Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Key to species of subgenus Asparagus
ASPARAGUS 291
1. Flowers solitary or fasciculate 2
- Flowers in racemose or umbel-like, condensed inflorescences 5
2. Inflorescence axillary and/or terminal, 2–10 flowers in a cluster; perianth
white; ovary 3-locular with 5–8 ovules in each locule 3
- Inflorescence axillary, flowers solitary or 2 in a cluster; perianth pink,
purple or white; ovary 3-locular with 1 ovule in each locule 4. A. flagellaris
3. Young branches with ridges, scabrid; final branches and cladodes not in
the same plane; cladodes subulate, thick; flowers axillary and/or terminal,
3–10 together; berry 4–6 mm in diameter 4
- Young branches without ridges, smooth; final branches and cladodes in
the same plane; cladodes fine; flowers usually terminal, 2–3 together; berry
7–10 mm in diameter 3. A. setaceus
4. Terminal branches glabrous to puberulous, commonly without spines; cladodes
3–12 mm long, rounded or angled, stiff; perianth segments 4–5 mm long
1. A. africanus
- Terminal branches glabrous and always with spines; cladodes 15–26 mm long,
flattened or with grooves above, flexible; perianth segments c. 3 mm long
2. A. scaberulus
5. Cladodes subulate or only slightly flattened, 8–35 ×