| Red-stemmed Asparagus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asparagoideae |
| Genus: | Asparagus |
| Species: | A. rubicundus |
| Binomial name | |
| Asparagus rubicundus P.J.Bergius (1767) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
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Asparagus rubicundus, known as the red-stemmed asparagus, is a fluffy, thorny shrub of the Asparagus genus, that is endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. [1] [2] [3]
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. [4]
The young shoots of this plant are edible, like those of commercial asparagus. [5]
This species is part of a group of closely related African Asparagus species, including Asparagus lignosus , Asparagus concinnus and Asparagus microraphis . [6]
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.
