Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 313 (1753).

Derivation: Greco-Latin asparagus or aspharagos, name of the plant; probably of Persian origin.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Branching dioecious perennials, of which the real leaves are solitary, small, distant and scale-like, bearing in their axils short barren clustered subulate branches (cladodes).

Flowers unisexual, axillary, small; perianth whitish, campanulate, the 6 segments free or slightly connected at the base, spreading at the summit; stamens 6, with anthers opening inwards in slits; ovary 3-celled, with a simple style and small 3-lobed stigma; ovules 2 per cell.

Berry globular, with few black seeds.

Distribution:    Eurasia; perhaps up to 100 species, but reliable figures not available.

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Following Obermeyer (1983), S. Afr. J. Bot. 2:243-244, and (1984), Bothalia 15:77-88, the segregate genera Myrsiphyllum and Protasparagus are recognised here.

Author: Not yet available