Asparagus lignosus

Asparagus lignosus, commonly known as the fire asparagus, in Afrikaans as the katdoring (cat thorn), and previously botanically as A. compactus and Protasparagus compactus respectively at different times, is a perennial shrublet that grows to 80 cm in height.

Its spindly branches and spines are nearly white with tufts of bright green to dark green, cylindrical false leaves (cladodes). The specific name, lignosus, is a Latin word meaning woody. The leaves become 1 cm to 2 cm in length.

Creamy flowers appear in spring with rounded petals, orange anthers and some green inside the base. The spherical fruits with minute spiny tips are initially green, becoming red when ripe.

The species distribution is in the Western Cape near the coast and slightly inland from Lamberts Bay and Vanrhynsdorp to the Little Karoo and Mossel Bay. 

The habitat is rocky slopes in sandy and loamy soil in fynbos, renosterveld and shrubland. The habitat population is deemed near threatened early in the twenty first century, due to farming, as well as urban and coastal development (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; iNaturalist; iSpot; https://redlist.sanbi.org).