In splitting up the old Lily family into smaller families of more closely related plants, taxonomists defined the Asparagus, Agave, Beargrass, and Brodiaea families, listing them as distinct families sensu stricto ("in the strict sense"), or lumping them together as subfamilies within a conglomerate Asparagus family, sensu lato ("in the wider sense"). Taxonomists currently favor the latter, but unfortunately, the conglomerate family lacks any obvious patterns for intuitive identification. Separate descriptions are provided for each of the subfamilies here to clarify identification. Similar to other lily-like families, members of the Asparagus family typically have 3 sepals and 3 petals that are similar in size and color, plus 6 stamens and a 3-parted pistil (Thomas, Tanpa tahun).
1. Asparagus densiflorus Jessop.
CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom: Plantae
Divisio: Magnoliophyta
Classis: Liliopsida
Ordo: Liliales
Familia: Asparagaceae
Genus: Asparagus
Species: Asparagus densiflorus Jessop.
Common name: Ekor kucing
Asparagus densiflorus Jessop.
(HIdayat & Abdurrrahman, 2017)
CHARACTERISTIC
Plant looks like a cat’s tail
BENEFIT
Ornamental plant
Fruits, Leaves, and Flowers of Asparagus densiflorus Jessop.
(Michels, 2009)
DESCRIPTION
Asparagus densiflorus is a scrambling, slightly woody plant with upright or trailing branches up to 1 m long. The appearance of the plants varies enormously and has led to the naming of a large number of cultivars or forms. The best known forms belong to the so-called emerald ferns of the Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri' group. These plants form large cushions with long, arching stems more or less densely covered with dark green, needle-like leaves. The plants of this group can be used as groundcovers in shade as well as in full sun, or in large containers or hanging baskets. The cultivars 'Cwebe' and 'Meyersii' form more upright plants, particularly 'Meyersii', which looks very different, with its compact cat's tail-like fronds.
Asparagus densiflorus flowers are small, most often white or pale pink and are very sweetly scented. The flowers are not very noticeable, as they are half hidden by the foliage and do not last long. They flower for about two weeks during the summer season, in South Africa as well as in the Northern Hemisphere. The flowering of the plants can be rather erratic, with the plants having a good flowering year on average only once every three years. The small flowers are followed by showy bright red berries, which each have one large black seed in them. The berries are attractive to birds and may be spread by them (Jamieson, 2002).
DITRIBUTION
California, New Jersey, and Washington, Asia
LOCATION
UPI Isola Building
STATUS
Exist
2. Asparagus sp. L.
CLASSIFICATION
Kingdon: Plantae
Divisio: Magnoliophyta
Classis: Liliopsida
Ordo: Liliales
Familia: Asparagaceae
Genus: Asparagus
Species: Asparagus sp. L.
CHARACTERISTIC
Needle-like cladodes
BENEFIT
Medicinal and edible plant
DESCRIPTION
Asparagus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Asparagoideae. It comprises up to 300 species. Most are evergreen long-lived perennial plants growing from the understory as lianas, bushes or climbing plants. The best-known species is the edible Asparagus officinalis, commonly referred to as just asparagus. Some other members of the genus, such as Asparagus densiflorus, are grown as ornamental plants.
DISTRIBUTION
Asia, Africa, Australia
LOCATION
STATUS
Exist
3. Asparagus racemosus Willd.
CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom: Plantae
Divisio: Magnoliophyta
Classis: Liliopsida
Ordo: Asparagales
Familia: Asparagaceae
Genus: Asparagus
Species: Asparagus racemosus Willd.
CHARACTERISTIC
Small needle-like phylloclades that are uniform and shiny green
BENEFIT
Medicinal plant
DESCRIPTION
Woody perennial climbers; stem often spinescent, terete, green; rootstock with fascicled tuberous roots. Cladodes from the axils of scale leaves in clusters of 2-6, 0.8-1.5 x 0.1-0.3 cm, linear-falcate, slightly triquetrous, base narrow, apex acute. Racemes 2.5-5 cm long, slender, axillary, solitary or clustered. Flowers bisexual, 5-6 mm across; bracts triangular; pedicel c. 1 mm long. Perianth-lobes 6, white, c. 3 x 0.5 mm, oblong, acute. Stamens 6, adnate to the perianth lobes; filaments subulate. Ovary 2-3 mm long, globose to slightly 3-gonous, 3-celled; ovules 2 per cell; stigma 3, recurved. Berry 4-6 mm diam., globose, purple on ripening. Seeds 2-5, c. 2 mm across, globose.
DISTRIBUTION
Eastern Asia, China, Japan, India
LOCATION
Zone 1 of UPI Botanic Garden
STATUS
Exist
REFERENCES
Michels, Leo. 2009. Asparagus densiflorus Jessop. Retrieved from:
Hidayat, Topik & Abdurrahman, Eman. 2017. Keanekaragaman Tumbuhan Biji di Kampus UPI
Bandung. Bandung. UPI Press.
Jamieson. 2002. Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop. Retrieved from:
http://pza.sanbi.org/asparagus-densiflorus
Thomas. Tanpa tahun. Aspargaceae Familia. Retrieved from: https://www.wildflowers-and
weeds.com/Plant_Families/Asparagaceae.htm
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