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Useful Temperate Plants

Asparagus aphyllus

L.

Asparagaceae

+ Synonyms

Asparagus acutifolius hookeri Baker

Asparagus acutifolius orientalis Baker

Asparagus agul Forssk. ex Schult. & Schult.f.

Asparagus erinaceus Borzí & Mattei

Asparagus phyllacanthus Lam.

Common Name:

Asparagus aphyllus
Plant growing at Triq l-Armier in Mellie?a, Malta
Photograph by: Frank Vincentz
Creative Commons License
Asparagus aphyllus Asparagus aphyllus

General Information

Asparagus aphyllus is a much-branched, perennial plant with stems that become more or less woody, at least at the base. It can grow 40 - 80cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. Traditionally eaten during Lent in Greece.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

50
Title
Flora Europaea
Publication
 
Author
?
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1964
ISBN
-
Description
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

Range

Throughout the Mediterranean region and eastwards to Saudi Arabia.

Habitat

Hedges and rocky limestone hills[
148
Title
Herbs of Greece.
Publication
 
Author
Niebuhr. A. D.
Publisher
Herb Society of America.
Year
1970
ISBN
-
Description
A pleasant little book about Greek herbs.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.60 m
PollinatorsBees
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Asparagus aphyllus is native to the Mediterranean region, with its hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. It can probably tolerate winter temperatures dipping occasionally to between -5 and -10°c and would probably succeed outdoors in the milder regions of the temperate zone[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
We hve no specific information for this plant, but species in this genus are generally easily grown in any good garden soil[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. Prefers a rich sandy loam[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Young shoots - raw or cooked[
2
Title
Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Hedrick. U. P.
Publisher
Dover Publications
Year
1972
ISBN
0-486-20459-6
Description
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
183
Title
Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications
Year
1990
ISBN
0-9628087-0-9
Description
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
]. A slightly bitter flavour[
148
Title
Herbs of Greece.
Publication
 
Author
Niebuhr. A. D.
Publisher
Herb Society of America.
Year
1970
ISBN
-
Description
A pleasant little book about Greek herbs.
,
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring or as soon as the seed is ripe in early autumn in a greenhouse. It usually germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 25°c[
134
Title
Growing from Seed. Volume 2.
Publication
 
Author
Rice. G. (Editor)
Publisher
Thompson and Morgan.
Year
1988
ISBN
-
Description
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Division in early spring as the plant comes into growth.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-26. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Asparagus+aphyllus>

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