Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (6)

Asparagus asparagoides

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along main road between Lake Kaulime turn-off and Kaperepeza road, Nyika National Park

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Myrsiphyllum asparagoides (L.) Willd.
Common names: Cape smilax (English)
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Perennial twining or climbing herb, up to 2 m. Stems twisting, shortly branched. Leaves ovate, shiny, somewhat succulent. Flowers white, tubular at the base with tepal lobes reflexed and stamens excerted. Fruit a small spherical berry, black.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: In margins of forest and thicket and in rocky areas in grassland.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:All year
Worldwide distribution:
Malawi distribution: N,S
Growth form(s): Climber.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Wednesday 19 October 2022
Literature:

Biegel, H.M. (1977). Check-list of ornamental plants used in Rhodesian parks and gardens. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal. Research Report No. 3. Page 25.

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 290. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7.

Demissew, S. (2008). Asparagaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(1) Pages 29 - 30.

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 86.

White, F. (1962). Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia Oxford Univ. Press. Page 14.

White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J.D. (2001). Evergreen forest flora of Malawi Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Pages 93 - 94. (Includes a picture).

Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 81.

Other sources of information about Asparagus asparagoides:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Asparagus asparagoides
Flora of Mozambique: Asparagus asparagoides
Flora of Zambia: Asparagus asparagoides
Flora of Zimbabwe: Asparagus asparagoides
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Asparagus asparagoides

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Asparagus asparagoides
African Plant Database: Asparagus asparagoides
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Asparagus asparagoides
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Asparagus asparagoides
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Asparagus asparagoides
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Asparagus asparagoides
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Asparagus asparagoides
JSTOR Plant Science: Asparagus asparagoides
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Asparagus asparagoides
Plants of the World Online: Asparagus asparagoides
Tropicos: Asparagus asparagoides
Wikipedia: Asparagus asparagoides


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Malawi: Species information: Asparagus asparagoides.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=114750, retrieved 19 March 2024

Site software last modified: 3 April 2018 9:36pm
Terms of use