Climbing Asparagus setaceus plant in west mugirango constituency of Nyamira county, Kenya

Common names for the climbing plant Asparagus setaceus include common asparagus fern, asparagus grass, lace fern, climbing asparagus, and ferny asparagus.  

Although the plant has leaves that resemble ferns, it is not a real fern despite its common name.  t can grow up to several meters in length and has tough, green stems and leaves. The foliage is made up of fine, soft green cladodes that resemble leaves and are up to 7 mm long and 0.1 mm in diameter.   

They grow in clumps of up to 15 from the stem. The stem has sharp, stinging thorns. The 0.4 cm long, greenish-white bell-shaped flowers bloom from spring through autumn, and are followed by tiny green berries that turn black as they mature.