Asparagus aethiopicus
Read about Asparagus aethiopicus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Asparagus sprengeri, Regel. Figs. 407, 408. Roots tuberous, white, elliptic, not densely clustered: sts. numerous, scarcely climbing. 6 ft. or less: side branches numerous, small, angled: twigs 1-3 in. long: cladodes 3-8, ½-1½ in. long, flat, linear, smooth, pointed, slightly falcate, rich green: lf.-scale on main st. with a .slender brown brittle spine 2 gin. long: fls. in May-June, in open racemes 1-3 in. long; pedicels 1-2 from each bract; fls. whitish pink, fragrant, perianth wide-spreading, ⅕ in.: berry slightly 3-lobed, 1-3- seeded, bright coral-red, up to ½ in. diam. Natal.—One of the most popular plants for cut- green, easily grown in a moderate temp. Plants in tubs or baskets are very ornamental when covered with the bright red berries which ripen about Christmas-time. Easily grown from seed, which germinates in a temperate house in about 4 weeks. The best asparagus for a house plant. A.G. 18:86. 883; 19:101. B.M. 7728 (as A. ternifolius), 8052. F.E. 9:11. F.R. 4:95. G. 21:123. Gn. 54, p. 88; 58, p. 109. G.L. 17:175. Mn. 8, p. 151. Gn.W.20:117; 23:607. G.W. 4, p. 109; 13, p. 462. Gng. 4:167. G.C. III. 37:10. Var. compactus, a dwarf variety seldom over 18 in. long. Var. variegatus, a form having variegated Lvs; otherwise like the type. Gn. 59:145. F.E. 14:885. Var. falcatoides, a large strong- growing form: phylloclades solitary to 5-6 more or less falcate. A. sarmentosus, Hort., not Linn., is a short compact form of A. Sprengeri. The true A. sarmentosus is quite a different plant and not in cult.
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