Phytolacca octandra L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Plateau North of deep gorge on Mevumodzi tributary, Chimanimani Mts.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Upstream from Nhamadzi River crossing, Chimanimani National Reserve

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Gorongosa

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Synonyms:
Common names:	Inkberry (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Probably introduced
Description:	A bushy perennial, up to 1 m. Leaves alternate, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 3.5-13.5 cm long, hairless, margin entire; petiole up to 2 cm long. Inflorescences in terminal or lateral, leaf-opposed racemes, 4-14 cm long. Flowers bisexual, white to yellowish-green; stamens 8 in one whorl. Fruit depressed globose, mostly 6-8-lobed, 5-8 mm in diameter, hairless, dark purple to black when ripe.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	octandra: with 8 stamens
Habitat:	In disturbed places and as a weed of cultivation. Occasionally along the margins of forest.
Altitude range:	1200 - 2100 m
Flowering time:	Oct - Mar
Worldwide distribution:	Native to South America but now naturalized throughout the tropical regions of the world.
Mozambique distribution:	MS,M
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Thursday 2 June 2022
Literature:	Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 67. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 52 - 53. (Includes a picture). Stannard, B.L. (1988). Phytolaccaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(1) Pages 165 - 167. (Includes a picture). Van Wyk, B. & Malan, S. (1988). Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Region Struik, Cape Town Pages 170 - 171. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 97.

Other sources of information about Phytolacca octandra:

Our websites:

Flora of Zimbabwe: Phytolacca octandra

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Phytolacca octandra
African Plant Database: Phytolacca octandra
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Phytolacca octandra
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Phytolacca octandra
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Phytolacca octandra
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Phytolacca octandra
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Phytolacca octandra
JSTOR Plant Science: Phytolacca octandra
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Phytolacca octandra
Plants of the World Online: Phytolacca octandra
Tropicos: Phytolacca octandra
Wikipedia: Phytolacca octandra