Compilation
Asparagus petitianus

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Name

Identification
Isotype of Asparagus petitianus A.Rich. [family ASPARAGACEAE ] Verified by Not on sheet, Asparagus racemosus Willd. [family ASPARAGACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Not on sheet,
Related name
  • Asparagus racemosus
  • Asparagus abyssinicus
  • Asparagus petitianus

Flora

Entry for Asparagus racemosus Willd. [family ASPARAGACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (2006) Author: SEBSEBE DEMISSEW
Names
Asparagus racemosus Willd. [family ASPARAGACEAE], Sp. Pl. 2: 152 (1799); Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or.: t. 2056 (1853); Baker in J.L.S. 14: 623 (1875); Engler, Hochgebirgsfl. trop. Afr.: 169 (1892); Baker, F.T.A. 7: 434 (1898); Jessop in Bothalia 9: 72 (1966); F.W.T.A. 3: 93 (1968); Blundell, Wild Fl. E.Afr.: fig. 246 (1987); U.K.W.F.: 311, t. 140 (1994); Sebsebe Demissew in Fl. Somalia 4: 26 (1995) & Fl. Eth. & Erit. 6: 71 (1997). Type: India orientalis, in herb. Willdenow (B-W!, holo.)
Asparagopsis floribunda Kunth [family ], Enum. Pl. 5: 98 (1850), nom. illegit . Type as for A. racemosus.
Asparagus petitianus A.Rich. [family ASPARAGACEAE], Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 320 (1851). Type: Ethiopia, Tigray, Mt Semajata, Schimper I: 374 (K!, iso.)
Asparagus racemosus Chiov. var. longicladodius [family ASPARAGACEAE], in Malpighia 34: 530 (1937). Type: Ethiopia, Gojjam, Moyat in Agaumedir, Taschdjian 273 (FT!, holo.)
Protasparagus racemosus (Willd.) Oberm. [family ASPARAGACEAE], in S. Afr. Journ. Bot. 2: 244 (1983) & in F.S.A. 5(3): 45 (1992)
Information
Climbing shrub to 7 m high; branches terete, lined or angled, glabrous with spines 2– 3 mm long in young parts to 5– 8 mm long in older parts. Cladodes in fascicles of 2– 6, subulate to flattened, 8– 35(– 40)× 0.5– 0.7 mm. Inflorescence racemose, 1.5– 19 cm long, glabrous; racemes solitary or fascicled, branching; the terminal parts of racemes with umbellate fascicles of 4– 6 flowers; bracts ovate, concave, 1.5– 4 mm long, glabrous, membranous, sometimes falling quickly; pedicel 4– 8 mm long (elongating to 10 mm long in fruit), articulated at the middle or below. Tepals greenish white to white, 2.5– 3 mm long; stamens shorter than the perianth parts with anthers orange to red; ovary obovate, 3-locular with 6– 7 ovules in each locule; style 1– 1.25 mm long with 3-branched stigma. Berry green turning red at maturity, 8– 10(– 13) mm in diameter, commonly 1-seeded, sometimes 2– 3-seeded. 
Range
DISTR. U 1– 4; K 1, 3– 6; T 1– 4
Altitude range
(350– )1550– 2900 m
Distribution
UGANDA Acholi District Imatong Mountains, Agoro, no date cited, Eggeling 1166!;KENYA Northern Frontier District Mt Kulal, 8 Oct. 1947, Bally 5516!;TANZANIA Masai District Ngorongoro Crater, Empakai, 22 June 1973, Frame 159!;UGANDA Toro District Ruwenzori, June 1893– 94, Scott-Elliot 7846!;UGANDA Mbale District Elgon, Busano, 21 Dec. 1926, Snowden 1036!KENYA Londiani District Tinderet Forest Reserve, 12 July 1949, Maas Geesteranus 5474!;KENYA Narok District Nasampolai valley, 12 Oct. 1969, Greenway & Kanuri 13841!TANZANIA Handeni District Sindeni village, ± 10 km W of Sindeni, 26 Nov. 1979, Hedberg et al. TMP 240!;TANZANIA Ufipa District Kawa R. gorge, 30 Dec. 1956, Richards 7403!
Distribution (external)
; Sudan
Ethiopia
Eritrea
Somalia
Zimbabwe
Asia
Notes
The species resembles A. buchananii, but is easily distinguished by the following character combinations: A. racemosus has pedicels articulated at the middle or below; style 1– 1.25 mm long; inflorescence commonly branched and spines on main branches not more than 8 mm long. In contrast, A. buchananii has pedicels articulated at the apex (base of perianth), inflorescence unbranched and spines on main branches 10– 30(– 40) mm long.

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