Asparagus scandens

Coromandel, December.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.

Asparagus scandens.<br>Photographer: Graeme La Cock, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.

Asparagus scandens.<br>Photographer: Auckland Regional Council, Licence: Public domain.

Hayward Scenic Reserve, Lower Hutt.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 06/12/2006, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Hayward Scenic Reserve, Lower Hutt.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 10/12/2006, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Seedling. Northcote, Auckland.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 21/07/2006, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Mangawhai Heads.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 16/07/2006, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

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Common name

climbing asparagus

Family

Asparagaceae

Authority

Asparagus scandens Thunb.

Flora category

Vascular – Exotic

Structural class

Lianes - Monocots

NVS code

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

ASPSCA

Habitat

Terrestrial. Found in lowland and coastal forest, shrublands, mature broadleaf/podocarp forests especially those of light to moderate shade, streams, coastal areas, shrublands, epiphytic niches, roadsides, gravel pits/quarries, farm hedges, house gardens and wasteland areas. Can infest unmodified and fully intact forest.

Features

Slender scrambling or climbing perennial. Tuberous roots. Stems 2-4 m long, green and much branched at the top, thin and wiry. Leaves are flat cladodes (resembling miro), usually in threes at each node, 5-15 mm x 1-1.5 mm. Flowers tiny, whitish, Sep-Dec. Round berry, 8 mm diam, green turning orange-red, Oct-Feb, with 1-2 seeds.

Similar taxa

Leaf-like cladodes in flat planes separate A. scandens from other asparagus species in NZ.

Flowering

September, October, November, December

Flower colours

White

Fruiting

January, May, August (Timmins & MacKenzie 1995).

Year naturalised

1970

Origin

trop & S Africa

Etymology

asparagus: An old Greek name for this plant possibly derived from a- (an intensifier) and sparasso ‘to tear’, referring to the prickles of some species

scandens: Climbing; from the Latin scandere; groth habit

Reason For Introduction
Ornamental

Life Cycle Comments
Perennial. The flower is hermaphrodite (Timmins & MacKenzie 1995).

Reproduction
Reproduces from seed and vegetatively by the transport of tuberous roots.

Seed
Seed is produced.

Dispersal
Seed is dispersed by birds. Tubers spread by soil movement, garden dumping and human activity.

Tolerances
Tolerant to heavy shade, but matures and fruits in moderate shade to full light. Wide range of moisture tolerance. Tubers resprout in response to physical damage.

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