Asparagaceae

Asparagus falcatus

Common Names: Asparagus fern, sicklethorn

Plant Form: Perennial climber. Size: Up to 5 m long. Stem: Woody, with large-hooked spines to 30 mm. Flattened, green shoots form pseudo-leaves (cladodes) replacing true leaves. Leaves: Reduced, scale-like, replaced by cladodes (pesudo-leaves) 30-90 x 3-7mm, slightly sickle-shaped. Flowers: Several in a line, small, white, with six petal-like tepals. Fruit and Seeds: Reddish, spherical berry 7-10 mm across, with 1-3 seeds. Habitat: Weedy rainforests, riverbanks, urban bushland. Distinguishing Features: Similar to other Asparagus species but with larger cladodes, and large hooked spines on stems. Impacts: Smothers and outcompetes native vegetation.