Genus: Asparagus
[= Myrsiphyllum, Protasparagus]
Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants)
> Monocotyledons > Order: Asparagales
> Family: Asparagaceae
About 120 species, distributed through Africa, Europe and Asia, and has
also been introduced to Australia. A total of 86 species are native to
southern Africa, and one species,
Asparagus
officinalis (Garden asparagus), is cultivated in
the region.
The asparagus vegetable that we eat is derived from young
shoots of Asparagus officinalis (asparagus).
However, the shoots of some indigenous southern African species are also eaten.
Species native to southern Africa
List from
Plants
of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI),
Flora of
Zimbabwe and
Flora of
Mozambique.
Other species, cultivated in southern Africa
List from Glen (2002).
Publications
- Fellingham, A.C. & Meyer, N.L. 1995. New
combinations and a complete list of Asparagus species in southern
Africa (Asparagaceae). Bothalia 25: 205-209.
- Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of
Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.
- Jessop, J. 1966. The genus Asparagus in
southern Africa. Bothalia 9: 31-96.
- Malcomber, S.T. & Sebsebe, D. 1993. The
status of Protasparagus and Myrsiphyllum in the Asparagaceae. Kew
Bulletin 48: 63-78.
- Merxmüller, H. 1970. Asparagus. Prodromus
einer Flora von Südwestafrika 147: 25-32.
- Obermeyer, A.A. 1984. Revision of the genus Myrsiphyllum
Willd. Bothalia 15: 77-88.
- Obermeyer, A.A. & Immelman, K.L. 1992.
Asparagaceae. Flora of Southern Africa 5,3: 11-82.
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