Three new species of Asparagus ( Asparagaceae ) from South Africa , with notes on other taxa

Three new species of Asparagus L. are described from South Africa: Asparagus elephantinus S.M.Burrows, A. hirsutus S.M.Burrows and A. sylvicola S.M.Burrows; and the past confusion between Asparagus acocksii Jessop and A. lynetteae (Oberm.) Fellingham & N.L.Mey. is discussed.

Distribution and habitat: Asparagus elephantinus is currently known from the Olifants River Valley of Limpopo Province, from Penge to the Abel Erasmus Pass (Figure 2), where it occurs mainly on dolomite or the quartzitic outcrops adjacent to the dolomite forma tions.This very robust plant, with 3 m long stems, grows on rocky ledges, or among rocks in leaf litter.It is prin cipally confined to vegetation type SVcb 25, Poung Dolomite Mountain Bushveld (Mucina & Rutherford 2006).This asparagus is widespread in its area, and is well protected since it favours rocky ledges and inacces sible cliff faces.It is surprising that such a large species of Asparagus has remained undetected for so long in such a well-visited area as the Abel Erasmus Pass.
Diagnostic characters and affinities: Asparagus elephantinus is similar to A. densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop in that they both have flattened cladodes.with both the cladodes and branches clearly papillate-ribbed.However. A. elephantinus differs from A. densiflorus (Table 1).

Diagnostic characters and affinities:
although Aspara gus hirsutus is compared with A. capensis L. var.capensis and A. minutiflorus (Kunth) Baker, the taxon dif fers significantly in the following details: A. hirsutus is an erect foxtail, with straight stems; the tubers are ellip soid; the main stem is covered in white hairs; the spines are densely hairy; the leaf scales are glabrous with entire margins; the pedicel is hairy and is articulated in the top half; and the tepals have a ridge of hairs along the median stripe.A. capensis var.capensis is a muchbranched shrub up to 1.5 m high; tubers absent; the main stem is glabrous; the spines are sparsely hairy, becom ing glabrous: the branches end in a spine; the leaf scales are hairy with a lacerate margin; the flower is sessile; and the tepals are puberulous throughout.Although A. minutiflorus has tubers and a foxtail growth form, the branches typically arch or sprawl along the ground.It differs from A. hirsutus in that the cladodes are filiform; the hairs are glandular and golden brown; the spines have a few hairs at the base; the leaf scales have lacerate margins; and the pedicel is glabrous and is articulated in the lower half.
The known distribution of A. hirsutus is a distinguish ing character: whereas A. capensis var.capensis only occurs in the Cape Prov ince and southern Namibia. A. minutiflorus has a wider distribution, occuring in dry areas of Mpumalanga.Limpopo.Swaziland.KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mozambique.Etymology'.Asparagus hirsutus is not easily confused with any other Asparagus species, as the extreme hairi ness of the plant, (hence the specific epithet), the fox tail growth form, and its limited distribution render it unmistakeable.
Distribution and habitat: Asparagus sylvicola was first noted growing in forested areas in the Barberton Mountains in Mpumalanga and in the Lubombo Mountains in Swaziland (Figure 2).A number of spec imens previously attributed to A. setaceus (Kunth) Oberm.are now included in this species, extending the distribution to include the forested areas of north eastern South Africa, from Haenertsberg (Limpopo) to Siteki (Swaziland).The plant is widespread in these areas, although seldom common and, since much of the remaining habitat is protected, so therefore is this spe cies.
Diagnostic characters and affinities: Asparagus syl vicola may be confused with A. setaceus (Kunth) Jessop but the most distinctive difference is that the branches of A. sylvicola radiate out at right angles and the clad odes arise in all directions, forming a compact, springy nonaligned tangle of cladodes, whereas A. setaceus has its branches and cladodes arranged in a horizontal plane.The cladodes of A. sylvicola are falcate, and in some specimens bow-shaped, whereas the cladodes of A. setaceus are straight to slightly curved.The tubers on mature plants of A. sylvicola resemble small long sweetpotatoes (spindle-like), and are in-line in the main roots, whereas the tubers of A. setaceus are ovoid to ellipsoid and are borne laterally.
Cultivation: Asparagus sylvicola has been cultivated as a container plant for several years, and makes a very attractive horticultural subject.