13 
Sensitive Life of Asparagus plumosus. 
A morpho-physiological Study 
by 
Frederick C. Newcombe, 
University of Michigan. 
Introduction. 
Few cultivated plants have become more widely distributed 
than the one from South Africa which forms the subject of the 
study here presented. Asparagus plumosus Baker var. nanus is 
now found thruout the civilized world as a house plant, and 
commercially shares with Myrsiphyllum the honors of extensive 
use for festive decoration. As stated by Miss Conover 1 ), this 
plant is seen in all sizes of growth, but commonly in homes in 
only the low form, 10 to 30 cm, but in hights up to several 
meters in greenhouses. The differences in appearance between the 
low form and the high are due merely to age and the methods 
of cultivation. From the seed rises a slender shoot which attains 
a hight of about 10 cm, and then bends 2 to 5 cm of its apex 
over into the inclined position, at the same time unfolding from 
its uppermost nodes lateral branches of 2 or 3 Orders. The lateral 
branches at first take a position radial to the bearing axis, without 
much regard to the direction of gravitation. Düring the ensuing 
2 weeks, the main tip and the branches pass gradually to the 
horizontal plane, tho V* to Vs of the primary branches may remain 
permanently no farther than 45° from the vertical. The ultimate 
branches, the needles, show but slight regard to the direction of 
gravitation; for they grow out in all directions radial to their place 
of origin, and later show but small movement toward the horizontal 
plane. 
The seedling develops a rhizome of a few millimeters length 
which grows but slowly beneath the ground, and which sends 
p Conover, Behavior of Asparagus plumosus toward Gravitation and 
Light, (Plant World. XVI. 1913.) 
