Home | > | List of families | > | Asparagaceae | > | Asparagus | > | virgatus |
Synonyms: |
Asparagus virgatus Baker var. capillaris Baker Protasparagus virgatus (Baker) Oberm. |
Common names: | Broom asparagus (English) |
Frequency: | Frequent |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Stiff, erect herbaceous subshrub up to 1 m. The thin straight stems are unarmed, the fern-like spreading branches curve upwards. The thread-like cladodes are few, normally maturing after flowering. Flowers solitary, pendulous along the branches; fruit a red berry. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | virgatus: twiggy |
Habitat: | Near streams and rivers, edges of grassland, roadsides and secondary forest. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 2250 m |
Flowering time: | Sep - Jan |
Worldwide distribution: | Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Eswatini and South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Wednesday 22 July 2015 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 290. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. Demissew, S. (2008). Asparagaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(1) Pages 4 - 5. Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 58 - 59. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 86. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 107. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 104 - 105. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 115. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 24. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 49. as Protasparagus virgatus Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 81. |
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