ASPARAGUS APHYLLUS

Family and Genus:- See- ASPARAGACEAE

Common Name:- Mediterranean Asparagus

Homotypic 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:-

1) Up to 100 cm, branches smooth or papillose-scabrid, woody, green.

Leaves:-

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

2) Cladodes, borne usually in fascicles (5-)10-20(-30) mm. distinctly unequal,

3-7, spreading, strongly spiny.

3) Pedicels, 2·5-5 mm, surrounded by bracteoles at the base.

4) Nodes, with 3-6(-9) flowers mixed with the cladodes.

Flowers:-

1) Small, campanulate of 3-6, whitish or greenish.

2) Perianth-segments, (2·5-)3-4 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Berry, 7-8 mm, with 1-3 seeds, black when ripe.

Key features:-

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

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

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