Emerging weed

Commonly called sicklethorn, one of the asparagus ferns from South and west Africa, Sri Lanka, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean. Thin leaves on long thin stems with very fine thorns. Prefers semi-shaded situations, likes regular moisture, very string roots. Meaning: Sickle-shaped. Pronunciation: fal-KAY-tus. This weed is starting to be seen more and more often in our waterways, having escaped from gardens and naturalising in the shady riparian zones.

Photo: Robert Whyte

Foliage. Photo: Robert Whyte