Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

290 ASPARAGACEAE
Distribution and
classification
Reproduction
Use
Conservation
Key to subgenera
A. horridus (not in Ethiopia), and the short spines from
the main stem or on branches as shown in A. suaveolens
from East and southern Africa. The inflorescences are
axillary or terminal. The flowers are erect with stamens
fused to the perianth segments. Ovary 2–3 locular with
1–10 ovules in each locule. Fruit a berry, globose, usually
red or white flushed purple when mature.
Nine species in two subgenera are known to occur
in Ethiopia and Eritrea, but two extra are included (A.
aspergillus and A. buchananii) as they are found close
to the border and are thus expected to occur in Ethiopia.
Two species, A. officinalis L., a non­spiny plant with unisexual
flowers and A. aethiopicus L. cultivar ‘Sprengeri’
(A. sprengeri Regel) characterised by the drooping, loose
and spreading branches are known in cultivation.
The flowers of many species are open and unspecialized.
They produce nectar and sometimes a strong scent, which
strongly suggests pollination by insects. But so far the
pollination process has not been documented. The berries
are certainly bird dispersed.
The most commonly cultivated species for its edible
young shoots is A. officinalis which is available in most
super­markets throughout the world. The species has
been cultivated since ancient Greek times. Some species
are cultivated as ornamental plants.
Among the indigenous species, only one, A. leptocladodius
is near-endemic, ocurring in Bale and Sidamo floristic
regions in Ethiopia and adjacent areas in Kenya, Somalia,
and Djibouti. None of the Asparagus species seem to be
threatened so far.
1. Cladodes subulate, linear or filiform; flowers usually erect, rarely pendulous;
filaments free 1. subgen. Asparagus
- Cladodes flattened, leaf-like (phylloclade); flowers pendulous; filament
connivent, forming a tube around the ovary.
2. subgen. Myrsiphyllum (12. A. asparagoides)