Climbing butcher's broom (Semele)
Semele androgyna (L.) Kunth · Family: Asparagaceae
Typical of the laurel forest, generally at 400–1,200 m. Common in many Canary forests but needs good-quality habitat.
Photos
Description
Perennial climbing plant with alternate, glabrous leaf-like cladodes (false leaves), lanceolate to ovate. The flowers, greenish or yellowish, are small and arise on the margins of the cladodes. The fruits are rounded, almost 1 cm in diameter, greenish at first and turning reddish as they ripen.
Propagation and growing
Propagation by seed. No data on the germination of this species were found in the literature consulted. Germination in standard substrate with added humus-rich soil. Germinating this species should not present great difficulties. Sowing is recommended in autumn.
Garden use
Occasionally used as an ornamental in gardens. A climbing plant that can be grown in partial shade or full sun. Suitable for fences and walls. An evergreen species that needs supplementary watering in winter–spring if there is no rainfall.
Notes
A species found only in Madeira and the Canary Islands, where it occurs on all the central and western islands of the archipelago (on Gran Canaria there is also S. gayae, endemic to that island).
Protection status
Annex II of the Order of 20 February 1991 on the protection of wild flora of the Canary Islands.
Potential vegetation
Monteverde…
Source: Cabildo de Tenerife, “Guía de especies vegetales”, CC BY. Translated from Spanish by us.
Districts
Metropolitan area (Santa Cruz and La Laguna) · Acentejo · La Orotava Valley · Daute · Güímar Valley