Asparagus (Asparagaceae)

The Asparagaceae now contains seven previously recognized families, until 2003 species in this family were found in the Liliaceae family but have now all been contained under Asparagaceae. Now including 114 diverse genera, and approximately 2900 individual species worldwide. Although genetically related these plants can display a wide variety of differing morphological characteristics. However, most members, especially those widely available in cultivation are herbaceous perennials with long, slender, parallel veined leaves that  forming tight rosettes at the plant’s base or at the end of the stem. Many within the family , such as the common Chlorophytum comosum (Spider plant) are geophytes - rooting from thick bulbs, corms or rhizomes.