Phytolacca dioica

Dioecious pokeweed (Phytolacca dioica)

The dioecious called pokeweed (Phytolacca dioica), also Ombubaum, Spanish or English ombú " Elephant Tree" ( translated as " Elephant Tree ") is a plant that belongs to the genus of pokeweed (Phytolacca ).

The dioecious pokeweed grows in the pampas of South America.

Features

The dioecious pokeweed grows as evergreen tree that reaches the plant height 12-25 meters, the size of the umbrella-like canopy can be 12 to 15 meters. The dioecious pokeweed grows quickly, but - as with tropical trees usual - with no annual rings. The stem is soft enough to cut it with a knife. The light gray bark is fissured with age.

As the juice of the plant is poisonous, it is shunned by herbivores. In addition, the dioecious pokeweed against locusts and other pests is immune.

The alternate arranged, petiolate leaves are leathery, simple, elliptical, oval to ovate, 6-15 cm long, glabrous, with conspicuous clearly highlighted, brightened midrib and parallel leaf veins. The evergreen to semi- evergreen leaves turn yellow before the leaves fall only, purple later.

The dioecious pokeweed, in contrast to most species of the genus, dioecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( dioecious ). In hanging, sometimes erect, racemose inflorescences are many flowers. The radial symmetry, five petals are unisexual. There are only five whitish bloom yet. The male flowers contain 20 to 30 stamens. The female flowers are smaller, having a diameter of up to 1.5 cm; they have a globular ovary, six to seven pen and ten staminodes. Are formed zehnlappige berries.

Importance

The dioecious pokeweed is a symbol of Uruguay, Argentina and the Gauchos. Your canopy is identifiable from afar and it offers protection from the sun and rain. He is also called Bella Sombra ( = beautiful shade ).

Swell

• Photos and information in Baumkunde.de