Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop.   Asparagus sprengeri Regel                                                                      Liliaceae (Lily Family)                                   Old World                         Asparagus Fern

                                   December Photo

Plant Characteristics: Perennial herb; roots with white tubers; sts. drooping or scrambling, 3-6 ft. long, glabrous, much branched; cladodes (flattened stem having the function of a leaf) about 1 in. long, flat, linear, straight or only slightly curved, 3-8 together, scales on main sts. spiniferous; fls. pinkish, fragrant, in loose racemes 1-3 in. long; berry somewhat 3-lobed, bright red, 1/2 in. or less diam., 1-3 seeded.

Habitat:  Escape from cultivation. Popular for hanging baskets or containers, indoors and out.  Used as a ground cover where temperatures stay above 24 degrees F.  Takes full sun as well as part shade; grows in ordinary and even poor soil.  Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984, 190.

Name:  Asparagos, the ancient Greek name.  (Jaeger 28). Named for Karl Sprenger, l847-1918, Italian nurseryman.  (Bailey 216).

General:  Occasional in the study area, found several times including along the road from Big Canyon to the end of Back Bay Dr. at Eastbluff Dr. I watched one plant for over a year hoping to find it in bloom or with berries but never did.  The plant finally died out. (my comments).      About 150 species, from Siberia to South Africa, one everywhere grown for food and a few others common as ornamental plants.  (Bailey 215).       Roberts, in his A CHECKLIST OF THE VASCULAR PLANTS of ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Second Edition, 1998 p. 73, shows a name change from A. sprengeri to A. densiflorus.        Comparison of the DNA sequences for various genes, usually those found in the chloroplast of the plant cell has led biologists to propose many changes in the plant families as they are now known.  It is proposed to move the genus Asparagus from Liliaceae to Asparagaceae.  (Kelch, Dean G. “Consider the Lilies” FREMONTIA, A Journal of the California Native Plant Society Vol. 30 No. 2 April 2002 pp. 23-29).

Text Ref:  Bailey 216; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 920; Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984, 190.

Photo Ref:  Feb 3 84 # 7,8.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.

First Found:  May 1992.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 110.

No plant specimen.

Last edit 5/27/04.  

                        February Photo                                                                   February Photo