Phytolacca octandra

Phytolacca octandra, also known as inkweed or red inkplant, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the pokeweed family Phytolaccaceae, originating from the Neotropical realm of the Americas.

Phytolacca octandra
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Phytolaccaceae
Genus:	Phytolacca
Species:	P. octandra
Binomial name
Phytolacca octandra L.
Synonyms[1]
Phytolacca americana var. mexicana L.

Description

Inkweed is a member of the family Phytolaccaceae, growing up to 1 metre (3+1⁄2 feet). The leaves measure 6-15 cm in length.^[2]

Taxonomy

Phytolacca octandra was first described by Carl Linnaeus in the second edition of Species Plantarum in 1762.^[2] The name Phytolacca is derived from the Greek word phyton ("plant") and the Latin word lacca ("red dye"), while Octandra is a Latin name referring to the eight stamens of the plant.^[3] The species is sometimes considered a synonym for Phytolacca icosandra.^[4]

Distribution

The species is found globally in subtropical and tropical regions worldwide.^[4]

Gallery

• 
  Herbarium specimen
• 
  Flowers
• 
  Leaves
• 
  Ripe fruit (centre) and unripe fruit (right)