1	"Flowers solitary or clustered"	2
1	"Flowers in racemes or condensed, umbel-like inflorescences"	5
2	"Flowers solitary or paired; tepals usually pinkish on the outside; ovaries with 1-2 ovules in each cell"	"Asparagus flagellaris"
2	"Flowers in clusters of 3-8; tepals whitish outside; ovaries with 5-8 ovules in each cell"	3
3	"Flowering branches without cladodes; inflorescences always axillary, congested; flowers soon falling"	"Asparagus leptocladodius"
3	"Flowering branches usually with cladodes; inflorescences axillary and/or terminal; flowers persistent"	4
4	"Terminal branches often puberulous, without spines; cladodes 3-12 mm long, rounded or angled, stiff"	"Asparagus africanus"
4	"Terminal branches branches glabrous, always with spines; cladodes 15-26 mm long, flattened or upper surfaces grooved, flexible"	"Asparagus scaberulus"
5	"Cladodes linear, flattened, 15-85 mm long, 1.25-3 mm wide"	"Asparagus falcatus"
5	"Cladodes subulate or only slightly flattened, 8-35 mm lon, less than 1 mm wide"	6
6	"Racemes simple; pedicels jointed above the middle or at the top"	7
6	"Racemes branched or condensed and umbel-like; pedicels jointed at the middle or below"	8
7	"Young branches grey, scabrous to puberulous; styles 0.75-1 mm long; anthers black"	"Asparagus aspergillus"
7	"Young branches pale brown, smooth, glabrous; stules about 0.5 mm long; anthers cream to yellowish"	"Asparagus buchananii"
8	"Flowering branches usually with cladodes; racemes lax, 1.5-10 cm long; flowers persistent; bracts 2-4 mm long"	"Asparagus racemosus"
8	"Flowering branches without cladodes; racemes condensed, umbel-like, 1-2.5 cm long; flowers soon falling; bracts 1-1.5 mm long"	"Asparagus leptocladodius"