Asparagus rubicundus
| Asparagus rubicundus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asparagoideae |
| Genus: | Asparagus |
| Species: | A. rubicundus
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| Binomial name | |
| Asparagus rubicundus | |
Asparagus rubicundus ("red-stemmed asparagus") is a fluffy, thorny shrub of the Asparagus genus, that is indigenous to South Africa and southern Namibia.[1][2]
Description[]
This species of Asparagus grows as a thorny bush, to a height of 1,5 metres.
Stems are erect, round, smooth, shiny and have a distinctive dark-brown colour.
At each node along a stem, below the branch, there is a single, recurved-spreading (max.6mm) thorn.
The numerous, thread-like leaves are in feathery tufts of about 10. Individual leaves are small (3-7mm), linear-cylindrical, slightly curved, and slightly broader towards their tips.
The flowers (March-June) are white, usually solitary, and have brown stamens. The berries are reddish or black, each with a single seed.[3]
The young shoots of this plant are edible, like those of commercial asparagus.[4]
Related species[]
This species is part of a group of closely related African Asparagus species, including Asparagus lignosus, and .[5]
Distribution[]
It occurs throughout the southern and western Cape, as far north as Namibia, and as far east as Uitenhage. It is usually found in coarse sandy, clay or granite-based soil in fynbos or renosterveld vegetation and coastal sand plains.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asparagus rubicundus. |
References[]
- ^ http://www.greenplanet.co.za/plant.php?plant=404
- ^ Asparagus rubicundus distribution - Redlist
- ^ "Asparagus rubicundus | PlantZAfrica".
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Maria F Norup, Gitte Petersen, Sandie Burrows, Yanis Bouchenak-Khelladi, Jim Leebens-Mack, J Chris Pires, H Peter Linder, Ole Seberg. (2015). Evolution of Asparagus L. (Asparagaceae): Out-of-South-Africa and multiple origins of sexual dimorphism. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 92: 25-44.
Further reading[]
- Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
- Asparagus
- Flora of the Cape Provinces
- Creepers of South Africa
- Renosterveld
- Asparagaceae stubs