ASPARAGUS APHYLLUS

Family:- ASPARAGACEAE

Common Name:- Mediterranean Asparagus

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Asparagus. The Greek name for plants sprouting edible shoots from the

rootstock.

Aphyllus (Gr) Without leaves, leafless.

General description:- Hairless rhizomatous perennials with tough stems, some

times becoming woody, often with a rather ferny appearance.

Stem:-

a) up to 100 cm.

b) and branches smooth or with the surface rough to the touch due to minute

projections (papillose-scabrid).

c) woody, green.

Leaves:-

True leaves reduced to small papery, bract-like structures.

1) Cladodes:

a) a green leaf-like flattened stem resembling spikes but functioning as a leaf.

b) borne usually in clusters (fascicles) (5-)10-20(-30) mm. distinctly unequal, of

3-7, spreading, strongly spiny.

2) Pedicels:

a) 2·5-5 mm.

b) surrounded by bracteoles at the base.

3) Nodes:

a) with 3-6(-9) flowers mixed with the cladodes.

Flowers:-

a) small.

b) bell-shaped, in groups of 3-6.

c) whitish or greenish.

1) Perianth-segments:

a) (2·5-)3-4 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Berry:

a) 7-8 mm.

b) with 1-3 seeds.

c) black when ripe.

Key features:-

1) Cladodes distinctly unequal, usually more than 10 mm, in fascicles of 3-7

Habitat:- Dry places, hedges, rocky habitats and scrub.

Distribution:- S. Italy, S. Greece, Crete, N. Africa and E. Med. Widespread and

common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-Oct.

Photo by:- Steve Lenton