Asparagus Fern

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Asparagus Fern
• = Asparagus setaceus (Kunth) Jessop
• Climbing asparagus
• Common Asparagus Fern
• Evergreen Creeper
• Feathery Asparagus
• Ferny Asparagus
• Lace Fern
• Plume Asparagusfern
• Plumose Fern
• Satisfaction
• climbing asparagus fern
• Emerald asparagus fern

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Protasparagus setaceus
• Asparagus plumosus var. tenuissimus
• Asparagus tenuissimus
• Asparagus zanzibaricus
• Asparagus lujae
• Asparagus plumosus nanus
• Protasparagus plumosus
• Asparagus plumosus
• Asparagus asiaticus var. amharicus
• Asparagopsis setacea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Asparagales and the family Asparagaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is found within the genus Asparagus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several distinct European regions. In Middle Europe, its presence can be identified within the borders of Germany. Moving toward the Mediterranean, it is found throughout Southwestern Europe, specifically in Spain and the Baleares. Its distribution extends further into Southeastern Europe, where it grows in Greece. Finally, the species can be located in the Macaronesian islands, specifically within the Azores.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Asparagus setaceus is characterized by a broad altitudinal adaptability, allowing it to thrive across a diverse vertical gradient. The species can be found inhabiting environments ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2600 m AMSL. While specific primary habitat classifications are often noted as uncertain or variable, the plant typically occupies niches that support its delicate, climbing growth habit, often integrating into shaded or semi-shaded understory layers within its range.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

(?)

Life history

The life history of Asparagus setaceus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence in its natural habitat through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth habit and structural classification, the species exhibits characteristics of both a chamaemphyte and a hemicryptophyte, reflecting its ability to maintain buds or dormant structures at or near the soil surface to survive varying environmental conditions. Throughout its life cycle, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its lush, needle-like foliage year-round rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Asparagus setaceus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, manifesting as a vine that functions as an obligatory climber. This plant is terrestrial in nature, existing as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its physical stature, it exhibits significant variation in plant height, ranging from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 5 m, with an average height of approximately 2.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Asparagus setaceus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in moderate environments. Its morphological adaptations for light interception involve specialized leaf-like structures, or cladodes, which exhibit a leaf length ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 0.25 cm. Despite its fine, delicate appearance, the plant does not exhibit succulence, lacking the specialized water-storage tissues found in succulent species. Furthermore, it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil substrate rather than through symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

0.25 cm

Leaf length min:

0.1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Asparagus setaceus involves both sexual and asexual mechanisms, with asexual reproduction being present. Sexually, the plant is characterized as bisexual, though self-fertilization is notably absent, necessitating external agents for successful reproduction. The pollination syndrome is primarily biotic, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The flowering period is highly variable, with the flowering start occurring as early as December and potentially spanning throughout the entire year from January to November. Following pollination, the plant produces a fruit classified as a berry, which is indehiscent. These berries typically measure a mean of 0.58 cm in both length and width, with dimensions ranging from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm. Each fruit contains a significant number of seeds, typically ranging between 11 and 100 per fruit. The seeds themselves are uniform in size, with a mean length and width of 3 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.06018 g (varying slightly between a minimum and maximum of 0.06036 g). Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.583333333333333 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.583333333333333 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.06036 g

Seed mass mean:

0.06018 g

Seed width mean:

3 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

11-100

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Asparagus setaceus has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 20-HYDROXYECDYSONE, Ajugasterone C, ECDYSONE.

20-HYDROXYECDYSONE

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Ajugasterone C

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

ECDYSONE

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA