Asparagus aphyllus
L.
Asparagaceae
Asparagus acutifolius hookeri Baker
Asparagus acutifolius orientalis Baker
Asparagus agul Forssk. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
Asparagus erinaceus Borzí & Mattei
Asparagus phyllacanthus Lam.
Common Name:
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 |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.60 m |
| Pollinators | Bees |
| Self-fertile | No |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
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.
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Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
