Phytolacca americana L.

Glabrous, erect, branched, semi-succulent herb to c. 3 m high, with abundant white raphides on lvs, stems and fls (appearing as white dots, especially when dry). Stems thick, softly woody. Petioles 1–3 cm long, rather stout. Lamina 6–30 × 2–12 cm, ovate, ovate-oblong to ± elliptic; base cuneate; apex acute or mucronate. Racemes erect, to c. 20 cm long at fruiting, much less at flowering; peduncles and pedicels slightly to moderately granular-papillose, whitish at first, eventually pink or rose. Fls ☿, moderately densely arranged. Bracts 3–4 mm long, linear-subulate; bracteoles much smaller. Perianth 5–7 mm diam.; tepals accrescent, 2–3 mm long, ± broad-ovate, persistent, white or greenish white at anthesis, rarely pale pink, becoming pink or rose. Stamens 10, almost = perianth; filaments and anthers white. Ovary (7)–10–(11)-carpellate, green with white raphides. Fr. c. 10 mm diam. when fresh, ± depressed globose, with prominent grooves when dried, glossy black, succulent with dark reddish juice. Seed 2.5–3 mm diam., subspherical, glossy black.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Apr.