Compilation
Petiveria alliacea

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Name

Identification
Petiveria alliacea Juss. [family PASSIFLORACEAE ]
Related name
  • Petiveria alliacea
Common name
  • Guinea-hen-weed, Flora of North America Vol. 4
  • guinea-hen weed (Dalziel)., Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4
  • ojú sajú (JMD; Verger) (NIGERIA, YORUBA), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4
  • anamú, Flora of North America Vol. 4

Flora

Entry for Petiveria alliacea Linnaeus [family PHYTOLACCACEAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 4,
Names
Petiveria alliacea Linnaeus [family PHYTOLACCACEAE], Sp. Pl., 1: 342. 1753
Information
Stems erect, 3–20 dm, pubescent to glabrate. Leaves: stipules 2 mm; petiole 0.4–2 cm; blade elliptic to oblong or obovate, to 20 × 7 cm, base acute to cuneate, apex acuminate or acute to obtuse or rounded. Inflorescences often drooping distally, 0.8–4 dm; peduncle 1–4 cm; pedicel 0.5–2 mm. Flowers slightly imbricate to rather remote; sepals white or greenish to pinkish, linear-lanceolate to linear-oblong, 3.5–6 mm; ovary tomentose. Achenes striate, subtended by persistent bracts and perianth, ± appressed to rachis, 8–12 mm. 2n = 36, 72.
Phenology
mar-may (spring), jun-aug (summer), sep-nov (fall)
Altitude range
0–40 m;
Distribution
Mexicowarm regions of the New World.USA Fla.USA Tex.
Discussion
J. W. Nowicke (1968) called plants with “4-hooked” fruits var. alliacea, those with “3- or 6-hooked” fruits, var. tetrandra (Gomez) Nowicke. This distinction fails in the flora area.
The leaves of Petiveria alliacea have an alliaceous odor when crushed. The plant taints the milk and meat of animals that graze on it and may also induce abortion. In some areas of tropical America, it serves as a vampire repellent of unrecorded efficacy.

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