Asparagus densiflorus

Asparagus densiflorus, Photo: Michael Lahanas

Classification System: APG IV

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

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

Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop, Bothalia 9: 65. 1966.

Synonyms

Basionym
Asparagopsis densiflora Kunth, Enum. Pl. 5: 96. 1850.
Typus: Cape, Lalande s.n. (lectotype, (designated by Jessop, Bothalia 9: 65. 1966): P, isolectotypus: PRE - photo).
Homotypic
Protasparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Oberm., S. Afr. J. Bot. 2(3): 243. 1983.
Heterotypic
Asparagus meyersii hort., nom. inval.
Asparagus myriocladus Baker, J. Bot. Lon. 18: 43. 1889
Asparagus sarmentosus var. comatus Baker, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 14: 625. 1875.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe
Regional: Southeastern Europe
Greece (introduced)
Continental: Africa
Regional: South Tropical Africa
Mozambique
Regional: Southern Africa
Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Northern Provinces
Regional: Middle Atlantic Ocean
St. Helena (introduced)
Regional: Indian Subcontinent
Bangladesh, Pakistan (introduced)
Continental: Australasia
Regional: Australia
New South Wales, Queensland (introduced)
Continental: Southern America
Regional: Western South America
Galápagos (introduced)

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

Jessop, J.P. 1966. The Genus Asparagus in Southern Africa. Bothalia 9(1): 31–96. DOI: 10.4102/abc.v9i1.1576 Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Asparagus densiflorus in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Jan. 13. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Asparagus densiflorus. Published online. Accessed: Jan. 13 2019.
The Plant List 2013. Asparagus densiflorus in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Jan. 13.
Tropicos.org 2019. Asparagus densiflorus. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Jan. 13.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Asparagus densiflorus in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 08-Apr-12.

Vernacular names
English: Sprenger's asparagus fern
Nederlands: Sierasperge
svenska: Hängsparris
中文: 天門冬

Asparagus densiflorus, the asparagus fern, plume asparagus or foxtail fern, is a variable evergreen perennial plant, closely related to the vegetable asparagus.

It is native to southern Africa, from Mozambique to South Africa, but is widely cultivated.[1]

Related species

It is part of a group of similar and related African Asparagus species, including Asparagus aethiopicus ("Sprenger's asparagus"), Asparagus confertus and Asparagus krebsianus.[2]

A. densiflorus has been confused with A. aethiopicus, now regarded as a separate species,[3][4] so that information under the name A. densiflorus will often refer to A. aethiopicus. The plant formerly known as A. densiflorus 'Sprengeri' is actually A. aethiopicus, while the plant known as A. densiflorus 'Myersi' remains A. densiflorus.
Cultivation

As it cannot tolerate frost, in temperate regions A. densiflorus is usually grown under glass. Numerous cultivars have been developed, of which the compact form 'Myersii' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5] Its dense 50 cm plumes of foliage are especially valued in flower arranging.
References

WCSP (2011). "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2011-12-06. Search for "Asparagus densiflorus"
Maria F Norup, Gitte Petersen, Sandie Burrows, Yanis Bouchenak-Khelladi, Jim Leebens-Mack, J Chris Pires, H Peter Linder, Ole Seberg. (2015). Evolution of Asparagus L. (Asparagaceae): Out-of-South-Africa and multiple origins of sexual dimorphism. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 92: 25-44.
"FNA Vol. 26 Page 213, 214: Asparagus aethiopicus". Flora of North America. Flora of North America. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
WCSP (2011). Search for "Asparagus aethiopicus".

"RHS Plant Selector - Asparagus densiflorus 'Myersii'". Retrieved 2020-04-15.