Asparagus officinalis L.
Family: Liliaceae*

Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

*sometimes this genus is placed in the Asparagaceae

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

garden asparagus

Primary Disseminule Type

fruit (not likely to be directly dispersed to grape bunches), seed

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Fruit a berry with 1–4(9) seeds, globose, red, 6–8 mm diameter.

Seed globose to angular, somewhat compressed, 3–3.5 mm diameter x 2–2.5 mm thick. Surface dull to semi-glossy, cobblestone-like base texture, irregularly ridged and wavy (especially around the hilum), black.

Hilum ± round to elliptic, flat to mildly protruding, light brown, 0.2–0.4 mm across.

Embryo linear, embedded in hard semi-transparent endosperm.

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI