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An Exotic
World of Plants

The Plants
of the Palm House

Asparagus densiflorus

English Name: Asparagus Fern

Latin name: Asparagus densiflorus

Family:  Asparagus - Asparagaceae

Origin: Southern Africa

Because this perennial has woody stems at its base, it has been classified as a semi-bush. The stems, branching out, reach up to 1 metre in length, climbing their supports. From the nodes, there grow tufts of one to five cladodes -- flattened stems 1 to 3 cm. long and 1.5 to 2.5 mm. wide. The leaves are reduced, scaly, with a spur, sometimes thorny, up to 5 mm. long. The white-coloured flowers grow throughout the year after the growth of bundles of cladodes. They are gathered in racemes of up to 2.5 cm., growing singly or in pairs. The fruits are red berries 8 to 10 mm. in diameter, containing one or two seeds.

Such asparagus plants are especially popular in bouquets, where they can be added to an arrangement of cut flowers. They are often cultivated in homes as a vase plant.

Asparagus densiflorus