Asphodelus fistulosus
Common name
asphodel
Family
Asphodelaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - 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.
ASPFIS
Habitat
Terrestrial. Usually coastal areas.
Features
Short-lived perennial herb up to about 60 cm with fleshy-fibrous roots. Leaves are linear up to 25 cm by 4 mm, and densely tufted. White or pale pink flowers are held in racemes to about 20 cm, each petal has conspicuous green or purple mid-vein. Black seeds to about 3.5 mm are held in 5 x 5 mm capsules.
Similar taxa
There are several species of Asphodelus cultivated in New Zealand, but A. fistulosus is the only one known to be naturalised.
Flowering
July, August, September
Flower colours
Red/Pink, White
Fruiting
September, October, November, December
Year naturalised
1869
Origin
Mediterranean
Etymology
asphodelus: Possibly derived from the Greek a- ‘without’ and sphallo ‘to supplant’, the beautiful flowers not easily surpassed.
fistulosus: From the Latin fistula ‘pipe’, referring to a cylindrical or terete shape which is closed at each end
Reason For Introduction
Ornamental
Reproduction
Spreads from seeds and some vegetative spread.
Seed
seed is produced
Tolerances
Tolerates very dry conditions in coastal areas