Ink weed
Phytolacca octandra, Fam. Phytolaccaceae
An erect much branched short-lived perennial herb with stout stems to 2m tall, often with a reddish tinge.
| Weed Category: |
Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
|
| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Herb |
| Family: | Phytolaccaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Alternate Alternate simple, elliptic to ovate, 35-150 x 10-80mm, tapered at both ends, green turning red, usually glabrous though lower surface sometimes has sparse hairs along veins, margins entire. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
White, Purple, Green |
| Flower description: | Small greenish-white becoming purplish, arranged in dense axillary racemes, 70-140mm long and becoming longer as fruits develop. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Black, Purple |
| Fruit: | Fleshy |
| Fruit description: | Berries flattened globose, 4-8 mm diameter, purplish-black when mature with reddish- purple juice and 8 black seeds 2mm in diameter. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | Toxic if ingested, potential allergen, irritant sap, toxic or irritant to domestic pets, toxic to native animals |
| Origin: | South America |
| Notes: | Spread by: birds. Invades/threats: rainforest margins, open forest, pastures and disturbed areas. Notes: known to occur on Clarke Range but it doesn’t appear to be widespread in this region. All parts of the plant are poisonous; sap can cause skin irritation. Environmental weed. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
