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Phytolacca dioica

L. (1762)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Phytolaccaceae Genus: Phytolacca

bella sombra, ombu

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

O'ahu Potentially naturalizing
Kaho'olawe Only found in cultivation
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Pollinators

Notes

  • Roots, leaves, berries, and seeds contain toxins that affect the digestive and nervous system as well as harm red blood cells

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl. ed. 2: 632 (1762)

Other References

Staples & Herbst 2005:452 (DESCR); Frohlich & Lau 2012:43 (NEWNAT/O, DESCR)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Phytolacca dioica UH campus Preserved_Specimen Pearsall, G.A. Oahu BISH 1950-02-14
2 Phytolacca dioica Honolulu, Vineyard St., HSPA Preserved_Specimen MacDaniels, L.H. 451 Oahu BISH 1927-01-17
3 Phytolacca dioica Honolulu, Kapalama Hts., Kamehameha Girls' School Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. Oahu BISH 1932-12-09
4 Phytolacca dioica Captain Cook; Greenwell Ranch pasturelands below the highway Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. Hawaii BISH 1990-01-14
5 Phytolacca dioica Lualualei Naval Magazine, near experimental planting site Dry lowland non-native valley floor. Growing with Leucaena leucocephala, Cenchrus ciliaris. Preserved_Specimen Male tree (dioecious species), to 20 ft tall, trunk bases quite thickened. Flowers with green sepals and most showiy element being white stamens. OED 2010120801 Oahu BISH 2010-12-08
6 Phytolacca dioica UH campus, near Sinclair Library Preserved_Specimen Tree with spreading crown, soft wood, furrowed, light colored bark, white flowers Herbst, D.R. 689 Oahu BISH 1967-11-05
7 Phytolacca dioica Lualualei Naval Magazine, near experimental planting site Dry lowland non-native valley floor. Growing with Leucaena leucocephala, Cenchrus ciliaris. Preserved_Specimen Female tree (dioecious species) to 20 ft. tall, trunk bases quite thickened. Developing fruits green, immature. OED 2010120801 Oahu BISH 2010-12-08
8 Phytolacca dioica SW of Lua Makika Experimental tree planting plot Preserved_Specimen 3-5' trees Clarke, G. 218 Kahoolawe BISH 1980-04-25
9 Phytolacca dioica Ahupuaa of Kealakekua From a one time Kealakekua Ranch makai pastureland, now purchased and proposed for golf course development by Royal Crest Development Corporation. Preserved_Specimen Robinson, R. Hawaii BISH 1990-09-27
10 Phytolacca dioica South Kona, lower western slopes of Mauna Loa near its boundary with southern Hualalai Collected on parcel of land now used for cattle grazing and other ranching activities. Preserved_Specimen Very large tree located at the top of a gully. Only tree found in the area. Fruits ranging in color from green to yellow. Paraso, K. Hawaii BISH 2002-03-27
11 Phytolacca dioica Lualualei Valley, U.S.Naval Magazine, Waianae arid Leucaena scrub Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 3076 Oahu BISH 1984-09-28
12 Phytolacca dioica UH campus Preserved_Specimen 5 m spreading tree. Flowers greenish, filaments white Fosberg, F.R. 10914 Oahu BISH 1935-06-05
13 Phytolacca dioica UH campus Preserved_Specimen flowers - not bad odor Pearsall, G.A. Oahu BISH 1949-10-01
14 Phytolacca dioica Honolulu: Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus; between Sinclair Library and Gartley Hall Preserved_Specimen Spreading, multi-trunked tree of 5 m. The perianth parts are citron and the stamens are white Lau, J. 1251 Oahu BISH 1985-07-24
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