Phytolacca

Phytolacca
Phytolacca acinosa foliage and fruit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Phytolaccaceae
Subfamily: Phytolaccoideae
Genus: Phytolacca
L.[1]
Species

About 25 to 35 species

Synonyms

Pircunia Bertero ex Ruschenb.[1]

Phytolacca is a genus of perennial plants native to North America, South America and East Asia. Some members of the genus are known as pokeweeds or similar names such as pokebush, pokeberry, pokeroot or poke sallet.[2][3] Other names for species of Phytolacca include inkberry and ombú. The generic name is derived from the Greek word φυτόν (phyton), meaning "plant," and the Latin word lacca, a red dye.[4] Phytolaccatoxin and phytolaccigenin are present (in the leaves, stems, roots, blossoms, berries etc.) in many species which are poisonous to mammals if not prepared properly. The berries are eaten by birds, which are not affected by the toxin. The small seeds with very hard outer shells remain intact in the digestive system and are eliminated whole.[citation needed]

The genus comprises about 25 to 35 species of perennial herbs, shrubs, and trees growing from 1 to 25 m (3 to 80 ft) tall. They have alternate simple leaves, pointed at the end, with entire or crinkled margins; the leaves can be either deciduous or evergreen. The stems are green, pink or red. The flowers are greenish-white to pink, produced in long racemes at the ends of the stems. They develop into globose berries 4 to 12 millimetres (0.2 to 0.5 in) diameter, green at first, ripening dark purple to black.[5][6][7]

  1. ^ a b "Genus: Phytolacca L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1996-09-17. Archived from the original on 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  2. ^ "Poke sallet festival". Archived from the original on 2011-09-07. Retrieved 2011-07-03. Annual Poke Sallet Festival, Harlan, KY
  3. ^ Ed Dinger "Allen Canning Company". International Directory of Company Histories. FindArticles.com. 15 Apr, 2011. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5202/is_2005/ai_n19123469/
  4. ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. Vol. 3 M-Q. CRC Press. p. 2065. ISBN 978-0-8493-2677-6.
  5. ^ Flora of China: Phytolacca
  6. ^ Flora of North America: Phytolacca
  7. ^ MacBride, J. F. (1937). Flora of Peru. Publications of Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series. Volume XIII Part II pp. 553–556. University of Illinois. Full text