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Synonyms: |
Asparagus plumosus Baker Protasparagus plumosus (Baker) Oberm. Protasparagus setaceus (Kunth) Oberm. |
Common names: | Asparagus fern (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Evergreen perennial erect or climbing herb up to 2 m. Stems unarmed except for a few basal spines. Branches spreading with short branchlets densely covered with clusters of numerous short, needle-like cladodes. |
Notes: | A very distinct and recognisable form has less dense cladode-clusters and the branches, branchlets and cladodes typically flattened into one plane. It has formerly been recognized as a separate species, A. plumosus. This form is often found in the wild and and also well-known as an ornamental plant. |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | In thickets or forest. |
Altitude range: | Up to 2400 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in Tropical Africa and South Africa. |
Mozambique distribution: | N,Z,MS,GI,M |
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: | Monday 25 June 2018 |
Literature: |
Biegel, H.M. (1977). Check-list of ornamental plants used in Rhodesian parks and gardens. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal. Research Report No. 3. Page 26. 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. also as Asparagus plumosus Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. As Asparagus plumosus Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 5. As Asparagus plumosus Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 120. As Asparagus plumosus Demissew, S. (2008). Asparagaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(1) Pages 13 - 16. (Includes a picture). Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 23. 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. As Asparagus plumosus Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 115. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 24. Also as Asparagus plumosus Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 49. as Protasparagus setaceus Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 71. White, F. (1962). Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia Oxford Univ. Press. Page 14. as Asparagus plumosus White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J.D. (2001). Evergreen forest flora of Malawi Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Pages 94 - 95. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 81. |
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