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

Phytolacca acinosa, Phytolacca americana, Phytolacca bogotensis, Phytolacca heterotepala, Phytolacca icosandra, Phytolacca octandra

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