ASPAEAGUS 



THE BULB BOOK 



ASPARAGUS 



prickles of some species). Nat. Ord. 

 Liliacese. — ^A genus containing over 

 1 00 species of plants, some of which, 

 have tuberous root-stocks. The stems 

 are climbing or decumbent, and 

 furnished with narrow leaf-like bodies 

 called "cladodes." The flowers are 

 small, and are succeeded by berry-like 

 fruits. 



All kinds of Asparagus, including 

 A. officinalis of the kitchen garden, 

 are ornamental foliage plants, and 

 are much used in floral decorations. 

 Although the roots are in most cases 

 fleshy or fibrous, few have anything 

 of a tuberous nature except those 

 mentioned here. 



A. Balansse. — A native of Palestine, 

 with stiffish, more or less erect leaves, 

 and white flowers borne on naked 

 stems (Gard. Chron. 1898, xxiii. Ill, 

 f . 43). 



A. Istbmocarpa. — This species, 

 from Palestine, is closely related to 

 A. Balansae, but has larger flowers. 

 It grows about 5 ft. high. 



A. medeoloides {Myrsiphyllum 

 asparagoides). — This is the well- 

 known " Smilax " of florists. It is a 



white flowers appear in summer. 

 (£ot. Mag. t. 5584.) The variety 

 myrtifolius is recognised by its smaller 

 myrtle-like " leaves." {Oard. Chron 

 1904, xxxvi. 323, f. 146.) 



This species is also grown in 

 thousands in market nurseries in a 

 warm greenhouse. The plants are 

 generally grown in pots, and strong 

 but slender twine is stretched 

 upwards to wires to enable the 

 shoots to climb, and to prevent them 

 from becoming entangled. When 

 long enough the shoots and twine 

 together are cut, and in this way are 

 sent to market to be sold for 

 decorative purposes, and several 

 cuttings may be made from one 

 plant. The compost most frequently 

 used is a mixture of sandy loam and 

 leaf -soil, or a little peat, and pots of 

 various sizes from 5 ins. to 8 ins. 

 are used, according to the object 

 in view. During growth, plenty of 

 water is essential, and frequent 

 syringing also, to keep the foliage 

 bright and glossy. From time to 

 time the slender stems must be 

 placed round the vertical strings, to 

 give them a start in twining round 

 them upwards. 



Fig. 66. — Asparagus medeoloides^ root-stock. (^.) 



S. African plant, with tufts of narrow, 

 spindle-shaped, tuberous roots radiat- 

 ing from a common centre. The 

 slender, thread-like stalks attain a 

 length of 10 to 15 ft., and are furnished 

 with glossy green, ovate, pointed 

 leaves ("cladodes"). The small 



95 



Pig. 67. ~ Asparagus Sprengeri. tuberous roots. 



A. Sprengerl. — An OKnamental 

 species from Natal, having ovoid or 



