Asparagus prostratus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wild asparagus | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asparagoideae |
| Genus: | Asparagus |
| Species: | A. prostratus |
| Binomial name | |
| Asparagus prostratus K. Richt | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Asparagus prostratus, also known as wild asparagus, is a species of flowering plant from the genus Asparagus and family Asparagaceae.
It has been placed onto the UK Biodiversity Action Plan list of priority species.[2]
A. prostratus is a perennial species.[3] It has a prostrate growth habit and needle like leaves that can reach up to 2.4 cm long.[4] A. prostratus stems grow from rhizomes.[3] It produces small, yellow, bell-shaped flowers.[4] Berries start off green and begin to turn red between July and October.[4] The berries are toxic to humans and cause diarrhoea and vomiting.[5]
Reproduction
A. prostratus is a dioecious species, with plants being either male or female.[4] Colonies of this species therefore require both male and female plants for successful sexual reproduction. Plants will flower from May and June.[4] Flowers are pollinated by insects.[4] Once pollinated plants will produce berries.[4] Berries are eaten by animals such as birds, which help disperse the seeds.[4]
A. prostratus can also clone itself asexually. Stems sprout from rhizomes that spread horizontally beneath the soil, which helps the plant reproduce through vegetative reproduction.[4] This allows the species to reproduce when either male or female plants are absent.
Distribution
This species is endemic to Europe, where it has been recorded on the coastlines of: Belgium, the Channel Islands, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.[6][7]
It is believed the species may be extinct in Germany.[4]
Habitat
A. prostratus can be found growing in coastal habitats such as cliffs, sand dunes and shingle beaches.[4]
.jpg)
.jpg)
