Asparagus prostratus Wild Asparagus

Asparagus prostratus, Wild Asparagus, is a rhizomatous, prostrate, dioecious perennial which grows in well-drained rocky or sandy soils such as sea cliffs and sand dunes. It is insect pollinated and after fertilisation female plants produce red fruits that are adapted for dispersal by birds. It is an extremely rare Oceanic species in Britain where it is confined to fewer than 30 populations in southwest England, south Wales and the east coast of Ireland. In some of these populations only one of the sexes is represented and, therefore, sexual reproduction and fruit (and seed) production is not possible. Such populations must survive and persist by vegetative growth alone. In West Glamorgan it is known from 2 sandy, seacliff sites in Gower, both of which are small populations that are relatively stable but also endangered. Careful studies by Quentin Kay and Rosemary John revealed that these populations appear to perennate and persist largely as vulnerable rootstocks which produce new vegetative stems each year. Wild Asparagus can be propagated fairly easily which provides a way of conserving this very significant biodiversity resource.

Native