Asphodelus fistulosus

Botanical Description

Asphodelus fistulosus is an annual to short-lived perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock. It produces a cluster of onion-like leaves up to 35cm long and one or more flowering stems up to 70cm tall[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens. Asphodelus fistulosus is a widespread herb that is common, and in some areas weedy in its natural range and has a large extent of occurrence. The population is currently believed to be stable and no real threats are known at present. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. The plant produces large quantities of seed that leads to the rapid establishment of large populations. It has escaped from cultivation and is naturalized across North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, tropical Asia and the British Isles. In the United States, where it is commonly known as Onionweed, it occurs in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. It can be controlled by cultivation since it does not grow well on land that is regularly worked. It has been listed as a noxious weed in Australia[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].