PHYTOLACCA AMERICANA

Family and Genus:- See- PHYTOLACCACEAE

Common Names:- American pokeweed

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Phytolacca (Gr) Plant-dye, reference to the fruit sap.

Americana (L) From the Americas, American.

General description:- Short-lived, hairless, perennial herb, slightly woody at the

base.

Stem:-

1) 1-2 m, erect, robust, sparingly branched, often tinged red, with decurrent ridges

from the leaf bases.

Leaves:-

1) 12-25 x 5-10 cm, short-petiolate, elliptical to oblong-lanceolate, entire.

Flowers:-

1) Hermaphrodite, ± regular, on short, patent pedicels in a rather lax raceme, 10-15

cm long and erect in flower, pendent in fruit.

2) Perianth-segments, 2·5 mm, broadly ovate, greenish-white, turning reddish in

fruit.

3) Sepals, 2-3 mm, greenish-white.

4) Stamens, 10.

Fruit:-

1) Berry-like, Sub-globose, 8-10 mm in diam.

2).Carpels,10, 1-seeded, purplish-black and juicy when mature.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Roadsides, streambanks, olive groves and ruderal habits. 0-400 m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece. Native to North America. Naturalized in

Crete at low altitudes mainly in the moister, north-western part of the island.

Flowering time:- May-Aug, sometimes later.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis