Phytolacca [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
Phytolacca [family PHYTOLACCACEAE], Sp. Pl., 1: 441. 1753 Gen. Pl. ed., 5, 200. 1754
Information
Herbs [shrubs or trees], perennial. Leaves alternate. Inflorescences axillary, terminal, or leaf-opposed racemes or spikes, 5–100-flowered, proximalmost pedicels sometimes bearing more than 1 flower. Flowers: sepals 5–8; stamens (7–)8–25(–30), sometimes in 1–2 whorls; carpels 6–12(–30), distinct or connate at least proximally; if connate, ovary 6–12-loculed; style and stigma 1 per carpel. Fruits either oblate berries, style persisting in ring at apex, or group of lenticular achenes. Seeds 6–12(–30) per berry or 1 per achene.
Distribution
North AmericaMexicoWest IndiesCentral AmericaSouth AmericaEurasiaAfricaPacific IslandsAustralia.
Discussion
Phytolacca dioica Linnaeus, the ombú, a fast-growing, wide-spreading, evergreen, unisexual South American tree to 25 m, is sparingly cultivated in the warmest regions of the flora.
Yet to be written is the last word on the taxonomy and nomenclature of our introduced taxa of Phytolacca.
Phytolacca [family PHYTOLACCACEAE]
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