Asparagus scandens Thunb., Liliaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Myrsiphyllum scandens (Thunb.) Oberm.

Habit:  vine

Description:  "Perennial herbaceous, scandent, up to 2 m tall, probably evergreen.  Rhizome small, covered by fusiform roots 20-40 mm long, tapering towards root-tips.  Stems twining, wiry.  Phylloclades arranged close together on one plane on both sides of branchlets, the whole resembling the frond of a fern, ternate on alternating sides, one cladode somewhat longer than other 2, shallowly S-shaped, apiculate, 1-nerved, c. 8-17 x 1 mm.  Scale-leaves minute, forming fringed white membranous tufts at nodes.  Flowers pendulous, 1-3 at node, on pedicels up to c. 10 mm long, articulated below attenuated pericladium.  Tepals spreading, c. 4 mm long, white.  Stamens attenuated towards apex; anthers green or yellow.  Ovary globose with 3-4 ovules in each locule; style erect short, with 3 spreading stigmas.  Berry globose, c. 8 mm in diameter, orange or red, 1-2 seeded" (Obermeyer, 1984; p. 86).

Habitat/ecology:  "A shade-loving plant, frequent in wooded areas, needing moisture all the year round, apparently evergreen" (Obermeyer, 1984; p. 86).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Cape of Good Hope, South Africa (Obermeyer, 1984; p. 86).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 254) Seen only once in cultivation.

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	George, A. S., ed. (1987) (p. 165) Also naturalized on Phillip Island, Victoria. Vouchers cited: K. Mills 10 (NSW), A.C. Beauglehole ACB 72893 (MEL) Naturalized.
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Healy, A. J./Edgar, E. (1980) (p. 52) Voucher cited: A. J. Healy (CHR 152288)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Newfield, M. (year unknown)

Comments:  Reported as an invasive plant in northern New Zealand (per Melanie Newfield, pers. com.).

Additional information:
Photos and additional information at the Environment Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, web site of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Additional online information about Asparagus scandens is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Asparagus scandens as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Asparagus scandens may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

Other Latin names:  Myrsiphyllum scandens (Thunb.) Oberm.

References:

George, A. S., ed. 1987. Flora of Australia. Vol. 45, Hydatellaceae to Liliaceae. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. .

Healy, A. J./Edgar, E. 1980. Flora of New Zealand, Volume III: Adventive cyperaceous, petalous & spathaceous monocotyledons. Government Printer, Wellington, New Zealand. 220 pp.

Newfield, M. 0. Melanie Newfield, pers. com.

Obermeyer, A. A. 1984. Revison of the genus Myrsiphyllum Willd. Bothalia 15.

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.