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PHYTOLACCACEAE POKEWEED FAMILY

John W. Thieret, final revision by Thomas J. Rosatti

[Annual to] per [to tree], generally ± glabrous.
Leaf: alternate, simple, entire, generally petioled; stipules 0 or vestigial.
Inflorescence: spike, raceme [ panicle], [ axillary or] terminal (then often lateral, ± opposite a leaf, by growth of bud axillary to that leaf); bract 1; bractlets 2.
Flower: generally bisexual, radial; sepals [4]5[10], fused at base, generally persistent; petals 0; stamens 4–many, generally on disk, free or fused at base, in 1–2 whorls or not; carpels generally 1–12, [ free] to fused, ovary generally superior, carpels = styles, chambers in number, ovules 1 per chamber, stigmas linear or thread-like.
Fruit: berry [ achene, capsule, drupe, nut, samara].
± 18 genera, 130 species: ± worldwide, especially Am tropics, subtrop. [Rogers 1985 J Arnold Arbor 66:1–37] A broad family concept adopted here, as many as 6 segregate families sometimes recognized by others. —Scientific Editor: Thomas J. Rosatti.

PHYTOLACCA
Perennial [to tree]; axes often ± red to purple.
Flower: sepals 5[8], petal-like; stamens generally 5–30; carpels 5–12, ± fused.
Fruit: berry, chambers 5–12.
Seed: 1 per chamber.
± 25 species: tropics, subtrop, especially Am. (Greek, Latin: plant, crimson dye, from fruit color)

Key to Phytolacca

P. heterotepala H. Walter MEXICAN POKEWEED
WAIF
Plant to 2.5 m.
Leaf: blade < 13 cm, 6 cm wide, lanceolate to ovate; petiole to 5 cm.
Inflorescence: ± open raceme, < 25 cm; peduncle to 5.5 cm; pedicel 2–5 mm.
Flower: sepals unequal (largest ± 2 × smallest in width), 3–4 mm, narrowly to widely elliptic to oblanceolate, white with green ± central area; stamens 12–22, generally in 2 whorls; carpels 8–11, fused.
Fruit: 6–7 mm diam, purple-black.
Seed: 2–2.5 mm, lenticular, black, shiny.
Disturbed areas; 10–60 m. Central Coast (San Francisco); Mexico; alien in Europe. [Howell 1960 Leafl W Bot 9:81–83] Summer–winter [Online Interchange]

Previous taxon: Phytolacca americana var. americana
Next taxon: Phytolacca icosandra

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].

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Bioregions in which taxon occursRed area (if present) is the part of the bioregion lying between the upper and lower elevation limits of the taxon;
markers link to CCH specimen records. If the markers are obscured, reload the page [or change window size and reload]. Yellow markers indicate records that may have georeferencing or identification issues.
map of distribution 1

Chart based on elevation range in Manual and elevations and coordinates of CCH records.
Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria.
Note: About half of the CCH records include both elevation and coordinates.
Map made in collaboration with Scott Loarie. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria.
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CCH collections by month

Duplicates counted once; synonyms included.
Species do not include records of infraspecific taxa.
Blue line denotes Manual flowering time.