Asparagus asparagoides, commonly known as bridal creeper, bridal-veil creeper, gnarboola, smilax or smilax asparagus, is a herbaceous climbing plant of the family Asparagaceae native to eastern and southern Africa. Sometimes grown as an ornamental plant, it has become a serious environmental weed in Australia and New Zealand.
Linnaeus first described this species as Medeola asparagoides in 1753. It has been reclassified in the genus Asparagus by W. Wight in 1909, or Myrsiphyllum by Carl Ludwig von Willdenow in 1808.[2]
Description
Asparagus asparagoides grows as a herbaceous vine with a scrambling or climbing habit which can reach 3 m (10 ft) in length.[3] It has shiny green leaf-like structures (phylloclades) which are flattened stems rather than true leaves. They measure up to 4 cm long by 2 cm wide.[2] The pendent white flowers appear over winter and spring, from July to September.[3] It is rhizomatous, and bears tubers which reach 6 cm (2.4 in) by 2 cm (1.8 in) in size.[2]
Distribution and habitat
It ranges throughout tropical Africa, south to Namibia,[2] and the fynbos in South Africa, as far south as Cape Town.[3]
It has become naturalised in parts of southern California[4][5][6] and Australia, where it is considered an invasive plant.[7]
Uses
Asparagus asparagoides, often under the name smilax,[8][9] is commonly used in floral arrangements or home decorating.[10]
Invasive species
A bridal creeper infestation in Australia
A. asparagoides is a major weed species in southern Australia and in New Zealand. In Australia, it is listed as a Weed of National Significance.
It was introduced to Australia from South Africa around 1857, for use as a foliage plant, especially in bridal bouquets (hence the common name). It has escaped into the bush and smothers the native vegetation with the thick foliage and thick underground mat of tubers which restrict root growth of other species. It is recognised as one of the 20 "weeds of national significance". The seeds are readily spread in the droppings of birds, rabbits and foxes, as well as the plant extending its root system.[11]CSIRO have introduced several biological controls in an attempt to reduce the spread and impact of the weed.[7]
In New Zealand A. asparagoides is listed under the National Pest Plant Accord and is classified as an "unwanted organism".[12]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asparagus asparagoides.
External links
United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile: Asparagus asparagoides
photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden
Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Asparagus asparagoides". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.
March 04, 2023
asparagus, asparagoides, also, smilax, commonly, known, bridal, creeper, bridal, veil, creeper, gnarboola, smilax, smilax, asparagus, herbaceous, climbing, plant, family, asparagaceae, native, eastern, southern, africa, sometimes, grown, ornamental, plant, bec. See also Smilax Asparagus asparagoides commonly known as bridal creeper bridal veil creeper gnarboola smilax or smilax asparagus is a herbaceous climbing plant of the family Asparagaceae native to eastern and southern Africa Sometimes grown as an ornamental plant it has become a serious environmental weed in Australia and New Zealand Asparagus asparagoidesScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade MonocotsOrder AsparagalesFamily AsparagaceaeSubfamily AsparagoideaeGenus AsparagusSpecies A asparagoidesBinomial nameAsparagus asparagoides L Druce 1914Synonyms 1 List Medeola asparagoides L 1753Asparagus kuisibensis DinterAsparagus medeoloides L f Thunb Asparagus medeoloides var angustifolius Mill BakerAsparagus medeoloides var falciformis Kunth BakerDracaena medeoloides L fElachanthera sewelliae F Muell Elide asparagoides L KerguelenLuzuriaga sewelliae F Muell K KrauseMedeola angustifolia Mill Medeola latifolia Salisb Myrsiphyllum angustifolium Mill Willd Myrsiphyllum falciforme KunthRuscus volubilis Thunb Myrsiphyllum asparagoides L Willd Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Uses 5 Invasive species 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksTaxonomy EditLinnaeus first described this species as Medeola asparagoides in 1753 It has been reclassified in the genus Asparagus by W Wight in 1909 or Myrsiphyllum by Carl Ludwig von Willdenow in 1808 2 Description EditAsparagus asparagoides grows as a herbaceous vine with a scrambling or climbing habit which can reach 3 m 10 ft in length 3 It has shiny green leaf like structures phylloclades which are flattened stems rather than true leaves They measure up to 4 cm long by 2 cm wide 2 The pendent white flowers appear over winter and spring from July to September 3 It is rhizomatous and bears tubers which reach 6 cm 2 4 in by 2 cm 1 8 in in size 2 Distribution and habitat EditIt ranges throughout tropical Africa south to Namibia 2 and the fynbos in South Africa as far south as Cape Town 3 It has become naturalised in parts of southern California 4 5 6 and Australia where it is considered an invasive plant 7 Uses EditAsparagus asparagoides often under the name smilax 8 9 is commonly used in floral arrangements or home decorating 10 Invasive species Edit A bridal creeper infestation in Australia A asparagoides is a major weed species in southern Australia and in New Zealand In Australia it is listed as a Weed of National Significance It was introduced to Australia from South Africa around 1857 for use as a foliage plant especially in bridal bouquets hence the common name It has escaped into the bush and smothers the native vegetation with the thick foliage and thick underground mat of tubers which restrict root growth of other species It is recognised as one of the 20 weeds of national significance The seeds are readily spread in the droppings of birds rabbits and foxes as well as the plant extending its root system 11 CSIRO have introduced several biological controls in an attempt to reduce the spread and impact of the weed 7 In New Zealand A asparagoides is listed under the National Pest Plant Accord and is classified as an unwanted organism 12 References Edit The Plant List Asparagus asparagoides L Druce a b c d Eggli Urs Hartmann Heidrun E K Albers Focke Meve Ulrich 17 July 2001 Illustrated handbook of succulent plants Vol 6 Springer p 231 ISBN 3 540 41692 7 a b c Manning John Paterson Jones Colin 2007 Field guide to fynbos Struik p 58 ISBN 978 1 77007 265 7 Clarke Oscar F 2007 Flora of the Santa Ana River and environs with references to world botany Heyday p 92 ISBN 978 1 59714 050 8 2 Asparagus asparagoides Linnaeus Druce Flora of North America Asparagus asparagoides L Druce African asparagus fern PLANTS a b Bridal creeper Asparagus asparagoides CSIRO Division of Entomology Archived from the original on 9 May 2006 Retrieved 2006 04 30 smilax Merriam Webster Online Dictionary smilax at yourdictionary com Edward Albert White 1923 Principles of flower arrangement ISBN 978 1 4297 5688 4 bridal creeper weed of the month CRC weed management Archived from the original on 2005 12 15 Retrieved 2006 04 30 Smilax Biosecurity New Zealand Retrieved 2009 01 13 Further reading EditPink A 2004 Gardening for the Million Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asparagus asparagoides External links EditWeeds of Australia Asparagus asparagoides United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile Asparagus asparagoides photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden Dressler S Schmidt M amp Zizka G 2014 Asparagus asparagoides African plants a Photo Guide Frankfurt Main Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Asparagus asparagoides amp oldid 1083845396, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
