Asparagus fern
Asparagus aethiopicus ‘Sprengeri’, Fam. Asparagaceae
Wiry climbing or sprawling perennial with many arching stems 2-5m long, armed with recurved spines, less than 5mm long, tuberous roots that don’t reproduce.
| Weed Category: |
Restricted invasive plants Category 3 Plants declared invasive under the Biosecurity Act 2014, that are present in QLD.
Not to be distributed or disposed of.
|
| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Vine (Climbing, Twining or groundcover) |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Unknown Reduced to scales. Cladodes (slender or leaf-like structures that function as leaves) are present in axils of the scale-leaves. Cladodes 2-5, narrow elliptic to linear, 15-25 x 2-3mm |
| Flower conspicuous: | Inconspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
White, Pink |
| Flower description: | Tiny, white to pinkish, 3-4mm long, borne on 4-10mm long racemes |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Red |
| Fruit: | Fleshy |
| Fruit description: | Small, fleshy, red, one-seeded berries, about 5-8 mm diameter. Seeds small round and black. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | |
| Origin: | Africa |
| Notes: | Spread by: birds, garden waste and water; underground rhizomes. Invades/threats: natural areas ‘anywhere’, highly invasive with severe impact. Notes: introduced as garden ornamentals. A third declared species, climbing asparagus fern (Asparagus africanus) has not been recorded in this region. Native asparagus fern (A. racemosa), is a local species that has 2-5 cladodes, 10-30 x <1mm. Asparagus fern is a Category 3 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014. It must not be given away, sold, or released into the environment without a permit. The Act requires everyone to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with invasive plants and animals under their control. This is called a general biosecurity obligation (GBO). |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
