American pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
Phytolacca americana, commonly known as American pokeweed, is a large herbaceous perennial native to North …
Mez's pokeweed (Phytolacca meziana)
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey
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Phytolacca meziana - Species Profile & Distribution
Found in the highland forest environments of Guatemala, the wild perennial Phytolacca meziana remains a rare and specialized member of the Phytolaccaceae family. This species was first described by the botanist Hans Walter in 1909.
Like other members of its genus, it is adapted to moist tropical soils and understory conditions, though it remains poorly documented in cultivation.
Taxonomy
- ∟ царство Plantae
- ∟ division Tracheophytes (Vascular Plants)
- ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
- ∟ Angiosperms
- ∟ mesangiosperms (Core angiosperms)
- ∟ eudicots
- ∟ core eudicots
- ∟ Superasterids
- ∟ order Caryophyllales
- ∟ family Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed family)
- ∟ genus Phytolacca (Pokeweed)
- ∟ species Phytolacca meziana (Mez's pokeweed)
Morphology
The plant exhibits the characteristic features of its family. Below are the key structural features of Phytolacca meziana:
- Stems and habit: A large perennial herb or subshrub up to 2 meters tall with erect, branched stems that often acquire a reddish or purplish tint.
- Leaves: Alternate, simple, entire, on short, sturdy petioles. The leaf blade is smooth, elliptical or lanceolate in shape with an acute apex.
- Flowers: Small, bisexual, arranged in dense racemes. The role of petals is played by 5 rounded sepals of greenish-pink or white color, which darken as the fruit matures.
- Ovary and gynoecium: The most important specific feature is the presence of predominantly 8 fused carpels, which is reflected in the synonymous name Phytolacca octogyna.
- Fruits: Juicy, rounded berries, turning glossy dark purple or black when ripe. Each berry is divided into 8 distinct segments, each containing a single seed.
Interesting facts
This species was named by H. Walter, likely honoring the German botanist Carl Christian Mez, who was a prominent specialist in Neotropical plant families.
It is restricted to Guatemala, making it an important part of the regional biodiversity of Central America's montane ecosystems.
Geography of distribution
- Guatemala
Technical Information
Taxon Synonyms: Phytolacca icosandra var. octogyna, Phytolacca octogyna
See also
Ombu
Phytolacca dioica
Phytolacca dioica, known as the ombú, is a massive South American plant with a broad …
Indian pokeweed
Phytolacca acinosa
An upright perennial herb from the Himalayas and East Asia, notable for its rigid spikes …
Button pokeweed
Phytolacca icosandra
A tall neotropical perennial herb in the pokeweed family bearing dense cylindrical spikes of flowers …