Contains 3 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
ASPARAGUS Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 313. 1753.
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TYPE: Asparagus officinalis Linnaeus Lectotypified by Britton & A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S., ed. 2. 1: 313. 1913.
Species
Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
---|---|---|---|---|
Asparagus aethiopicus | SPRENGER'S ASPARAGUS-FERN | Not Native Y | ||
Asparagus officinalis | GARDEN ASPARAGUS | Not Native FACU (NWPL) | ||
Asparagus setaceus | COMMON ASPARAGUS-FERN | Not Native |
Identification Key
1. Cladodes (leaf-like structure) linear or oblong, 0.8-2 mm wide
2
1. Cladodes (leaf-like structure) filiform, 0.1-0.4 mm wide
3
2. Stems climbing to erect to 1-7 m long, the branchlets typically 4 cm or longer; cladodes (5)10-40 mm long; fruit 5-7 mm wide with 1-3 seeds
2. Stems erect to weakly decumbent to 0.6 m long, the branchlets typically 3.5 cm or shorter, the cladodes 5-15 mm long; fruit ca. 5 mm wide with one seed
3. Primary branches ascending to horizontal, the cladodes generally not plane; cladodes (4)10-15(30) mm long; some flowers unisexual; fruit red
3. Primary branches horizontal with cladodes nearly plane; cladodes 2-5(10) mm long; flowers bisexual; fruit purple-black
Genus Synonyms
Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Asparagopsis | Asparagopsis (Kunth) Kunth, Enum. Pl. 5: 76. 1850, non Montagne 1841. | BASIONYM: Asparagus Linnaeus, sect. Asparagopsis Kunth, Phys. Abh. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1842: 35. 1844. | TYPE: Asparagopsis aethiopica (Linnaeus) Kunth (Asparagus aethiopicus Linnaeus) Lectotypified by Obermeyer, S. African J. Bot. 2: 243. 1983. = Protasparagus Obermeyer 1983. |
Elide | Elide Medikus, Philos. Bot. 2: 72. 1791. | TYPE: Medeola asparagoides Linnaeus | |
Hecatris | Hecatris Salisbury, Gen. Pl. 66. 1866. | TYPE: = Myrsiphyllum Willdenow 1808; = Elide Medikus 1791, by lectotypification. | |
Myrsiphyllum | Myrsiphyllum Willdenow, Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin Mag. Neuesten Entdeck. 2: 25. 1808. | TYPE: Myrsiphyllum asparagoides (Linnaeus) Willdenow (Medeola asparagoides Linnaeus) Lectotypified by Pfeiffer, Nomencl. Bot. 2(1): 398. 1874. = Elide Medikus 1791, by lectotypification. | |
Protasparagus | Protasparagus Obermeyer, S. African J. Bot. 2: 243. 1983. | TYPE: Protasparagus aethiopicus (Linnaeus) Obermeyer (Asparagus aethiopicus Linnaeus) Substitute name for Asparagopsis (Kunth) Kunth 1850, non Montagne 1841. |