Weed Identification

Australia > > Asparagus Fern

Asparagus Fern

Asparagus scandens

Alternative Name(s): Myrsiphyllum scandens, Climbing Asparagus

Family: Asparagaceae.

Form: Vine

Origin: Native of South Africa.

Flowers/Seedhead: White to pink, to 4 mm long and topped by yellow anthers. Flowers winter to spring.

Description: Perennial climber or scrambler with aerial parts to 2 m high on supporting vegetation. Leaflike flattened stems (cladodes), shiny, linear to spear-shaped (lanceolate), unequal in length, 5–15 mm long and to 1.5 mm wide and pointed towards the tips. Stems wiry, twisting, to 3 m long. Berries globeshaped,5–7 mm wide, orange to red when ripe, usually with one seed.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by climbing habit, tuberous roots and leaf-like cladodes in groups of three around the stem with reduced bract-like leaves at the base.

Dispersal: Spread by bird-dispersed seeds and locally by roots.


Leaf-like flattened stems (cladodes) in
groups of 3 around larger stems
photo J.R.Hosking

Notes: Asparagus Fern is only known to be naturalised in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, mainly around Melbourne and Sydney. Plants smothers shrubs and small trees. Potentially a serious environmental weed in Australia. This weed is the most important Asparagus weed in New Zealand.

References:

    Flora of Victoria. N. Walsh and T. Entwisle (eds), 1994, Vol. 2, page 643. Flora of NSW. G. Harden (ed), Vol. 4, 1993, page 47. Environmental Weeds: a field guide for SE Australia. K. Blood, 2001, pages100–101.

Web References: Search Australian web sites for further information on this weed.

Climbing over trees Somers, Vic
photo J.R.Hosking

This weed has been included in the WEEDeck field guide as card V11.
More information about WEEDeck is available from Sainty & Associates Pty. Ltd.

It has also been included in the 'Jumping the Garden Fence' report (WWF-Australia PDF - 1.19mb) which examines the impact of invasive garden plants on Australian agricultural land and natural ecosystems.

 

Australia > > Asparagus Fern

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