Phytolacca americana, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1964, Flora Europaea - Volume 1. Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae, Cambridge University Press : 112

1. P. americana L. , Sp. PI. 441 (1753)

( P. decandra L. ).

A glabrous, perennial herb, somewhat woody at the base. Stems 1-3 m, subdichotomously branched, often red, with decurrent ridges from the leaf-bases. Leaves 12-25 x 5-10 cm, ovate-lanceolate, petiolate. Racemes c. 10 cm, more or less erect. Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth-segments 2- 5 mm, broadly ovate, greenish-white, turning reddish in fruit. Stamens 10. Carpels 10, united except for the styles. Fruit 10 mm in diameter, depressed-globose, purplish-black. Waste places. Cultivated for ornament and for dye from the berries; widely naturalized in S. Europe, and locally or as a casual in C. Europe. [Al Au Az BI Bu Co Cr Cz Ga Gr He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Lu Rm Rs (K) Sa Si Tu.] (United States.)

P. esculenta VanHoutte, Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 4: 39$ (1848), from E. Asia, is reported as more or less naturalized locally in Romania. It is like 1 but has c. 8 stamens and the same number of free carpels.