asparagus Fern". Lane Cove Council - Our Environment. Lane Cove Council, NSW. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  16. Wolff, p. 104
  17. Wolff, p. 80
  18. "Asparagus Fern". ASPCA. Retrieved 7 April 2019.

Further reading
  • Auld, B.; Medd,R. (1987) Weeds., page 30.
  • Harden, G. (ed) (1993) Flora of NSW., vol. 4, page 46.
  • Parsons, W.; Cuthbertson, E. (1992) Noxious Weeds of Australia., pages 47–48.
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