Species Detail Forb

Flowers		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Asparagus officinalis - garden asparagus Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Liliaceae
Flowers


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Leaves and flowers Patrick Alexander @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)	Plant Susan Holiday @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)

Forb Plant Description

Origin: Introduced Life Cycle: Perennial
General Desc: Young stout stems later branch into tall fern-like growth. Male and female plants produce flowers. Only the female plant produces fruit (red berries). Male plants produce only spears.
Identification notes: Dioecious perennial herb with tuberous roots and a much branched stem. Leaves are reduced to scales. Fern-like appearance.
Height: 3 to 7 feet

Habitat

Habitat Description: Fields, fence rows, roadsides, riparian and disturbed areas.
Plant Communities: Riparian, Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 500 - 7500 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: Greenish-white to yellowish Shape: Bell-shaped in elongated clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: May - Sep
Description: The bell-shaped flowers are less than 1/4-inch long, with six tepals partially fused together at the base. They are produced singly or in clusters of two or three.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Narrow Leaf Margin: Smooth Leaf Attachment: Alternate Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: No Spines: N
Leaf Description: Stems are erect and much-branched. Leaves are scale-like, papery, and generally have a spur at the base. Stems elongate into fern-like growth.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Reddish
Fruit Type: Berry-like
Fruit Notes: Berries are poisonous.
Seed Notes: Seeds are black, generally 2 to 6 seeds per berry.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer