Asparagus burchellii
Asparagus burchellii, is a shrub of the Asparagus genus, that is indigenous to dry scrub vegetion in the southern Cape region, South Africa.
Description
A perennial erect, spreading or climbing shrub, which can reach in height.The stems are twining, zig-zagged and end in spines. The stem surface is smooth and faintly ridged, initially a purple-brown colour, later fading to grey.
The zig-zagged branches and the spines are reflexed or downturned, and the branches then curve outwards.
Groups of straight-to-curved, reflexed, spines radiate from each node along the stem. These spines are in groups of 3, 5 or 7, and the lateral ones usually have growth nodes on them.
Groups of extremely small leaves radiate from each node on the branches. The leaf clusters are spreading or ascending.
Each leaf is cylindrical, tapering at both ends.
The white flowers appear in autumn, on stalks and are very fragrant.
The fruits are extremely small berries that do not change colour when they ripen.
Related species
This species is part of a group of closely related southern African Asparagus species, that are all erect-spreading shrublets with non-tuberous roots and woody stems.These species have fascicled spines that are axial in origin. Their branchlets and small cylindrical leaves are also fascicled.
Other species in this group include the widespread Asparagus suaveolens and Asparagus capensis, the coastal Asparagus mariae of Agulhas, Asparagus flavicaulis, Asparagus stipulaceus and Asparagus spinescens.