Asparagus lignosus white stems grooved

The sharp-pointed spines of Asparagus lignosus, up to 5 mm long and slightly curved, are not to be trifled with.

The white to pale cream stems become grooved as they age. They zigzag at the nodes where side-branches are present on older stems and cladode tufts on young ones. These features contribute a little to plant identification as only some Asparagus stems adopt such a stem shape.

The node is also where the spine emerges, positioned upon the bigger stem immediately below the base of the angled smaller branch and pointing in the same direction (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning, 2007; iSpot).