Asparagus asparagoides

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Asparagaceae
Subfamilia: Asparagoideae
Genus: Asparagus
Species: Asparagus asparagoides
Name

Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce, Rep. Bot. Exch. Club Soc. Brit. Isles 3: 414 (1914).
Synonyms

Basionym
Medeola asparagoides L., Sp. Pl.: 339 (1753).
Homotypic
Myrsiphyllum asparagoides (L.) Willd., Mag. Neuesten Entdeck. Gesammten Naturk. Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin 2: 25 (1808).
Elide asparagoides (L.) Kerguélen, Collect. Partim. Nat. 8: xiii (1993).
Heterotypic
Medeola angustifolia Mill., Gard. Dict. ed. 8: n.° 2 (1768).
Myrsiphyllum angustifolium (Mill.) Willd., Mag. Neuesten Entdeck. Gesammten Naturk. Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin 2: 25 (1808).
Asparagus medeoloides var. angustifolius (Mill.) Baker in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 6: 273 (1896).
Dracaena medeoloides L.f., Suppl. Pl.: 203 (1782).
Asparagus medeoloides (L.f.) Thunb., Prodr. Pl. Cap.: 66 (1794).
Ruscus volubilis Thunb., Prodr. Pl. Cap.: 13 (1794).
Medeola latifolia Salisb., Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 252 (1796).
Myrsiphyllum falciforme Kunth, Enum. Pl. 5: 107 (1850).
Asparagus medeoloides var. falciformis (Kunth) Baker in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 6: 273 (1896).
Elachanthera sewelliae F.Muell., Vict. Naturalist 3: 108 (1886).
Luzuriaga sewelliae (F.Muell.) K.Krause in H.G.A.Engler, Nat. Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 15a: 379 (1930).
Asparagus kuisibensis Dinter, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 29: 270 (1931).

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe (introduced)
Regional: Southwestern Europe
Baleares, Corse, Portugal, Spain.
Regional: Southeastern Europe
Italy, Sicilia.
Continental: Africa
Regional: Macaronesia (introduced)
Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira.
Regional: Northeast Tropical Africa
Ethiopia.
Regional: East Tropical Africa
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.
Regional: South Tropical Africa
Malawi, Zimbabwe.
Regional: Southern Africa
Cape Provinces, Lesotho, Namibia, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Swaziland, Northern Provinces.
Continental: Australasia (introduced)
Regional: Australia
Norfolk Islands, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia.
Regional: New Zealand
New Zealand North, New Zealand South.
Continental: Northern America (introduced)
Regional: Southwestern U.S.A.
California.
Continental: Southern America (introduced)
Regional: Southern South America
Argentina Northeast.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Druce, G.C. 1914. Supplement to Botanical Exchange Club Report for 1913. Botanical Exchange Club and Society of the British Isles 3(5): 405–440. BHL PDF Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2022. Asparagus asparagoides in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2022 Jan 23. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2022. Asparagus asparagoides in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2022 Jan 23. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2022. Asparagus asparagoides. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2022 Jan 23.
International Plant Names Index. 2022. Asparagus asparagoides. Published online. Accessed: 23 Jan 2022.
Hassler, M. 2022. World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. . Asparagus asparagoides. Accessed: 23 Jan 2022.
Hassler, M. 2022. Asparagus asparagoides. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2022. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2022 Jan 23. Reference page.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Asparagus asparagoides in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 08-Apr-12.

Vernacular names
English: African asparagus fern, Bridal creeper, Bridal-veil creeper, Gnarboola, Smilax, Smilax asparagus

Asparagus asparagoides, commonly known as bridal creeper, bridal-veil creeper, gnarboola, smilax or smilax asparagus, is a herbaceous climbing plant of the family Asparagaceae native to eastern and southern Africa. Sometimes grown as an ornamental plant, it has become a serious environmental weed in Australia and New Zealand.
Contents

1 Taxonomy
2 Description
3 Distribution and habitat
4 Uses
5 Invasive species
6 References
7 Further reading
8 External links

Taxonomy

Linnaeus first described this species as Medeola asparagoides in 1753. It has been reclassified in the genus Asparagus by W. Wight in 1909, or Myrsiphyllum by Carl Ludwig von Willdenow in 1808.[2]
Description

Asparagus asparagoides grows as a herbaceous vine with a scrambling or climbing habit which can reach 3 m (10 ft) in length.[3] It has shiny green leaf-like structures (phylloclades) which are flattened stems rather than true leaves. They measure up to 4 cm long by 2 cm wide.[2] The pendent white flowers appear over winter and spring, from July to September.[3] It is rhizomatous, and bears tubers which reach 6 cm (2.4 in) by 2 cm (1.8 in) in size.[2]
Distribution and habitat

It ranges throughout tropical Africa, south to Namibia,[2] and the fynbos in South Africa, as far south as Cape Town.[3]

It has become naturalised in parts of southern California[4][5][6] and Australia, where it is considered an invasive plant.[7]
Uses

Asparagus asparagoides, often under the name smilax,[8][9] is commonly used in floral arrangements or home decorating.[10]
Invasive species
A bridal creeper infestation in Australia

A. asparagoides is a major weed species in southern Australia and in New Zealand. In Australia, it is listed as a Weed of National Significance.

It was introduced to Australia from South Africa around 1857, for use as a foliage plant, especially in bridal bouquets (hence the common name). It has escaped into the bush and smothers the native vegetation with the thick foliage and thick underground mat of tubers which restrict root growth of other species. It is recognised as one of the 20 "weeds of national significance". The seeds are readily spread in the droppings of birds, rabbits and foxes, as well as the plant extending its root system.[11] CSIRO have introduced several biological controls in an attempt to reduce the spread and impact of the weed.[7]

In New Zealand A. asparagoides is listed under the National Pest Plant Accord and is classified as an "unwanted organism".[12]
References

The Plant List, Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce
Eggli, Urs; Hartmann, Heidrun E. K.; Albers, Focke; Meve, Ulrich (17 July 2001). Illustrated handbook of succulent plants. Vol. 6. Springer. p. 231. ISBN 3-540-41692-7.
Manning, John; Paterson-Jones, Colin (2007). Field guide to fynbos. Struik. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-77007-265-7.
Clarke, Oscar F. (2007). Flora of the Santa Ana River and environs: with references to world botany. Heyday. p. 92. ISBN 978-1-59714-050-8.
"2. Asparagus asparagoides (Linnaeus) Druce". Flora of North America.
"Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce: African asparagus fern". PLANTS.
"Bridal creeper, Asparagus asparagoides". CSIRO Division of Entomology. Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 2006-04-30.
"smilax". Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
smilax at yourdictionary.com
Edward Albert White (1923). Principles of flower arrangement. ISBN 978-1-4297-5688-4.
"bridal creeper". weed of the month. CRC weed management. Archived from the original on 2005-12-15. Retrieved 2006-04-30.

"Smilax". Biosecurity New Zealand. Retrieved 2009-01-13.

Further reading
Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.