Asparagus scandens
Thunb.Herbs to 2 m high, with a short, branching rhizome. Cladodes linear-lanceolate, falcate, 3 per bract axil, unequal, 5–15 mm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide. Flowers bisexual, pendent, 1–several in axils, 5–7 mm wide, white to pinkish white, petals and sepals spreading; stamens shorter than the perianth; ovary globose, c. 1 mm diam. Berry globular, 5–7 mm diam., red. Seed solitary, c 3 mm diam. Asparagus Fern. Flowers Aug.–Oct.
GleP, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, DunT, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, OtR, Strz. Also natualised WA, SA, NSW, Tas. An escaped garden ornamental which has become established in a few eastern Melbourne suburbs (e.g. Blackburn, Vermont, Selby), Beaumaris, Mt Eliza, Dromana, Phillip Is., Wilsons Prom., and Wye River.
Asparagus declinatus differs from A. scandens in having the triads of cladodes in each bract axil more or less equal and in having a pale, bluish-grey berry.
Conran, J.G. (1994). Liliaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 637–686. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
