Plants of South Eastern New South Wales
Asparagus virgatus
Common name
Asparagus Fern
Family
Asparagaceae
Where found
Forest, disturbed sites and waste areas, near habitation, and along streams. Coast, ranges, and tablelands, north of Goulburn.
Notes
Introduced erect perennial herb or shrub to 0.8 m high. Rhizomatous, forming large and dense patches that replace native vegetation. Fruit fleshy. True leaves scale-like, subtending the 'leaves'. 'Leaves' in clusters of 3–6, 0.3–1.5 cm long, about 0.5–1 mm wide, cylindrical, hairless. Flowers greenish white, with 6 'petals' each 3–4 mm long. Flowers single. Flowering: chiefly spring–summer; fruits most of year. Ripe fruit orange, more or less oval, 4–6 mm in diameter.
General Biosecurity Duty all NSW.
PlantNET description with photos: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Asparagus~virgatus (accessed 4 January, 2021)
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