Asparagus aethiopicus L.

Title: Asparagus aethiopicus L.

Scientific Name:

Asparagus aethiopicus L.

Common Name:

basket asparagus, asparagus fern

Source & more images

Habitat: Native to South Africa. Grows on sandy or skeletal soils in warm temperate regions, within a temperature range of 10 to 20oC and rainfall from 500 to 1500mm annually. Ranges from coastal sand dunes to open woodland, especially where some shade is available (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). Capable of invading coastal scrubs, heaths and grasslands; open rocky areas, littoral rainforest, rainforest, frontal dunes and sclerophyll forest, heathy woodland and open woodlands (Breaden et al. 2006; Carr et al. 1996; Csurhes and Edwards 1998; Downey 2006; Vivian-Smith et al. 2006).

Distribution:

Original source via CABI

Invasiveness Assessment

ESTABLISHMENT

1. Germination requirements? May germinate any time of year if moisture is available (Breaden et al. 2006). Opportunistic germinator.

2. Establishment requirements? Shade-loving plant ‘grows best under a closed canopy of trees where the understorey species have been destroyed’ (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). Can establish under moderate canopy.

3. How much disturbance is required? Found in coastal dunes to open woodlands. Quickly invades disturbed sites (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001).
Establishes in minor disturbed natural ecosystems.

GROWTH / COMPETITIVE

4. Life form? Perennial herb. Trailing with underground tuberous roots (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). Life form – geophyte.

5. Allelopathic properties? None described.

6. Tolerates herb pressure? The fruit and seed of several Asparagus spp. “are damaged by an unidentified chalcid wasp and moth larva, while a rust fungus severely damages the fruit”. Under investigation for biocontrol (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). Weed may still persist.

7. Normal growth rate? Growth rate is slow until root system is well established then growth rapidly increases subsequently (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). Moderately rapid growth rate that will equal competitive species of the same life form.

8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? Grows in coastal sands, in a temperature range “approximating 10oC to 20oC and rainfall from 500 to 1500mm annually” (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). Root tubers enable plant to tolerate dry conditions (Breaden et al. 2006). “Plants may dieback during the hot summer months… however the tubers will ensure survival” (DWLBC 2006). Conditions under which this plant grows suggest that it is tolerant of saline conditions but not likely to be frost-tolerant. Its rainfall range and tuberous roots suggest some tolerance to drought. The ability to resprout from tubers suggests some fire tolerance also. Degree of tolerance to these stressors unknown.

REPRODUCTION

9. Reproductive system? Reproduces vegetatively and by seed (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). Both vegetative and sexual reproduction.

10. Number of propagules produced? Up to 600 berries are produced per plant (Breaden et al. 2006), with up to seeds per berry (600 x 3) = 1800 seeds per flowering event.

11. Propagule longevity? No information.

12. Reproductive period? Unknown.

13. Time to reproductive maturity? ‘Although plants do not always flower in their first year...’ (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). Indicates that plant may produce propagules between 1 – 2 years after germination.

DISPERSAL

14. Number of mechanisms? Spread through birds voiding the seeds (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001), as well as “the dumping of garden waste into bushland and movement of seed from gardens by birds, foxes, earth-moving equipment and humans” (Gannaway 2007).

15. How far do they disperse? Spread through birds voiding the seeds (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2001). Few propagules will disperse greater than 1 km but many will reach 200 – 1000m.

Impact Assessment

RECREATION

1. Restrict human access? A much branched, spiny herb with stems 30 to 60cm long and well developed spines (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). Can occur in coastal sand dunes. May impede individual access.

2. Reduce tourism? Ornamental foliage (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). Can smother ground cover and occur in some recreational areas. Plant may have minor effect on aesthetics and inhibit some recreational activities.

3. Injurious to people? Plant has ‘well developed spines 5 to 10mm long’ (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). Spines at most times of the year.

4. Damage to cultural sites? Ornamental foliage and can smother ground cover (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). May have moderate visual effect if occurs at cultural sites.

ABIOTIC

5. Impact flow? Terrestrial species (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002).

6. Impact water quality? Terrestrial species (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002).

7. Increase soil erosion? Thick mat of tuberous roots. Plant doesn’t die back and leave bare soil exposed. (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). May help to bind soil. Low probability of large scale soil movement.

8. Reduce biomass? ‘Smothers ground cover and can prevent regeneration of canopy species’ (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002), but also produces a large mass of underground tubers (Vivian-Smith et al. 2006). The large underground biomass is likely to increase biomass.

9. Change fire regime? The mass of underground organs completely suppresses other species (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002), however, flammability of this plant is unknown. Insufficient evidence to determine whether plant may alter fire regime.

COMMUNITY HABITAT

10(a) Impact on composition of high value EVC? EVC=Valley Grassy Forest (BCS =V); CMA=Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg=Greater Grampians; CLIMATE potential=VH. ‘The mass of underground organs, together with the numerous seedlings produced, completely suppresses other species’ (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). Major displacement of some dominant spp. within the lower strata.

10(b) Impact on medium value EVC? EVC=Semi-arid woodland (BCS =D); CMA=Mallee; Bioreg=Lowan Mallee; CLIMATE potential=VH. ‘The mass of underground organs, together with the numerous seedlings produced, completely suppresses other species’ (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). Major displacement of some dominant spp. within the lower strata.

10(c) Impact on low value EVC? EVC=Lowan Sands Mallee (BCS =LC); CMA=Wimmera; Bioreg=Lowan Mallee; CLIMATE potential=VH. ‘The mass of underground organs, together with the numerous seedlings produced, completely suppresses other species’ (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). Major displacement of some dominant spp. within the lower strata.

11. Impact on structure? ‘The mass of underground organs, together with the numerous seedlings produced, completely suppresses other species’ (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). The area beneath mature asparagus fern can be devoid of other species (Breaden et al. 2006). Major effect on lower strata.

12. Effect on threatened flora? This species is a risk to threatened species in NSW (Downey 2006) but not documented to have an additional effect on threatened flora in Victoria.

FAUNA

13. Effect on threatened fauna? Species not documented to have an additional effect on threatened fauna.

14. Effect on non-threatened fauna? ‘The mass of underground organs, together with the numerous seedlings produced, completely suppresses other species’ (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). Effect on animals not documented although possible that the species may reduce habitat and food supply of non-threatened fauna.

15. Benefits fauna? Berries are eaten by native birds (Breaden et al. 2006).

16. Injurious to fauna? Weed produces spines (Parsons & Cuthbertson 2002). May be injurious to fauna species.

PEST ANIMAL

17. Food source to pests? Species not documented as a food source to pest species.

18. Provides harbor? Species not documented as providing harbour to pest species.

AGRICULTURE

19. Impact yield? Not documented as a weed of agriculture in references that would be expected to report this, vis: Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) or the ‘Asparagus weeds best practise manual’ (DWLBC 2006).

20. Impact quality? Not documented as a weed of agriculture in references that would be expected to report this, vis: Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) or the ‘Asparagus weeds best practise manual’ (DWLBC 2006).

21. Affect land values? Not documented as a weed of agriculture in references that would be expected to report this, vis: Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) or the ‘Asparagus weeds best practise manual’ (DWLBC 2006).

22. Change land use? Not documented as a weed of agriculture in references that would be expected to report this, vis: Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) or the ‘Asparagus weeds best practise manual’ (DWLBC 2006).

23. Increase harvest costs? Not documented as a weed of agriculture in references that would be expected to report this, vis: Parsons & Cuthbertson (2001) or the ‘Asparagus weeds best practise manual’ (DWLBC 2006).

24. Disease host/vector? Not a known host or vector for disease of agriculture. Not documented in references that would be expected to report this, vis: Parsons & Cuthbertson (2002) or the ‘Asparagus weeds best practise manual’ (DWLBC 2006).

Feedback

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Assessment ratings originally made by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.

The entry of this assessment was made possible through the generous support of an anonymous donor.

Attachments:

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referenced by (2)

wra825: Common Name - B (via basket asparagus)wra702: Common Name - A (via asparagus fern)

Article: wra3057 (permalink)
Categories: :wra:a, :wra:inv1, :wra:invh, :wra:inv2, :wra:invmh, :wra:inv3, :wra:inv4, :wra:invml, :wra:inv5, :wra:invl, :wra:inv6, :wra:inv7, :wra:inv8, :wra:invm, :wra:inv9, :wra:inv10, :wra:inv11, :wra:inv12, :wra:inv13, :wra:inv14, :wra:inv15, :wra:imp1, :wra:impml, :wra:imp2, :wra:imp3, :wra:impmh, :wra:imp4, :wra:imp5, :wra:impl, :wra:imp6, :wra:imp7, :wra:imp8, :wra:imp9, :wra:impm, :wra:imp10a, :wra:imp10b, :wra:imp10c, :wra:imp11, :wra:imp12, :wra:imp13, :wra:imp14, :wra:imp15, :wra:imp16, :wra:imp17, :wra:imp18, :wra:imp19, :wra:imp20, :wra:imp21, :wra:imp22, :wra:imp23, :wra:imp24
Date: 27 October 2009; 12:53:08 PM AEDT

Author Name: Shana Nerenberg
Author ID: nerenbergs