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Chase, M.W., Reveal, J.L. & Fay, M.J. (2009) A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 161 132-136
Demissew, S. (2008) Asparagaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(1)
Obermeyer, A.A. (1992) Asparagaceae Flora of Southern Africa 5(3)
Suffrutices or shrubs, with annual or perennial stems, sometimes scrambling or climbing and often spiny. Rhizome typically covered with persistent erect cataphylls; tubers often present. Leaves much reduced, bract-like with a spiny or soft spur; leaf-like cladodes solitary or fascicled, linear to ovate, persistent or deciduous. Peduncles or pedicels articulated. Flowers solitary, fascicled or racemose, bisexual, hypogynous. Perianth segments in 2 whorls of 3, similar, free or (in asparagoides) fused into a tube below. Stamens 6. Ovary superior, 3-locular, with 2-12 axile ovules per loculus. Fruit usually a spherical or ovoid berry, sometimes a nutlet, the perianth segments often persisting below. Seeds 1-several, spherical, black. Comment: According to more recent thinking the family Asparagaceae has been greatly expanded to include many genera formerly placed in separate families. As some of these family concepts were quite distinct and often contained well-known horticultural genera and species, we have for now maintained this more traditional treatment: Worldwide: 6 genera and 150 species, Old World (excluding Australia), South America, especially arid zones. Zimbabwe: 1 genus and 21 taxa. |
Genus | Content |
Asparagus L. | Description, Image |
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