Prickly asparagus
Asparagus aphyllus
Family: Asparagaceae
What it is like
A tall plant. It can be 1 m tall. The stems are woody and have many branches. They are smooth and green. The flattened green stems are unequal and occur in clusters of 3-7. They are 10-20 mm long and have spines at their tips. Plants are separately male or female. The flowers are in groups of 3-6. They are 3-4 mm long. They are yellowish green. They have a sweet scent. The flowers are mixed with the leaves. The fruit is a berry which is black when ripe. It is 7-8 mm across.
There are between 160-300 Asparagus species.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in rocky habitats and scrub.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, Crete, Europe, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Palestine, Portugal, Sicily, Spain
How it is used for food
The slightly bitter young shoots are eaten raw or cooked. They are used in vegetable dishes and soups.
Edible parts
Shoots, vegetable
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Ajram, Halyn, Sparaciu niuru, Sparagi, Sparangia