Phytolaccaceae

Abstract

The Phytolaccaceae, in the order of Caryophyllales, is a family of Dicotyledoneae flowering plants, consisting of 5 genera with approximately 33 species, mainly distributed in South Africa and tropical and subtropical America. Plants are herbaceous, and rarely trees. Leaves are simple, alternate, entire, stipules tiny, or exstipulate. Flowers are bisexual or unisexual, actinomorphic, arranged to racemose or paniculate. Bracts are usually present, with 2 bractlets. Tepals are 4 or 5, free or connate at base, leaflike or petaloid, and persistent. Stamens are 4–5 or more, alternate to perianths, or numerous in irregular arrangement. Filaments are free or connate at base. Anthers are 2-loculed and dorsifixed. Ovary is superior, carpels 1 to numerous, free, or connate. Ovule is 1 per carpel. Styles are isomerous with carpels. Fruit is a berry or drupe, fleshy, rarely a capsule. Seeds are globose and reniform. Embryo is in the periphery of the copious mealy or oily endosperm. Only one species, Phytolacca americana Linn., is illustrated in this chapter.