Asparagus

Asparagus is a genus in the plant family Asparagaceae, subfamily Asparagoideae.^[1] It comprises up to 300 species. Mostly are evergreen long-lived perennial plants growing from the understory as lianas, bushes or climbing plants. The most well-known species is the edible Asparagus officinalis, commonly referred to as just asparagus. Other members of the genus are grown as ornamental plants.

Ecology

The genus includes a variety of living forms, occurring from rainforest to semi-desert habitats; many are climbing plants. The differences among them came from the communities and ecosystems in which they occur, and the ecological and evolutionary processes that keep them functioning, yet ever changing and adapting. Most are dispersed by birds.^{[citation needed]}

Species such as Asparagus setaceus are finely branched and are misleadingly known as "asparagus fern". The most popular ornamental species are Asparagus plumosus, Asparagus densiflorus, and Asparagus sprengeri.

In the Macaronesian Islands, several species (Asparagus umbellatus, Asparagus scoparius, etc.) grow in moist laurel forest habitat, and preserve the original form of a leafy vine. In the drier Mediterranean climate the asparagus genus evolved in the Tertiary into thorny, drought-adapted species.^{[citation needed]}

Many species, particularly from Africa, were once included in separate genera such as Protasparagus and Myrsiphyllum. However, partly in response to the implications of the discovery of new species, those genera have been reunited under Asparagus.^[2] Species in this genus vary in their appearance, from unarmed herbs to wiry, woody climbers with formidable hooked spines that earn them vernacular names such as "cat thorn" and "wag 'n bietjie" (literally "wait a bit").^[3] Most species have photosynthetic flattened stems, called phylloclades, instead of true leaves. Asparagus officinalis, Asparagus schoberioides, and Asparagus cochinchinensis are dioecious species, with male and female flowers on separate plants.

Selected species

• Asparagus acutifolius
• Asparagus aethiopicus (= Protasparagus aethiopicus)
• Asparagus africanus (= Protasparagus africanus) - African Asparagus
• Asparagus asparagoides ( = Myrsiphyllum asparagoides) - Smilax, African Asparagus Fern, (Austr.) Bridal Creeper
• Asparagus cochinchinensis - Tian men dong in Chinese.
• Asparagus declinatus - Foxtail Asparagus Fern, (Austr.) Bridal vein
• Asparagus densiflorus (= Protasparagus densiflorus) - Ground Asparagus, Asparagus Fern, (S. Afr.) Emerald Fern, Basket Asparagus
  • Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri' ( = Protasparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri') - Sprenger's Asparagus
• Asparagus falcatus (Large Forest Sicklethorn of southern Africa)
• Asparagus fallax Esparraguera de monteverde. Macaronesian native flora.
• Asparagus flagellaris
• Asparagus macowanii (= Protasparagus macowanii)
• Asparagus maritimus
• Asparagus nesiotes Esparraguera majorera. Macaronesian native flora.
• Asparagus officinalis - Asparagus
  • Asparagus officinalis officinalis - Garden Asparagus
  • Asparagus officinalis prostratus
• Asparagus pastorianus Esparraguera espinablanca. Macaronesian native flora.
• Asparagus plumosus (= Asparagus setaceus)
  • Asparagus Plumosus Nanus is a greenhouse variety, bearing fern-like foliage.
• Asparagus racemosus
• Asparagus scandens (Krulkransie of the Western Cape, South Africa)
• Asparagus schoberioides
• Asparagus scoparius (Esparragón raboburro Macaronesian native flora.
• Asparagus setaceus (= Protasparagus setaceus) - Lace Fern, Asparagus Fern, Florist's Fern, (Austr.) Climbing Asparagus
• Asparagus sprengeri (= Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri')
• Asparagus tenuifolius
• Asparagus umbellatus (Esparraguera común) Macaronesian native flora.
• Asparagus vaginellatus Bojer ex Baker
• Asparagus virgatus

Pests and diseases

• Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi)
• Spotted Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris duodecimpunctata)
• Asparagus Fern Caterpillar, also known as Beet Armyworm, Spodoptera exigua.
• Asparagus Fly Platyparaea poeciloptera, a fruit fly
• Fusarium root and crown rot, caused by two species of fungi, Fusarium monoliforme and Fusarium oxysporium asparagi
• Asparagus rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia asparagi
• Botrytis blight, caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea
• The larvae of some Lepidoptera species have been recorded feeding on Asparagus. These include Coleophora lineapulvella, Ghost Moth, The Nutmeg, Small Fan-footed Wave, and Turnip Moth

Invasive species

A. asparagoides, known as bridal creeper, is a problematic weed in southern Australia.^[4][5]

A. asparagoide, A. densiflorus and A. scandens are listed on the New Zealand National Pest Plant Accord since they are invasive plants.

References