Paraphyletic species relationships are problematic for taxonomic purposes but may represent true evolutionary phenomena in which new species form from within a larger species complex. Across the Asparagus phylogeny, there are multiple instances of new species forming via divergent population(s) from within a larger species complex. In many cases branching patterns within such complexes are polytomous. Here, we explore the implications of these results from a recent phylogenomic analysis of the genus Asparagus, focusing on a clade containing Asparagus exuvialis Burch. - a species widespread across southern Africa. Using over 1,700 nuclear loci in phylogenomic analyses, A. exuvialis is paraphyletic with two other distinctive species that are more narrowly distributed.