Asparagaceae
Asparagus

Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Knuth

First published in Handb. Blütenb. 3: 140 (1904)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Ethiopia to S. Africa. It is a scrambling perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Distribution

Native to:

Cape Provinces, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Free State, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Northern Provinces, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

Argentina Northeast, Azores, Baleares, California, Canary Is., Corse, Italy, Madeira, New South Wales, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Norfolk Is., Portugal, Sicilia, South Australia, Spain, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Synonyms

Homotypic Synonyms

Heterotypic Synonyms

Classification

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Publications

POWO follows these authorities in accepting this name:

  • Demissew, S. & Nordal, I. (2010). Aloes and other Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea, ed, 2: 1-351. Shama Books, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
  • Demissew, S. (2006). Asparagaceae. Flora of Tropical East Africa: 1-22.
  • Dobignard, D. & Chatelain, C. (2010). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 1: 1-455. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
  • Edwards, S., Demissew, S. & Hedberg, I. (eds.) (1997). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 6: 1-586. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The Department of Systematic Botany, Upps.
  • Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2002). Flora of North America North of Mexico 26: 1-723. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.
  • Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14.: i-vi, 1-1231. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Govaerts, R. (1995). World Checklist of Seed Plants 1(1, 2): 1-483, 1-529. MIM, Deurne.
  • Hansen, A. & Sunding, P. (1985). Flora of Macaronesia. Checklist of vascular plants. 3. revised edition. Sommerfeltia 1: 5-103.
  • Healey, A.J. & Edgar, E. (1980). Flora of New Zealand 3: 1-220. R.E.Owen, Government Printer, Wellington.
  • Maire, R. (1958). Flore de l'Afrique du Nord 5: 1-307. Paul Lechevalier, Paris.
  • Muer, T., Sauerbier, H. & Cabrara Calixto, F. (2020). Die Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Madeiras: 1-792. Verlag und Versandbuchhandlung Andreas Kleinsteuber.
  • Orchard, A.E. (ed.) (1994). Oceanic Islands 1. Flora of Australia 49: 1-681. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
  • Rico, E. & al. (eds.) in Castroviejo, S. & al. (eds.) (2013). Flora Iberica 20: 1-651. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid.
  • Stinca, A. & al. (2017). New alien vascular species for the flora of southern Italy. Webbia; Raccolta de Scritti Botanici 72: 295-301.
  • Timberlake, J.R. & Martins, E.S. (eds.) (2008). Flora Zambesiaca 13(1): 1-140. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Tutin, T.G. & al. (eds.) (1980). Flora Europaea 5: 1-452. Cambridge University Press.
  • Zuloaga, F.O. & Morrone, O. (eds.) (1996). Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledoneae). Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares de la República Argentina 1: 1-323. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.
  • de Salas, MF, Baker, ML (2022). A Census of the Vascular Plants of Tasmania, including Macquarie Island: 1-161. Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart. https://flora.tmag.tas.gov.au/resources/census/.

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Demissew, S. (2006). Asparagaceae. Flora of Tropical East Africa: 1-22.
  • Edwards, S., Demissew, S. & Hedberg, I. (eds.) (1997). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 6: 1-586. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The Department of Systematic Botany, Upps.
  • Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2002). Flora of North America North of Mexico 26: 1-723. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.
  • Hansen, A. & Sunding, P. (1985). Flora of Macaronesia. Checklist of vascular plants. 3. revised edition. Sommerfeltia 1: 5-103.
  • Healey, A.J. & Edgar, E. (1980). Flora of New Zealand 3: 1-220. R.E.Owen, Government Printer, Wellington.
  • Orchard, A.E. (ed.) (1994). Oceanic Islands 1. Flora of Australia 49: 1-681. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
  • Rico, E. & al. (eds.) in Castroviejo, S. & al. (eds.) (2013). Flora Iberica 20: 1-651. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid.
  • Stinca, A. & al. (2017). New alien vascular species for the flora of southern Italy. Webbia; Raccolta de Scritti Botanici 72: 295-301.
  • Timberlake, J.R. & Martins, E.S. (eds.) (2008). Flora Zambesiaca 13(1): 1-140. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Tutin, T.G. & al. (eds.) (1980). Flora Europaea 5: 1-452. Cambridge University Press.
  • Zuloaga, F.O. & Morrone, O. (eds.) (1996). Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledoneae). Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares de la República Argentina 1: 1-323. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.
  • de Salas, MF, Baker, ML (2022). A Census of the Vascular Plants of Tasmania, including Macquarie Island: 1-161. Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart. https://flora.tmag.tas.gov.au/resources/census/.

Other Data

Other Kew resources that provide information on this taxon:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Giess, W.; Müller, N. [12216] Namibia K002867213 Yes
Guillarmod, J.; Getliffe; Mzamane [66] Lesotho K002867212 Yes
Troupin, G. [16113] Rwanda K002854195 Yes
Keighery, G.J. [7871] Australia K002853836 Yes
Green, P.S. [1914] Australia K002853845 Yes
Richards, H.M. (Mrs) [14282] Tanzania K002865115 Yes
Bangerter, E.B. [5253] New Zealand K002853880 Yes
Schlieben, H.-J. [11474] South Africa K002867219 Yes
Burtt, B.D. [1727] Tanzania K002865119 Yes
B. Mhoro [UMBCP 465] Tanzania K002865147 Yes
Saint Clair Thompson, G.W. [1396] Tanzania K002865120 Yes
Drege [2704b] K001651435 Yes
Borhidi, A.; Iversen, S.T.; Pócs, T.; Steiner, M.; Temu, R.P.C. [86106] Tanzania K002865142 Yes
Gardner, H.M. [2939] Kenya K002865096 Yes
Hutchinson, J. [4511] South Africa K002867165 Yes
s.coll. [7974] K002867162 Yes
Gillett, J.B.; Burtt, B.L.; Osborn, R.M. [17152] Kenya K002865108 Yes
Stauffer, H.U. [1139] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K002854194 Yes
Revell, R.J. [119] Tanzania K002865194 Yes
Drummond, R.B.; Hemsley, J.H. [4322] Kenya K002865102 No
MacOwan, P. [1862] South Africa K002867171 Yes
Hilliard, O.M.; Burtt, B.L. [15618] South Africa K002867225 Yes
Jackson, G. [141] Australia K002853835 Yes
Tyson, W. [2544] South Africa K002867174 Yes
Hill, B. (Mrs) [517] Kenya K002865095 Yes
Richards, M. [17840] Tanzania K002865193 Yes
Thomas, D.W. [3704] Tanzania K002865145 Yes
Strey, R.G. [8723] South Africa K002867223 Yes
Bally, P.R.O. [9180] Ethiopia K002854406 Yes
Mostert, J.W. [363] South Africa K002867197 Yes
Zeyher [s.n.] K002867202 Yes
Tweedie [4088] Kenya K002865105 Yes
Humbert, H. [7517] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K002854192 Yes
Kisena [1081] Tanzania K002865149 Yes
Drummond, R.B.; Hemsley, J.H. [1600] Tanzania K002865130 Yes
Frimodt-Möller, C. [DA36] Tanzania K002865155 Yes
s.coll. [[5570]] K002867186 Yes
s.coll. [623] South Africa K002867172 Yes
Jannerup; Mhoro [0246] Tanzania K002865148 Yes
Wingfield, R. [4349] Tanzania K002865195 Yes
Gillet, M.C. [2040] South Africa K002867179 Yes
Garside, S. [4870] South Africa K002867178 Yes
Kisena [439] Tanzania K002865140 Yes
Stauffer, H.U. [649] Uganda K002865090 Yes
Jessop, J.P. [613] South Africa K002867188 Yes
Mathenge, S.G. [454] Kenya K002865107 Yes
Wesche, K. [1311] Uganda K002865091 Yes
Wilson, K.L. [6255] Australia K002853843 Yes
Verdcourt; Greenway [445] Kenya K002865100 Yes
Symon, D.E. [11572] Australia K002853832 Yes
van der Schijff, H.P. [6340] South Africa K002867190 Yes
Haegi, L. [1299] Australia K002853834 Yes
Rügheimer, S.; Nanyeni, L.; Shaanika, J. [3524] Namibia K001611500 Yes
Gill, Dr. [s.n.] South Africa K002867185 Yes
Mund [s.n.] South Africa K001617417 Yes
MacOwan [1802] South Africa K002867183 Yes
Cooper, T. [3257] South Africa K001617418 Yes
s.coll. [3769] South Africa K002867210 Yes
Burchell [2886] South Africa K001617415 Yes
Burchell [3801] South Africa K002867211 Yes
Burchell [3310] South Africa K001617416 Yes
[illegible] [8069] K002867249 Yes
Wilms, Dr.F. [3744] K001617414 Yes
MacOwan, P. [1920] South Africa K002867173 Yes
C.B.S. [s.n.] K002867205 Yes
Mogg, A.O.D. [6620] South Africa K002867199 Yes
Richards, H.M. (Mrs) [14270] Tanzania K002865114 Yes
Mooney, H.F. [7326] Ethiopia K002854405 Yes
Napier, E.R. [1806] Kenya K002865097 Yes
Vaughan, J.H. [1823] Tanzania K002865196 Yes
Sutherland [s.n.] South Africa K002867203 Yes
Boucher, C. [4507] South Africa K002867224 Yes
Stolz, A. [1056] Tanzania K002865122 Yes
Bally, P.R.O. [9180] Ethiopia K002854407 Yes
Mabberley, D.J. [1422] Tanzania K002865152 Yes
[Albany] [102] South Africa K002867170 Yes
Thulin, M.; B. Mhoro [937] Tanzania K002865127 Yes
D'Arcy, W.G. [7514] Rwanda K002854196 Yes
Wallace, G.B. [454] Tanzania K002865132 Yes
Lebrun, J.A. [4750] Congo, Democratic Republic of the K002854193 Yes
Rehmann, A. [5785] South Africa K002867196 Yes
Kisena [849] Tanzania K002865139 Yes
Lovett, J. [2073] Tanzania K002865154 Yes
Daveau, J. [s.n.] Portugal K002974172 Yes
Nieuwoudt, S.F. [A11] South Africa K002867215 Yes
Pretorius, W.A.J. [409] South Africa K002867226 Yes
Greenway, P.J.; Kanuri [13417] Tanzania K002865124 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] South Africa K001651436 Yes
Smith, H.; Paulo, S. [885] Kenya K002865106 Yes
Faden, R.B.; Faden, A.J.; Smeenk, C. [71/1010] Kenya K002865109 Yes
s.coll. [42] South Africa K002867180 Yes
Hutchinson, J.; Gillett, J.B. [4190] South Africa K002867167 Yes
Atchley, S.C. [227] Portugal K002974171 Yes
Jessop, J.P. [619] South Africa K002867189 Yes
Mesfin, T.; Vollesen, K. [4350] Ethiopia K002854404 Yes
Gillett [10196] K002867355 Yes
Harris, B.J. [BJH 4053] Tanzania K002865192 Yes
Cooper, T. [328] South Africa K002867176 Yes
Olivier, M.C. [171] South Africa K002867187 Yes
Wilson, P.G. [422] Australia K002853839 Yes
Mabberley, D.J.; Pócs, T. [1266] Tanzania K002865151 Yes
Bidgood, G.S.; Sitoni, D.; Vollesen, K.B.; Whitehouse, C. [3435] Tanzania K002865143 Yes
Msuya [8] Tanzania K002865134 Yes
Napier, E.R. (Miss) [1809] Kenya K002865098 Yes
Wendelberger [738] Tanzania K002865137 Yes
Iversen, S.T.; Pócs, T.; Temu, R.P.C. [85084] Tanzania K002865141 Yes
Hutchinson, J.; Gillett, J.B. [4190] South Africa K002867166 Yes
Burtt, B.D. [919] Tanzania K002865118 Yes
van Someren (Dr.) [1156] Kenya K002865101 Yes
Compton, R.H. [26393] South Africa K002867207 Yes
Glasnevin [s.n.] K002867354 Yes
Greenway, P.J. [7700] Tanzania K002865112 Yes
Farkas; Mziray; Manktelow; Pócs [89287] Tanzania K002865146 Yes
Compton, R.H. [3221] South Africa K002867181 Yes
Björnstad, A. [AB 423] Tanzania K002865191 Yes
Schlechter, R. [1262] South Africa K002867204 Yes
Bidgood, G.S.; Sitoni, D.; Vollesen, K.B.; Whitehouse, C. [3435] Tanzania K002865144 Yes
Keighery, G.J. [9179] Australia K002853837 Yes
Humblot, M. [130] Madagascar K002866183 No
Greenway, P.J.; Eggeling, W.J. [8682] Tanzania K002865126 Yes
Galpin, E.E. [857] South Africa K002867161 Yes
Rogers, C.G. [40] Kenya K002865094 Yes
Thompson, M.F. [2930] South Africa K002867216 Yes
Msuya [8] Tanzania K002865128 Yes
[Sheild Van Heist] [590] Uganda K002865093 Yes
Richards, H.M. (Mrs) [15673] Tanzania K002865117 Yes
Cooper, T. [14] South Africa K002867218 Yes
Wilson, K.L. [5603] Australia K002853842 Yes
Killick, D.J.B. [1723] South Africa K002867200 Yes
Symon, D.E. [11508] Australia K002853833 Yes
Luke, W.R.Q.; Mwangulango, R.; Butynski, T.; Ehardt, C.; Kingdon, J. [7802] Tanzania K002865156 Yes
s.coll. [[178]] Madagascar K002866182 No
{Gouan} [s.n.] K002867353 Yes
Scheepers, J.C. [196] South Africa K002867194 Yes
C.B.S. [s.n.] K002867206 Yes
Mwasumbi, L.B. [LBM 10550] Tanzania K002865190 No
Acocks, J.P.H. [18388] South Africa K002867192 Yes
Cribb, P.; Grey-Wilson, C.; Mwasumbi, L. [11437] Tanzania K002865129 Yes
Bangerter, E.B. [5253] New Zealand K002853881 Yes
Messmer, N.; Andriatsiferana, F. [NM770] Madagascar K002866184 No
Symon, D.E. [8799] Australia K002853840 Yes
[G. Uhe] [1340] Australia K002853846 Yes
Mwasumbi, L.B. [DSM2702] Tanzania K002865133 Yes
Newbould, J.B. [5639] Tanzania K002865116 Yes
C.B.S. [s.n.] K002867208 Yes
Gerrard, W.T. [1523] South Africa K002867169 Yes
Baron, R. [4238] Madagascar K002866185 No
Devenish, N.J. [189] South Africa K002867195 Yes
Gilbert Rogers, C. [40] Kenya K002865099 Yes
Gillett, J.B. [13889] Kenya K002865104 Yes
[Vanheist] [s.n.] Uganda K002865092 Yes
Pócs, T.; Pócs, A.; Pócs, B. [8665A] Tanzania K002865150 Yes
Johnson, L.A.S. [47499] Australia K002853844 Yes
Thompson, M.F. [113] South Africa K002867191 Yes
Flanagan, H.A. [315] South Africa K002867201 Yes
Baur, R. [1143] South Africa K001651434 Yes
Pócs, T.; Chuwz, S. [89007/B] Tanzania K002865138 Yes
Greenway [6528] Tanzania K002865121 Yes
Theron, G.C. [1087] South Africa K002867164 Yes
Bridson, D.; Lovett, J. [542] Tanzania K002865135 Yes
Luke [3029] Kenya K002865189 Yes
Kisena; Mmari [1682] Tanzania K002865153 Yes
Moll, E.J. [1233] South Africa K002867198 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] K002867352 Yes
James, T. [301] Australia K002853841 Yes
[D van Uuwen] [s.n.] South Africa K002867193 Yes
Strey, R.G. [9211] South Africa K002867222 Yes
Faden, R.B.; Evans, A.W.; Smeenk, C. [70/533] Kenya K002865110 Yes
Price, D.; Mwangulango, N.A.; Doggart, N. [WK51] Tanzania K002865136 Yes
Carmichael, W. [200] Tanzania K002865125 Yes
van der Merwe, P. [257] South Africa K002867214 Yes
Goossens, A.P. [766] K002867184 Yes
Rodin, R.J. [1070] South Africa K002867209 Yes
Batty, M. (Mrs.) [90] Tanzania K002865188 No
Hutton, H. [s.n.] South Africa K001651433 Yes
Burchell, W.J. [1230] K002867217 Yes
Richards, H.M. (Mrs) [14301] Tanzania K002865113 Yes
Flanagan, H.G. [s.n.] South Africa K002867182 Yes
Phillips, E.P. [7619] South Africa K002867168 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] K001651432 Yes
Strey, R.G. [10553] South Africa K002867220 Yes
Thulin, M.; B. Mhoro [1006] Tanzania K002865123 Yes
s.coll. [2704a] K002867177 Yes
Acocks, J.P.H. [14643] South Africa K002867163 Yes
Wallace, G.B. [454] Tanzania K002865111 Yes
Cooper, T. [188] South Africa K002867175 Yes
Mandon, G. [315] Portugal Asparagus medeoloides K002974602 Yes
Trethewy, A.W. [176] Spain Asparagus medeoloides K002974604 Yes
Trethewy, A.W. [176] Spain Asparagus medeoloides K002974605 Yes
Bourgeau, E. [1022] Spain Asparagus medeoloides K002974606 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] Spain Asparagus medeoloides K002974607 Yes
Daveau, J. [s.n.] Asparagus medeoloides K002974173 Yes
Proby, B.M. [104] Spain Asparagus medeoloides K002974603 Yes
Drummond, R.B.; Hemsley, J.H. [1600] Tanzania Asparagus medeoloides K:SPC-02373.000 No
Murray, R.P. [s.n.] Spain Asparagus medeoloides K002974601 Yes

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Art and Illustrations in Digifolia

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images