Common name: Inkweed
Phytolacca octandra L. APNI* 
Description: Herb 1–2 m high, often woody at base, stems and inflorescences green to pinkish, glabrous.
Leaves elliptic to ovate or lanceolate, 5–16 cm long, 1–7 cm wide, margins entire, glabrous; petiole 10–40 mm long.
Stalk of inflorescence 1–2 cm long; pedicels in fruiting stage 2–3 mm long, shorter than the fruit. Stamens mostly 7 or 8, all inserted on the outer margin of the disc. Carpels mostly 8.
Fruit depressed-globose, 4–6 mm diam., red turning to black when ripe; to 8-lobed and 8-seeded.
Flowering: spring to summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Weed, usually found in moist areas. Native of trop. Amer.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *NT, *CT, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *NWP, *SWP
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *W.A. *S.A. *N.T.
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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