The Mediterranean asparagus is a species with a strictly Mediterranean distribution, which is present in all regions of Italy except in the Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont. It grows in the Mediterranean maquis, sometimes even in the warmest aspects of deciduous woodlands, from sea level to about 1300 m. The species is sporadic on the edge of the Sardinian temporary ponds, in contact with garrigue and maquis vegetation. The young shoots are edible after cooking; after consumption a methyilcaptane is formed, which is excreted in the urine, giving a pungent smell. The fruits are toxic. The genus name probably derives from the Persian 'asparag' (shoot, point), or from the Greek 'speìro' (I sow), which, preceded by the privative alpha, indicates the ease with which the plant is multiplied by vegetative means; the species name refers to the stiff and prickly phyllocladia. Flowering time: August to September.

Italian name(s): (Veneto), Asparago acutifoglio (Italia), Asparago petreo (Toscana), Asparago pungente (Italia), Asparago salvatico (Toscana), Batticristu (Liguria, Porto Maurizio), Corruda (Toscana), Dente de gattu (Liguria, Chiavari), Mondo (Liguria, Montalto), Palazzo di lepre (Toscana), Restina (Campania, Napoli), Restina pe lo presebbio (Campania, Napoli), Rostinella (Campania, Napoli), Spaeghea (Liguria, Leivi), Spaegu sarvaegu (Liguria, Pontedera), Spaighea (Liguria, Leivi), Sparacara (Calabria), Sparaci (Calabria), Sparaco (Calabria), Sparacogna (Sicilia, Etna), Sparaghella (Toscana), Sparagiaja (Toscana), Sparagine (Veneto, Venezia), Sparagio di bosco (Toscana), Sparagio spinoso (Toscana), Sparagu sarvaegu (Liguria, Genova), Sparanata (Abruzzi, Larino), Sparaselle (Veneto, Verona), Sparasine (Veneto, Verona), Sparau salvaticu (Sardegna), Sparau spinosu (Sardegna), Spares salvadegh (Lombardia, Brescia), Spares salvadegh (Emilia-Romagna, Reggio), Sparesar salvadego (Veneto, Verona), Sparesele (Veneto, Verona), Sparesella (Veneto, Venezia), Sparesina mata (Veneto, Venezia), Sparesino (Veneto, Venezia), Spargu (Liguria, Nizza), Spariciu niuru (Sicilia, Etna), Spars sarvaj (Piemonte), Sparsena (Emilia-Romagna, Modena), Sparzeina (Emilia-Romagna, Bologna), Spasru (Sardegna), Spaz (Emilia-Romagna, Romagna), Spazzole (Emilia-Romagna, Modena), Spazzole (Toscana), Sperz salbedgh (Emilia-Romagna, Romagna), Spine (Abruzzi), Spinele (Abruzzi), Spunsin (Liguria, Porto Maurizio), Vignairoela (Liguria, Mortola), Vigneroela (Liguria, Mortola).