Bush asparagus

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• asparagus-fern
• climbing asparagus
• Bush Asparagus
• African Asparagus

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Asparagus wildemanii
• Asparagus africanus var. africanus
• Protasparagus multiflorus
• Asparagus fleckii
• Asparagus francisci
• Asparagus lugardii
• Asparagus mitis
• Asparagus multiflorus
• Asparagus rivalis
• Asparagus sidamensis
• Asparagus africanus var. pubescens
• Asparagopsis scoparia
• Asparagus buruensis
• Asparagus dinteri
• Asparagus dependens
• Asparagus africanus var. puberulus
• Asparagus africanus var. biarticulatus
• Asparagus pauli-guilelmi var. katangensis
• Asparagus kaessneri
• Asparagus irregularis
• Asparagus judtii
• Asparagus africanus var. microcarpus
• Asparagus asiaticus var. mitis
• Asparagus conglomeratus
• Asparagus cooperi
• Asparagus burkei
• Asparagus sapinii
• Asparagus puberulus
• Asparagus pubescens
• Asparagus patens
• Asparagus pilosus
• Asparagus sennii
• Asparagus shirensis
• Asparagopsis juniperina
• Asparagopsis schlechtendalii
• Protasparagus cooperi
• Protasparagus africanus
• Protasparagus pilosus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Asparagus africanus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Asparagales and the family Asparagaceae. Finally, its taxonomic position is defined by its placement within the genus Asparagus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Its documented presence includes the coastal and inland regions of Ghana and Benin. Furthermore, it can be located within the territories of Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau. The species also extends its range into the nation of Gambia. Together, these locations highlight a specific distribution pattern across several West African countries.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Asparagus africanus is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of environmental settings and varying altitudinal gradients. It is commonly found inhabiting bushland, thickets, forest margins, and grasslands, and it frequently colonizes secondary and ruderal vegetation. This adaptability allows the species to persist in both stable natural ecosystems and disturbed landscapes. In terms of vertical distribution, the plant occupies a broad elevational spectrum, ranging from low-lying areas at 6 m AMSL up to higher altitudes reaching a maximum of 1650 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

6 m AMSL

Habitat :

bushland, thicket, forest margins and grassland, secondary and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Asparagus africanus is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit and ecological positioning, the plant exhibits a complex life form profile that includes characteristics of both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte classifications. This dual nature suggests a growth strategy where the plant can maintain visible stems or woody structures above the ground, while also possessing a compact architecture suitable for its specific environmental niches.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Asparagus africanus is characterized by a woody growth form, typically manifesting as a shrub. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is described as an obligatory climber, though it possesses self-supporting capabilities. The plant's height is variable, with a minimum recorded height of 0.5 m, a maximum of approximately 2.74 m, and a mean height of roughly 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.743233358 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Asparagus africanus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The plant's foliage consists of specialized structures where the leaf length typically ranges from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm, while the leaf width is notably slender, reaching a maximum of only 0.05 cm. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on available soil nitrates and ammonium rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

1.5 cm

Leaf length min:

0.8 cm

Leaf width max:

0.05 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Asparagus africanus is characterized by a biotic pollination strategy, primarily involving insects, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruit categorized as a berry, which is indehiscent, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. The seeds contained within these fruits vary in size, with a minimum mass of 0.01857 g, a mean mass of 0.03744 g, and a maximum mass of 0.07703 g. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where the seeds are ingested and transported by animals, facilitating the plant's spread throughout its habitat.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.07703 g

Seed mass mean:

0.03744 g

Seed mass min:

0.01857 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Asparagus africanus has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins.

Saponins

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Activities

Asparagus africanus has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of integrative bioinformatics

Conditions

Asparagus africanus has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, erectile dysfunction, gout.

Candida albicans

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Enterococcus faecalis

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Staphylococcus aureus

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Erectile dysfunction

1. BioMed research international

Gout

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Leishmaniasis

1. Parasite (Paris, France)

Polycystic ovarian syndrome

1. Journal of integrative bioinformatics

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Wounds

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Asparagus africanus has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanol extracts.

Ethanol extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine