Phytolacca
Sp. Pl. 1: 441. 1753.
Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 200. 1754.
| Taxon | Illustrator ⠉ | |
|---|---|---|
 | Agdestis clematidea Petiveria alliacea Phytolacca americana | Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi |
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 America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Eurasia, Africa, Pacific Islands, Australia
Discussion
Species ca. 25 (6 in the flora).
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.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Carpels distinct; fruits achenes | Phytolacca acinosa |
| 1 | Carpels connate, at least in proximal 1/2; fruits berries | > 2 |
| 2 | Inflorescences spikes or spikelike; pedicel absent or 0.5- 2(-4) mm | > 3 |
| 2 | Inflorescences racemes; pedicel 2-13 mm | > 4 |
| 3 | Inflorescences longer than subtending leaves; stamens, at least in middle and proximal flowers, (8-)10-22(-30), in 2 whorls | Phytolacca icosandra |
| 3 | Inflorescences equaling or shorter than subtending leaves; stamens (7-)8-10, in 1 whorl | Phytolacca octandra |
| 4 | Stamens usually in 2 whorls; sepals strikingly unequal, largest about 2 times as wide as smallest; California | Phytolacca heterotepala |
| 4 | Stamens usually in 1 whorl; sepals ± equal or subequal; not restricted to California | > 5 |
| 5 | Inflorescences open racemes; pedicel 3-13 mm; widely distributed | Phytolacca americana |
| 5 | Inflorescences dense racemes; pedicel 2-4 mm; Maryland | Phytolacca bogotensis |