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Classification, origin and diffusion
Division: Spermatophyta
Subdivision: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledones
Family: Phytolaccaceae
Plant native to the prairies of South America, from southern Brazil to Argentina. In Europe it is used as an ornamental plant in areas with a Mediterranean climate.
Impressive specimen of Phytoka or Arboreal Turkish grape - Phytolacca dioica L. (photo Geographer)
Phytolacca or Turkish Arboreal grapes - Phytolacca dioica L. (photo www.dipbot.unict.it)
General characteristics
Size, trunk and bark
It can reach 20 meters in height; the trunk, very enlarged at the base, where it presents radical emergencies that easily develop shoots; the rind is smooth or slightly wrinkled, light gray in color.
leaves
The leaves are oval or elliptical, hairless, shiny, leathery, dark green.
Reproductive structures
Dioecious plant: the flowers are produced in pedunculated racemes, often pendulous; the male ones have a greenish-white calyx and up to 30 stamens; the female ones have a larger greenish calyx and a conspicuous segmented ovary. The characteristic looking fruits are small clusters of black berries.
Uses
In Europe it is used in parks and road trees. In the Botanical Garden of Cagliari there is an imposing specimen of more than 130 years. Numerous species of the genus Phytolacca are plants used for medicinal purposes because they contain powerful inflammatories and proteins that have an antiviral action.
