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{{SPlantbox
|familia=Asparagaceae
|genus=Asparagus
|species=setaceus
|common_name=Common Asparagus Fern, Lace Fern, Climbing Asparagus, or Ferny Asparagus
|name_ref=Wikipedia
|habit=vine-climber
|habit_ref=Wikipedia
|Temp Metric=°F
|image=Asparagus setaceus Leaves 2760px.jpg
|image_width=240
}}
'''''Asparagus setaceus''''', commonly known as '''Common Asparagus Fern''', '''Lace Fern''', '''Climbing Asparagus''', or '''Ferny Asparagus''', is a vine plant in the genus ''[[Asparagus (genus)|Asparagus]]''.<ref name="usda">{{cite web
| title = Asparagus setaceus (Kunth) Jessop
| work = PLANTS Profile
| publisher = [[United States Department of Agriculture|USDA]] [[Natural Resources Conservation Service]]
| date = 2006-10-01
| url = http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ASSE12
| accessdate = 2006-10-01 }}</ref> Despite its common name, the plant is not a true [[fern]], but has leaves that resemble one.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zachos|first=Ellen |title=Tempting tropicals: 175 Irresistible Indoor Plants|publisher=Timber Press|date=2005|pages=112|isbn=0881927320}}</ref>
It is native to [[Southern Africa]], but is grown elsewhere as an ornamental plant. It has become an [[invasive species]] in several locations where it has been introduced.<ref name="PIER">{{cite web
| title = Asparagus setaceus
| work = Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
| publisher = Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry
| date = 2005-12-03
| url = http://www.hear.org/pier/species/asparagus_setaceus.htm
| accessdate = 2006-10-01 }}</ref>
Originally described by the German botanist [[Carl Sigismund Kunth]], its specific name is derived from the [[Latin]] ''saeta'' "hair" or "bristle", hence "hairy".<ref>{{cite book|author = Simpson DP| title = Cassell's Latin Dictionary | publisher = Cassell Ltd.| year = 1979|edition = 5|location = London| isbn=0-304-52257-0}}</ref>
Some authorities use the name ''A. plumosus'' (''plumosus'' Latin "plumed", referring to the foliage) as described by [[John Gilbert Baker|Baker]] in 1875 for this plant,<ref name="FloraofAustralia">{{cite web|url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/online-resources/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=6266|title=Asparagus plumosus|date=1994|work=Flora of Australia Online|publisher=ABRS, ©Commonwealth of Australia|accessdate=2009-07-29}}</ref>
''Asparagus setaceus'' is a scrambling perennial herb with tough green stems, which may reach several metres in length. The leaves are actually leaf-like [[cladode]]s up to 7 mm long by 0.1 mm in diameter, which arise in clumps of up to 15 from the stem, making a fine, soft green fern-like foliage. Occurring from spring to autumn, the small greenish-white bell-shaped flowers are 0.4 cm long, and are followed by small green berries, which blacken with maturity.<ref name=weedsorg>[http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&ibra=all&card=V16 Climbing Asparagus]</ref>
The fruit (berries) of this plant are toxic and should not be eaten.
The attractive foliage of ''Asparagus setaceus'' makes it desirable as an indoor or pot plant. It is very hardy and adapts readily to cultivation. The foliage is also used in floral arrangements.
==Cultivation==
===Propagation===
===Pests and diseases===
==Varieties==
==Gallery==
<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
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</gallery>
==References==
<references/>
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 -->
==External links==
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