|
Keys at Flora of North America
. Inkweed (Phytolacca octandra) is very similar to American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) and Venezuelan pokeweed (Phytolacca rivinoides). These species can be distinguished by the following differences:
-Inkweed (Phytolacca octandra) flowers are borne on very short stalks (i.e. pedicels) only 2-3 mm long and usually have 7-8 stamens (upto 10 in one whorl as per Keys at Flora of North America). Their ‘petals’ (i.e. tepals or perianth segments) turn red and persist on the developing fruit. The mature fruit are relatively small (4-6 mm across) and usually have eight slight lobes (i.e. they usually contain eight seeds).
-American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) flowers are borne on relatively long stalks (i.e. pedicels) 5-10 mm long and usually have 10-11 stamens (from 10 to 22 in two whorl as per Keys at Flora of North America). Their ‘petals’ (i.e. tepals or perianth segments) turn red and persist on the developing fruit. The mature fruit are relatively large (5-11 mm across) and have ten or eleven slight lobes (i.e. they contain ten or eleven seeds).
-Venezuelan pokeweed (Phytolacca rivinoides) flowers are borne on relatively long stalks (i.e. pedicels) 7-12 mm long and have 9-14 stamens. Their ‘petals’ (i.e. tepals or perianth segments) fall off as the fruit begin to mature. The mature fruit are relatively small (5-6 mm across) and have 12-16 slight lobes (i.e. they contain 12-16 seeds).
. Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. (China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Taiwan, Tibet, North Korea, South Korea, Japan (I), India, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Myanmar [Burma] (Kachin), Vietnam, Germany (I), Croatia (I), Czech Republic (I), Slovakia (I), USA (I) (Wisconsin (I)) as per Catalogue of Life)
Phytolacca dioica L. (Colombia (Antioquia, Quindo, Risaralda, Tolima), Argentina (Buenos Aires, Chaco, Corrientes, Distrito Federal, Entre Rios, Formosa, Misiones, Salta, Santa Fe, San Luis, Tucuman), Brazil (Parana, Santa Catarina), Paraguay (Amambay, Caaguazu, Canindeyu, Central, Cordillera, Guaira, Paraguari), Uruguay (Montevideo), Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela (Aragua, Delta Amacuro, Distrito Federal), NE-Brazil, WC-Brazil (Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul), SE-Brazil (Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro), Bolivia (Cochabamba, La Paz), Mexico (I), Spain (I), Gibraltar (I), France (I), Malta (I), Sicily (I), Greece (I), Morocco (I), Algeria (I), Tunisia (I), Libya (I), Madeira (I), Canary Isl. (I) (La Palma Isl. (I), Gran Canaria (I)), Italy (I), Australia (I) (Queensland (I), New South Wales (I), Victoria (I)), East Aegaean Isl. (I), Rhodos (I), Java (I), Sri Lanka (I), Philippines (I), S-India (I), Nepal (I), trop. Africa (I), South Africa (I) (widespread), Namibia (I), Botswana (I), Sudan (I) as per Catalogue of Life)
Phytolacca octandra L. (Mexico to S. Tropical America: Argentina Northwest, Bolivia, Brazil Northeast, Colombia, El Salvador, Galápagos, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela; Introduced into: Arizona, Cape Provinces, Cook Is., Eswatini, Free State, Hawaii, Jawa, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malaya, Mozambique, New Caledonia, New South Wales, New Zealand North, Norfolk Is., Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Sri Lanka, Sumatera, Victoria, Western Australia, Wisconsin, Zimbabwe as per POWO)
. Phytolacca (Phytolaccaceae) page with images of species in efloraofindia : 1 post by 1 author.
Pl. go through Phytolacca (Phytolaccaceae) page with images of species in efloraofindia. If you find any incorrect identification, pl. let us know. If anybody can send images of other species of this genera (for incorporation in the website), if any, or can identify unidentified images, it will be really nice.
|
Phytolacca
Updated on February 21, 2026