Asparagus aethiopicus.
One of the many species known as Asparagus fern it is naturalised in Queensland.
It, and the cultivar A. aethiopicus ‘Sprengeri’ or A. sprengeri, have become weeds.
(The cultivar is not the same as Asparagus densiflorus although often seen as such in horticulture.)
The Basket fern or ground asparagus is a sprawling plant with stems around 2 m long.
They can scramble over other vegetation but do not actually climb.
Stems may be twisted and the multiple side branches are usually over 4 cm long.
The true leaves are reduced to scales and in each axil are 1 to 5 (8) cladodes.
The flattened cladodes are 15 to 25 mm long and 2 to 3 mm wide.
The tips can be round or have a short point and only the midvein is obvious.
There are inconspicuous spines 5 to 10 mm long.
Inflorescences are racemes with 5 to 10 bisexual, white to pink, bell-shaped flowers.
There are 6 tepals, 6 stamens and a superior ovary with 3 locules.
The fruit are red berries around 6 mm across with 1 to 3 seeds.
J.F.
