Asparagus africanus Lam.
var. africanus

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Island 2: near boat landing point, Katombora, Zambezi

Photo: Sune Holt
Vilankulo, Inhambane, Mozambique

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Synonyms:	Protasparagus africanus (Lam.) Oberm.
Common names:	Bush asparagus (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Slender scrambling shrub or climber. Stems with spreading branches, closely set with cladodes (leaf-like modified branchlets) in clusters of up to 12, unequal in length, up to 10 mm. Flowers whitish with yellow anthers, up to 6 inside the cladode clusters; fruits orange, turning blackish when old.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	africanus: African
Habitat:	In woodland on Kalahari sands and riverine fringes.
Flowering time:	Apr - Nov
Worldwide distribution:
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 5. Possibly as Asparagus cooperi? Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 120. Also as Asparagus cooperi Demissew, S. (2008). Asparagaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(1) Pages 15 - 17. (Includes a picture). Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 346. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 85. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 114. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 180. as Asparagus cooperi

Other sources of information about Asparagus africanus var. africanus:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Asparagus africanus var. africanus
Flora of Malawi: Asparagus africanus var. africanus
Flora of Mozambique: Asparagus africanus var. africanus
Flora of Zambia: Asparagus africanus var. africanus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Asparagus africanus var. africanus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Asparagus africanus
African Plant Database: Asparagus africanus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Asparagus africanus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Asparagus africanus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Asparagus africanus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Asparagus africanus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Asparagus africanus
JSTOR Plant Science: Asparagus africanus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Asparagus africanus
Plants of the World Online: Asparagus africanus
Tropicos: Asparagus africanus
Wikipedia: Asparagus africanus