Emerald Asparagus Fern

The foliage is much used by florists.

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.

Herbs hermaphroditic. Stems climbing, much branched, to several meters, slightly woody near base; branches spreading horizontally, with branchlets and cladodes arranged in 1 plane, frondlike. Cladodes in fascicles of 10--13, 4--5 mm, very slender, slightly trigonous. Leaf spur short, occasionally spinescent on main stems. Inflorescences developing after cladodes. Flowers solitary or in clusters of 2 or 3; pedicel short, articulate at middle. Perianth white; segments widely spreading, lanceolate-oblong, ca. 7 mm. Berry purplish black, 6--7 mm in diam., 1--3-seeded. Fl. Jun. 2 n = 20*.

introduced; Calif., Fla.; s, e Africa.

Flowering spring--summer.

Waste places, abandoned gardens; 0--100m.

Commonly cultivated and occasionally becoming naturalized [native to S Africa].

Asparagopsis setacea Kunth, Abh. Königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1842: 82. 1842; Asparagus plumosus Baker

Asparagopsis setacea Kunth, Enum. Pl. 5: 82. 1850; Asparagus plumosus Baker.