Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Asparagaceae Juss.
Genus
Asparagus L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce, Bot. Exch. Club Brit. Isles Rep. 3: 413 (1914)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Medeola asparagoides L., Sp. Pl. 339 (1753)
  • ≡ Myrsiphyllum asparagoides (L.) Willd. (1808)
  • ≡ Asparagus asparagoides (L.) W.Wight in Whitney, Century Dict. Cyclop. 12, 845 (1909) nom. illeg.
  • = Dracaena medeoloides L.f., Suppl. Pl. 203 (1782 [1781])
  • ≡ Asparagus medioloides (L.f.) Thunb., Prodr. Pl. Cap. 66 (1794)
Vernacular Name(s):
Bridal veil creeper; Smilax
 Description

Summer-green scrambling or twining perennial; roots tuberous. Stems to 3 m long, tortuous, green, or slightly woody and brownish, branches spreading, angled, scabrid on angles. Scale-leaves scarious, entire, basal spur absent. Cladodes solitary at each node, 1–3.5 cm × 4–15 mm, flattened, broadly ovate-lanceolate, acute, with c. 7 prominent veins usually spreading horizontally. Flowers 1–2, axillary, 5–6 mm long, greenish-white, pedicels c. 5–8 mm long. Berry globose, 6–10 mm diam., red. Seeds 2–8, c. 2 mm diam., black.

[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Phenology

Flowering: Jul.–Aug.

 Bibliography
Biosecurity New Zealand 2012: Regional Pest Management Strategies Database. http://www.biosecurityperformance.maf.govt.nz/
Biosecurity New Zealand 4 Aug 2011: Unwanted Organisms Register. http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/registers/uor
Biosecurity New Zealand 2008: National Plant Pest Accord. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, Wellington.
Druce, C.G. 1914: Supplement to Botanical Exchange Club Report for 1913. Botanical Exchange Club of the British Isles. Report. Manchester, England 3(5): 405–440.
Howell, C. 2008: Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. DOC Research & Development Series 292: 42.
Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.
Linnaeus, C. von, filius 1782 ("1781"): Supplementum Plantarum Systematis Vegetabilium. Orphanotrophe, Brunswig.
Ministry for Primary Industries 23 Feb 2017: Unwanted Organisms Register. Version 02.01.02. https://www1.maf.govt.nz/uor
Thunberg, C.P. 1794–1800: Prodromus Plantarum Capensium, quas in Promontorio Bonae Spei Africes, annis 1772-1775, collegit Carol. Pet. Thunberg. Edman, Uppsala.
Whitney, W.D. 1909: The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia; a work of universal reference in all departments of knowledge, with a new atlas of the world, 12. Vol. 12.
Weeds Key – interactive key to the weed species of New Zealand