Asparagus acutifolius, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1980, Flora Europaea. Volume 5. Alismataceae to Orchidaceae (Monocotyledones), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 72

3. A. acutifolius L. , Sp. Pl. 314 (1753) .

Stem up to 200 cm, woody, white or grey. Stem and branches longitudinally striate, papillose or almost smooth. Cladodes 2-8(-10) x 0-3-0-5 mm, subequal, in fascicles of (5-)10-30(-50), patent, strongly spiny. Pedicels 3-7(-8) mm, surrounded by bracteoles at the base. Nodes with (l-)2-4 flowers mixed with the cladodes. Perianthsegments 3-4 mm. Berry 4-5-7-5(-10) mm, black, with 1-2 seeds. 2« = 40. S. Europe, eastwards to Kriti and S.E. Bulgaria. Al BI Bu Co Cr Ga Gr Hs It Ju Lu Sa Si Tu.

Widely eaten as a vegetable although not cultivated. The cladodes are generally shorter in populations from the western than from the eastern part of the Mediterranean region. Plants from coastal areas, mainly from the islands, are sometimes only slightly woody and have thin, scarcely spiny cladodes ( var. gracilis Baker ).