Plants of South Eastern New South Wales
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Asparagus scandens
Asparagus fern
Asparagaceae
Urban bushland, woodland, gardens, rocky habitats, and coastal environs. Prefers moist sites. Sydney area. Occasionally coast and ranges elsewhere.
Introduced perennial climber to about 2 m high, or sprawling. Rhizomatous. Forms dense impenetrable mats. Fruit fleshy. Stems wiry, hairless. True leaves scale-like, 0.1-0.2 cm long, subtending the 'leaves'. 'Leaves' in clusters of 3, 0.5–1.5 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, hairless, flattened, tapering at the base, tips with a small abrupt point. Flowers white to pinkish, with 6 'petals' each 3–4 mm long. Flowers in clusters of 1–3. Flowering: chiefly winter and early spring; fruits until summer. Ripe fruit orange to red, more or less oval, 5–7 mm in diameter.
A Weed of National Significance. General Biosecurity Duty with additional restrictions all NSW. Pest plant ACT. Noxious weed Vic.
PlantNET description: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Asparagus~scandens (accessed 4 January, 2021)
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