About Asparagus africanus var. africanus
Asparagus africanus var. africanus can grow as a spiny shrub up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) tall, or as a climbing plant with stems reaching up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) long; stems up to 12 meters (39 feet) long have also been recorded. This plant has a rhizomatous root system that allows it to reshoot, with multiple stems growing from a central crown. Cladodes, which are modified branchlets, grow in bunches at the leaf scales, and each cladode ends in a sharp point. The fern-like appearance of these cladodes gives the species one of its common names: climbing asparagus fern. The plant produces white flowers that grow in clusters, just like its foliage. Flowers have three sepals and three similarly shaped petals, with six white filaments that bear yellow anthers. In the Southern Hemisphere, flowers occur between August and December. The color and scent of the flowers attract insect pollinators. After flowering, the plant produces round fruits that turn red when ripe; when ripe fruits shrivel, they reveal a single black seed. Mammals and birds may eat these fruits, which helps the plant disperse its seeds. Fruits can be present at any time of year when conditions are suitable. The berries contain toxic compounds such as furostanol, and consumption may cause pain and vomiting. This variety is widely distributed across most of Africa, as well as the Arabian Peninsula and India. It grows in a broad range of habitats, from rainforests and grasslands to semi-deserts. It can grow rapidly; when growing as a climbing plant, it can quickly dominate the canopy and outcompete other native species. It was introduced to Australia as an ornamental plant, and has since become naturalized in parts of the country. The new shoots of the plant are harvested and eaten as a vegetable, and are considered a good source of fiber and various vitamins. The roots are also boiled and eaten, while the fruits are mainly consumed only during periods of famine. Stems and underground parts of the plant are used to treat a wide range of health conditions across multiple cultures. Research has found that components from the plant improve immune system function in laboratory animals, which helps explain its widespread traditional use. For example, it is considered a valuable medicinal plant by people living in Ethiopia. The Zay people of Ethiopia apply cladodes to the skin to treat skin lesions, and feed roots and cladodes to equines to treat geregelcha, a disease that causes continuous mucus discharge from an animal's nose. Root tubers mixed with milk are used after childbirth to help expel the afterbirth, and rural women in Uganda use the plant as a form of birth control. In South Africa, it is used to treat headaches, sexually transmitted infections, stomach aches, sore throats and malaria, among other conditions. Compounds isolated from the roots have been found to be effective anti-parasitic and anti-protozoan agents, including activity against Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly form of human malaria. Methanolic extracts from the roots have also been shown to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.
