(Kunth) Jessop, Asparagaceae |
|
Present on Pacific Islands? yes
Primarily a threat at high elevations? no
Risk assessment results:
Evaluate, score: 3 (Go to the risk assessment (Australia))
High risk, score: 15 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))
Other Latin names: Asparagopsis densiflorus Kunth; Asparagus aethiopicus L.; Asparagus sprengeri Regel; Protasparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Oberm.
Common name(s): [more details]
Chinese: fei zhou tian men dong |
English: Sprenger's asparagus fern, asparagus fern, coarse asparagus fern, foxtail fern, regal fern |
French: asperge de Sprenger |
Habit: herb
Description: "Herb, perennial, coarse, with weak, drooping stems to 2 m long and short spines below the axils on the main stem. Leaves reduced to scales but leaf-like, solitary or with clusters of two or three linear branchlets called cladophylls, mostly 1-2.5 x 0.1-0.2 cm, arising from their axils. Flowers anytime during the year; flowers many, fragrant, in short axillary racemes 1-3 cm long. Corolla of six free elliptic tepals 1.5-3 mm long, pinkish white. Fruit a small, red, one- to three-seeded, globose berry 6-12 mm in diameter" (Whistler, 2000; pp.72-73).
Habitat/ecology: Dry to moist forests and openings. In Australia has invaded coastal, littoral rainforest, rainforest, frontal dunes and sclerophyll forest and coastal heath (Csurhes and Edwards, 1998; p. 143). "Coastal sand dunes and beaches, coastal cliffs and scrub, forests, riparian habitats. Where invasive, the plant forms extensive and dense colonies that displace native understorey and ground cover species; it overtops shrubs and young trees. The plant grows in both low and high light conditions and produces a dense mass of somewhat fleshy roots, bearing numerous tubers. Once established, it grows vigorously and forms a dense crown of 2-3 m diameter, shading out other species" (Weber, 2003; p. 59).
Propagation: "Birds spread the seeds, and tubers resprout and are spread by soil and water movement. Common as garden and house plant, and occasionally found in hedges" (Weedbusters New Zealand).
Native range: Southern Africa, widely grown as an ornamental for its fern-like foliage (Whistler, 2000; p.72).
Presence:
Pacific | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Australia (Pacific offshore islands)
Lord Howe Island |
Lord Howe Island |
introduced
invasive |
Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 143) |
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US)
Northern Mariana Islands |
Tinian Island |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 100) |
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands |
Rarotonga Island |
cultivated
|
McCormack, Gerald (2013) |
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands |
Rarotonga Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 64) |
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Isabela Group |
Isabela Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) |
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Isabela Group |
Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) |
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
San Cristóbal Group |
San Cristóbal Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) |
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Santa Cruz Group |
Santa Cruz Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008) |
Fiji
Fiji Islands |
Fiji Islands |
Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1949) (voucher ID: BISH 449723)
Taxon name on voucher: Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop |
|
French Polynesia
Gambier Islands |
Mangareva (Gambier) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Cultivée |
French Polynesia
Gambier Islands |
Mangareva (Gambier) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 11)
Voucher cited: Fosberg 11168 (BISH) |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Fatu Hiva Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Cultivée |
French Polynesia
Marquesas Islands |
Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013) |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Bora Bora Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 352)
Voucher cited: Grant 4999 |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Raiatea (Havai) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 352)
Vouchers cited: Fosberg & Sachet 63225, Florence 3514, Moore 546, Moore 579 |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Raiatea (Havai) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence 3514 (PAP) Cultivée |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Raiatea (Havai) Island |
Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 492825)
Taxon name on voucher: Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop |
|
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Raiatea (Havai) Island |
Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 607307)
Taxon name on voucher: Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop |
|
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Tahaa Island |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 65) |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Tahiti Island |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 65) |
French Polynesia
Society Islands |
Tahiti Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Cultivée |
French Polynesia
Austral (Tubuai) Islands |
Rurutu Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
Voucher cited: J. Florence 6223 (PAP). "Ornementale assez commune". Cultivée |
Guam
Guam Island |
Guam Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 115) |
Guam
Guam Island |
Guam Island |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 100) |
Guam
Guam Island |
Guam Island |
Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 82184)
Taxon name on voucher: Asparagus sprengeri |
|
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Hawaii (Big) Island |
introduced
invasive |
Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 14)
Voucher cited: Oppenheimer & S. Holt H30119 (BISH, PTBG) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Kauai Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Lorence, David/Flynn, Tim (1999) (pp. 4-5)
Vouchers cited: T. Flynn 6494 (BISH, PTBG, US), T. Flynn 6495 (BISH, PTBG, US) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Lānai Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (p. 26)
Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H100642 (BISH, PTBG) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Maui Island |
introduced
invasive |
Oppenheimer, Hank L./Bartlett, R. T. (2000) (p. 6)
West Maui. Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H99909 (BISH) |
Japan (offshore islands)
Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands |
Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands |
introduced
|
Kato, Hidetoshi (2007) |
Marshall Islands
Ralik Chain |
Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll |
introduced
|
Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 100) |
Marshall Islands
Ralik Chain |
Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll |
introduced
cultivated |
Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (p. 104) |
Marshall Islands
Ratak Chain |
Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll |
introduced
cultivated |
Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 41) |
Nauru
Nauru Island |
Nauru Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 55)
Vouchers cited: Fosberg 58711 (US), Hassall 167 (SUVA), Hassall 180 (SUVA) |
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago |
Île Grande Terre |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 93)
cv. "Sprengeri"; vouchers cited: MacKee 14445, MacKee 28345, MacKee 43187 Spontané |
Niue
Niue |
Niue Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 32)
As Asparagus sprengeri Regel |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Koror (Oreor) Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 12, 79) |
Palau
Palau (Belau ) (main island group) |
Ngerkebesang Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (pp. 12, 79) |
Samoa
Western Samoa Islands |
Upolu Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 8) |
Tonga
Haapai Group |
Lifuka Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 6) |
Tonga
Tongatapu Group |
Tongatapu Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 6) |
Tonga
Tongatapu Group |
Tongatapu Island |
Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1959) (voucher ID: BISH 41331)
Taxon name on voucher: Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop |
|
Tonga
Vavau Group |
Vavau Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 6) |
United States (other Pacific offshore islands)
Midway Atoll |
Sand Island |
introduced
cultivated |
Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd (2008) (pp. B-4)
Voucher cited: Starr & Starr 080607-02 |
Pacific Rim | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
New South Wales |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 143) |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Queensland |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 143) |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Queensland |
introduced
invasive |
Queensland Herbarium (2002) (p. 1)
As Asparagus aethiopicus cv. 'Sprengeri' |
China
China |
China (People's Republic of) |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Commonly cultivated and occasionally becoming naturalized. |
China
China |
Hong Kong |
introduced
cultivated |
Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 357)
cv. Sprengeri. Ornamental. |
Singapore
Singapore |
Singapore (Republic of) |
introduced
cultivated |
Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 16)
Cultivated only |
United States (west coast)
United States (west coast states) |
USA (California) |
introduced
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) |
Indian Ocean | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands)
Christmas Island Group |
Christmas Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 105) |
Also reported from | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
United States (continental except west coast)
United States (other states) |
USA (Florida) |
introduced
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) |
Comments: Asparagus densiflorus has recently been found to be rather widespread in Hawaii on the island of Kauai. There it is spreading along roadsides and invading secondary forest and seems to have the ability to withstand herbicide treatments used to control vegetation along roads (Tim Flynn, pers. com.)
Control: "Tubers often resprout after spraying, stems break at ground level so plants cannot be pulled. Tuber fragments usually survive digging. Always follow up on treated areas at least 6-monthly. Replant treated areas where possible after 2- 3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion" (Weedbusters New Zealand).
Physical: "Dig out tubers. Dispose of at a refuse transfer station or burn. Leave rest of cut material on site to rot down" (Weedbusters New Zealand).
Chemical: "Regrowth and seedlings can be
effectively controlled with dicamba" (Weber, 2003; p. 59). "1.
Weed wipe (spring-early summer only): glyphosate (333ml/L), no penetrant.
2. Spray (spring-early summer only): glyphosate (20ml/L). Do not add penetrant
when spraying against tree trunks. Spray lightly, avoiding runoff"
(Weedbusters New Zealand).