Phytolacca octandra

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1: 631. 1762.

Common names: Red inkplant
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 9. Mentioned on page 6.

Plants to 2 m. Leaves: petiole 0.5–3 cm; blade lanceolate to elliptic, to 22 × 7.5 cm, base obtuse to attenuate, apex acute to acute-acuminate, sometimes mucronate. Inflorescences axillary or terminal spikes or spikelike, equaling or shorter than subtending leaves, to 14 cm; peduncle to 3 cm; pedicel absent or to 2 mm. Flowers: sepals 5, white to pinkish or reddish, oblong to ovate, subequal, 2–3 × 1.2–2 mm; stamens (7–)8–10, in 1 whorl; carpels 7–10, connate; ovary 7–10-loculed. Berries greenish, 4.5–6 mm diam. Seeds black, lenticular, 2 mm, shiny.


Phenology: Flowering summer–fall northward, probably year-round southward.
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: 200-1000 m

Distribution

Ariz., Wis., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands.

Discussion

Phytolacca octandra is a species with nearly worldwide distribution. It is closely similar to, and perhaps not specifically distinct from, P. icosandra (J. I. Davis 1985).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Phytolacca octandra"
Mark A. Nienaber +  and John W. Thieret +
Linnaeus +
Red inkplant +
Ariz. +, Wis. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, South America +, Asia +, Africa +  and Pacific Islands. +
200-1000 m +
Disturbed areas +
Flowering summer–fall northward, probably year-round southward. +
Sp. Pl. ed. +
Phytolacca octandra +
Phytolacca +
species +