90 
Asparagus—continued. 
greenhouse treatment is required. For further information, 
see the “ Gardener’s Chronicle,” February 26th, March 12th 
and 26th, 1898. 
In addition to the manures previously recommended 
for Asparagus, mention should now be made of kainit 
and nitrate of soda: 2o0z. of the former and loz. of 
the latter should be mixed together and applied to each 
square surface yard of the beds. This dressing may be 
given two or three times during the growing season. 
A. acutifolius (acuie-leaved). ji. yellow, din. across. fr. deep 
crimson, pea-like. J. grey-green, hair-like, rigid, tufted, 
becoming almost spinous in exposed situations. Stems hard, 
wiry, brown, about 5ft high; branches rigid, 3in. to 6in. long. 
South Europe, 1640. Hardy perennial. (S. F. G. 337.) 
A. zthiopicus (African).* 1. white, in racemes 2in. to Jin. long. 
Jr. globose, jin. in diameter, one-seeded. J. fiat, falcate, rigid, 
bi- or ternate, ascending, mucronate, sin. long. Stems woody, 
terete, climbing, 10ft. long; branchlets short, strongly angled ; 
prickles large, pungent. South and tropical Africa, 1816. 
A. 2. natalensis (Natal). 7. loosely panicled. J. larger, less 
rigid, darker green. 
A. x. ternifolius (ternate-leaved). This is a synonym of 
A, faleatus. (G. C. 1898, xxiii., p. 123, f. 47.) 
A. africanus (African). 7. white, small, star-shaped, generally 
produced in axillary umbels. jr. glohose, jin. in diameter, 
oné-seeded. 7. densely clustered, rigid, subulate, about jin. 
Yong, persistent. Stems 12ft. long, woody, terete, much- 
branched, sarmentose; branchlets slightly zigzag ; main prickles 
large, pungent. South Africa, 1819. 
A. a. dependens (hanging down). J. shorter and stouter than 
in the type. Branches deflexed, often pubescent. 
A. albanensis (Albanian). A variety of A. plumosus. 
A. asiaticus (Asiatic). @. white, few, axillary, small. 
Jr. globose, {in. in diameter, one-seeded. J. subulate, rigid, 
ascending, fin. to Jin. long, three to twelve in a cluster. Main 
stem 30ft. long, slender, green, sarmentose; main prickles 
small; branches long. Asia and Africa, 1759. A vigorous 
climber, requiring a somewhat shaded position. 
A. Buchanani (Buchanan's). i. white, campanulate; racemes 
lin. to 2in. long, loose-flowered. J.. Zin. long, very narrow- 
linear, ascending, elongated. Branches slender, glabrous; 
spines hard, pungent, iin. long. Shiré Highlands, Tropical 
Africa, 1893. Plant shrubby, broadly sarmentose. 
A. comorensis (Comoro).* This resembles 4A. plumosus in 
general appearance, but differs mainly in its more robust habit, 
darker green colour, and the soft texture of its leaves. 
Comoro, 1888. (G. C. 1898, xxiii., p. 181, f. 72.) 
A. crispus (curled). The correct name of A. decumbens. 
A. declinatus (declinate). 7. White, very small, campanulate. 
tr. small, globose, one-seeded. 7. slender, subulate, bright 
greea, 4in. to 4in. long, six to ten in the lateral clusters, as 
many as twenty in those at the tips and bases of the branch- 
lets; main leaves produced into a deltoid spur. Stems 
sarmentose, glabrous, woody, terete; branches decompound, 
with numerous spreading or deflexed branchlets. South Africa, 
1759. Half-hardy. 
A. defiexus (deflexed). fl. striped with brown, small, solitary 
or in clusters of two to six. October. 2. din. long, in clusters 
of six to ten; main ones forming a short, deflexed spur. 
Branches slender, the lower ones defiexed; branchlets very 
short. Angola, 1892. A hardy, much-branched shrub. 
A. grandifiorus (large-flowered). A synonym of 4. umbellatus. 
A. laricinus (Larch-like). jj. white, small, campanulate, 
axillary, many in a cluster. May. jl. dull red, globose, one- 
seeded, jin. in diameter. J. subulate, rigid, densely clustered, 
ascending jin. to l4in. long, bright green. Stems 12ft. long, 
woody, much-branched; main prickles large, pungent, spreading; 
branches pale, ascending, zigzag. South Africa, 1816. (G. C. 
1898, xxiii., p. 122, f. 46.) 
A. lucidus (¢lear). jl. white, small, axillary. jr. pink, or white 
when ripe, tin. in diameter. J. narrow, flattened, falcate, lin 
to 2in. long, disposed in fascicles of two to six. Stems thin, 
flexuous, 4ft. to 6ft. long, with small spines, branching freely. 
China and Japan. An elegant stove climber for pillars, &c. 
A. medeoloides (Medeola-like). The correct name of Myrsi- 
phylum asparagoides. 
A. plumosus (G. C. 1898, xxiii., p. 146, f. 58). SyN. A. consan- 
guineus. The following are varieties : 
A. p. albanensis (Albanian). /. longer and less numerous than 
in the type. 1895. 
A. p. eristatus (crested). Branches less flattened, each terminating 
in a tassel-like cluster of branchlets and leaves. 
A. p. declinatus (declinate). A variety 
branches. 
A. p. Sanderi (Sander’s). A curious seedling form, of tall habit, 
and having tufted, plumose growth ou the large leaves. 1894. ~ 
with 
drooping 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Asparagus—continued. 
A. p. tenuissimus (very slender).* This is of a lighter green than 
the typical A. plumosus, and the foliage is remarkable for its 
eaeue slenderness and delicate appearance. South Africa, 
A. retrofractus (lent back).* #. white, small, axillary, 
umbellate.” July. fr. small, globose, one-seeded. 7. densely 
clustered, subulate, curved, ascending, jin. to lin. long, bright 
green, Larch-like. Stems 6ft. or more in length, slender, woody, 
terete, much-branched ; main prickles small, pungent, uncinate ; 
branches slender, very zigzag. South Africa, 1759. Syn. 
A. Tr. arboreus. 
A. sarmentosus (sarmentose). fl. white, star-like, fragrant; 
racemes lin. to 3in. long, spreading from the weody branches. 
August. Jr. bright scarlet, pea-like. /. linear, rigid, mucronate, 
4in. to Zin. long, solitary except at the tips of the Pescudticta! flat, 
bright green, with a distinct midrib. Stems woody, sub-erect or 
twining, with short, deflexed prickles; branchlets numerous, 
square, spreading or ascending. South Africa, 1810. Cool house. 
(G. C. 1898, xxiii., p. 179, f. 71.) 
A. scandens defiexus (defiexed). //l. smaller than in the type. 
1. firmer, sin. to din. long. Branchlets very zigzag. 
A. schoberioides (Schoberia-like). 1. small, sessile, produced 
on the lower half of the branches. fr. red, small, abundant. 
l. in clusters of three or four, 4in. long, linear, faleate, deciduous. 
Stems about Ift. high, thin, wiry, branched above. Japan. Of 
this hardy but not very ornamental species there are one or two 
varieties, one having longer stems. 
Fic, 82. 
ASPARAGUS SPRENGERI. 
A. Sprengeri (Sprenger’s).* 
long. fr. din. in diameter. J. fiat, linear, glabrous, bright pen 
straight or slightly curved, lin. to lsin. long, in... broad, 
flattened, glossy green. Stems woody, terete, wide-climbing, 2ft. 
to 6ft. long, freely branched; prickles small, hooked. South 
Africa, 1890. A very elegant species. (R. G. 1890, p. 490, f. 80.) 
There is a variegated form. See Fig. 82. = 
A. tenuifolius (slender-leaved). (. white, Jin. across, axillary. 
May. Jr. bright red, as large as Cherries. J. greyish-green, 
linear, curved, jin. to lin. long, in whorls of about a score at 
short intervals. Stems wiry, smooth, 3ft. high; branches 
ascending. France, Italy, &c., 1819. - Half-hardy perennial. ~ 
A. tenuissimus (very slender). A variety of A. plumosus. 
‘ 
fl. whitish, smali, racemes lin. 
