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Asparagus setaceus

(Kunth) Jessop (1966)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Asparagaceae Genus: Asparagus

asparagus fern, climbing asparagus fern, plumosa

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Vines, woody, scrambling or climbing to 5 m;.

Stems: Stems to 4 m, wiry, smooth, branches planate, cladophylls in fascicles of (5–)8–20 per node, filiform, 4–10 × 0.5 mm, ± rigid, with single vein.

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Leaves membranous, 1–2 mm; blade forming short spines. Apex reflexed. Base hardened. Margins entire. Petioles absent. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences terminally umbellate, 1–4–flowered, pedicel 1–3 mm, jointed at or just above base. Flowers bisexual (perfect), nodding; perianth spreading, campanulate. Tepals white, 3–4 × 1–1.5 mm. Stamens 6, distinct, equal; anthers versatile, 2-locular, dehiscence introrse. Ovary superior, 3-locular, septal nectaries present; style 3–branched distally.

Fruit: Berries purplish black; 4–5 mm. Seeds 1–3.

Ploidy: 2n = 20

Habitat: Waste places; abandoned gardens.

Elevation Range: 0–100 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Pollinators

Specimens

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Bibliography

Name Published In: Bothalia 9: 51 (1966)

Other References

Lorence et al. 1995:40 (NEWNAT/K [as A. setaceus], DESCR); Imada et al. 2000:13 (O); Oppenheimer & Bartlett 2000:6 (WM); Oppenheimer & Bartlett 2002:9 (EM); Starr et al. 2002:21 (H); Staples & Herbst 2005:681 (KEY), 682 (DESCR, A. setaceus misapplied = A. plumosus); Starr et al. 2006:36 (Mo); Oppenheimer 2008:29 (L); Jessop 1966 (Syn. A. plumosus = A. setaceus)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Asparagus setaceus W Maui, Kapalua, Lahaina, Village Golf Course Common in shrubbery & forests of Eucalyptus. Naturalized. Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 4444 Maui BISH 1997-04-30
2 Asparagus setaceus Lanai City Occasional in waste areas. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 10710 Lanai BISH 2007-01-05
3 Asparagus setaceus Koloa District, Kalaheo, Puuwai Rd Preserved_Specimen Tall-climbing woody at base, stems drk glossy grn, lvs scale like, whtie, cladophylls drk, dull grn. Fruit black. Roots tuberous, fleshy, very weedy & quite prolific. Flynn, T.W. 1922 Kauai BISH 1986-10-18
4 Asparagus setaceus Kalaupapa; community, Plot 1 Preserved_Specimen woody climber Wysong, M.L. 444 Molokai BISH 2004-11-16
5 Asparagus setaceus W Maui, Lahaina District, Honokahua, near intersection of Office Rd. and Honoapiilani Hwy Growing in an area of neglected landscaping. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 89919 Maui BISH 1999-08-17
6 Asparagus setaceus Koloa Distr., Kalaheo, Kalawai Park Secondary vegetationa round park with Ficus microcarpa, Syzygium cumini, Psidium, and Schinus. Preserved_Specimen Perennial herb with armed, vining stems. Fruits green, globose, ripening red. Lorence, D.H. 5569 Kauai BISH 1987-09-26
7 Asparagus setaceus Nr. Wavecrest, Molokai; along Kamehameha Hwy. Vegetation: Syzygium cumini Preserved_Specimen Perennial vine climbing trees. Wild along Kamehameha Hwy. Starr, F. 505173 Molokai BISH 2005-05-17
8 Asparagus setaceus Kailua, 209 Oneawa Kai Place Cultivated in hedge behind house. Preserved_Specimen Spiny climber to 10-12 ft high; flws tiny, white, hanging from udnerside of lateral branches exposed to sun (shaded bran have no flws on them); lvs needle-like, in fascicles. Staples, G.W. 1017 Oahu BISH 1995-09-29
9 Asparagus setaceus Captain Cook; Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens Abandoned coffee plantation at one side of Garden; twining up an old clothes line pole in yard of house. Preserved_Specimen Sterile. Herbst, D.R. 9287 Hawaii BISH 1991-01-11
10 Asparagus setaceus W Maui, Lahaina District, Honokahua Valley Sparingly naturalized along the N end of a dirt road into the valley and on adjacent steep, rocky slopes; sometimes climbing Leucaena leucocephala. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 79908 Maui BISH 1999-07-06
11 Asparagus setaceus Honolulu, 42 Coelho Way Volunteer in shade garden. Preserved_Specimen Climber. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1959-06-28
12 Asparagus setaceus East Maui, Hana District, Naholoku, Kaupo Gap Growing on rock walls. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 60023 Maui BISH 2000-06-03
13 Asparagus setaceus Koloa Distr., Kalaheo, Puuwai Road Cultivated plants. Very weedy and quite prolific. Preserved_Specimen Tall-climbing, woody at base. Stems dark glossy green; leaves scale-like, white; cladophylls dark, dull green. Fruit black. Roots tuberous, fleshy. Flynn, T.W. 19222 Kauai BISH 1986-10-18
14 Asparagus setaceus Honolulu, 42 Coelho Way Volunteer in shade garden. Preserved_Specimen Climber. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1959-06-28
15 Asparagus setaceus W Maui, Lahaina District, Napili On a rocky bluff in a gulch between pineapple fields. Preserved_Specimen Mature plant with fruits and a seedling. Oppenheimer, H.L. 89915 Maui BISH 1999-08-13
16 Asparagus setaceus Windward Oahu, above Heeia State Park Heavily disturbed secondary vegetation on slope up to and across ridge into cattle pasture on other side. Dominants: Schinus, Schefflera, Leucaena; many alien forbs and vines. Climbing, clambering in same thicket as Ochna (#1170). Seedlings also pres Preserved_Specimen Mature stems twining 6-8' tall, spiny. Flowers tiny, white; berries pendent, green, globose. Staples, G.W. 1171 Oahu BISH 1998-12-20
17 Asparagus setaceus Koloa Distr., Kalaheo, Puuwai Road Cultivated plants. Very weedy and quite prolific. Preserved_Specimen Tall-climbing, woody at base. Stems dark glossy green; leaves scale-like, white; cladophylls dark, dull green. Fruit black. Roots tuberous, fleshy. Flynn, T.W. 19221 Kauai BISH 1986-10-18
18 Asparagus setaceus Kawaihau District. Wailua Homesteads, Nounou Trail Kuamoo entrance, along the entrance path bordering houses. Cultivated but seeding along trail W/ Roseodendron donnell-smithii, Megathyrsus maximus, Spahagnetiocola triloba, Ipomoea ochracea, Citharexylum caudatum, Commelina diffusa, Persea americana, Psidium cattleyanum, Macroptilium, Costus, P Preserved_Specimen Stem dark green, tan at base, with sharp tan spines. Fruit small, round, green immature, black mature. Flower small white, Few seedlings, growing in yard and along path. Tangalin, N. 5172 Kauai BISH 2021-04-16
19 Asparagus setaceus Koloa Distr., Kalaheo, Kauai Tropicals nursery, home of Roger Peckenpaugh Cultivated plant. Preserved_Specimen High-climbing herb with fastigiate branches, leaves dark glossy green. Flynn, T.W. 5632 Kauai BISH 1994-10-13
20 Asparagus setaceus Honaunau On side of rd. Preserved_Specimen Climbing fern-like vine; foliage green, linear, horizontally oriented, thorny stems. Starr, F. 6202 Hawaii BISH 2000-06-20
21 Asparagus setaceus W Maui, Lahaina District, Alaeloa Volunteer in a recently disturbed area in yard. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 89922 Maui BISH 1999-08-17
22 Asparagus setaceus Kailua, private garden at 209 Oneawa Kai Place Volunteer seedlings growing in lawn below a mature plant twining high into hedge at back boundary of property. Preserved_Specimen Staples, G.W. 1190 Oahu BISH 1999-10-10
23 Asparagus setaceus Honolulu, Kalihi Valley Preserved_Specimen Threadlike leaves, 1-3-seeded berries. Higuchi, G.T. 3 Oahu BISH 1971-04-26
24 Asparagus setaceus Wahiawa area. Schofield Barracks, across highway from McNair Gate Scattered over a few acres, with Eucalyptus, Panicum maximum. Preserved_Specimen Kraus, F. Oahu BISH 1999-03-19
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