prostrate asparagus

A. prostratus is a perennial species. It has a prostrate growth habit and needle like leaves that can reach up to 2.4 cm long. A. prostratus stems grow from rhizomes. It produces small, yellow, bell-shaped flowers. Berries start off green and begin to turn red between July and October. The berries are toxic to humans and cause diarrhoea and vomiting.

This species is endemic to Europe, where it has been recorded on the coastlines of: Belgium, the Channel Islands, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. It is believed the species may be extinct in Germany.

A. prostratus is a dioecious species, with plants being either male or female. Colonies of this species therefore require both male and female plants for successful sexual reproduction. Plants will flower from May and June. Flowers are pollinated by insects. Once pollinated plants will produce berries. Berries are eaten by animals such as birds, which help disperse the seeds. A. prostratus can also clone itself asexually. Stems sprout from rhizomes that spread horizontally beneath the soil, which helps the plant reproduce through vegetative reproduction. This allows the species to reproduce when either male or female plants are absent.