Phytolacca dioica: Difference between revisions

Phytolacca dioica
	A specimen, more than 80 years old, in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Phytolaccaceae
Genus:	Phytolacca
Species:	P. dioica
Binomial name
	Phytolacca dioica; L.
Synonyms
	Pircunia dioica Moq.; Maria-molle

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 05:07, 17 October 2024

Phytolacca dioica, commonly known as ombú in Spanish and umbu in Portuguese, is a massive evergreen tree in the Pokeweed Family (Phytolaccaceae) native to the Pampas of South America. As its specific epithet suggests, it is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.^[1] The flowers are pollinated by the butterfly Doxocopa laurentia. It has an umbrella-like canopy that spreads to a diameter of 12 to 15 meters (40 to 50 feet) and can attain a height of 12 to 18 meters (40 to 60 feet). This upper growth springs up from a tuberous caudex which, according to Everett "may occupy a circle sixty feet [18 meters] in diameter".^[2] One tree of such a size is mentioned by Anglo-Argentine writer William Henry Hudson in his autobiography " Far Away and Long Ago", which was fifty feet (fifteen meters) girth above the caudex.^[3] Another very large Ombu at Belgrano, Argentina measured ten feet thick ((nine meters girth) "clear of the buttresses"^[4] Because it is derived from herbaceous ancestors, its trunk consists of anomalous secondary thickening rather than true wood. As a result, the ombú grows fast but its wood is soft and spongy enough to be cut with a knife. These properties have led it to be used in the art of bonsai, as it is easily manipulated to create the desired effect. Since the sap is poisonous, the ombú is not grazed by cattle and is immune to locusts and other pests. For similar reasons, the leaves are sometimes used as a laxative or purgative. It is a symbol of Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul and Argentina, and of gaucho culture, as its canopy is quite distinguishable from afar and provides comfort and shelter from sun and rain.

This tree is categorized in the same genus as the North American pokeweed. The species is also cultivated in Southern California as a shade tree. Ombú has been declared as a minor invasive species (category 3) in South Africa, where it is widely planted.^[5]

Gallery

Magenta petioles and leaf venation
Flower
Inflorescence and fruit
Infructescence and seeds – MHNT

References

^ "Phytolacca dioica Tree Record". SelecTree. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
^ Everett, Thomas H. (1968). Living Trees of the World. New York: Doubleday and Co. p. 144.
^ Hudson, William H. (1918). Long Ago, Far Away. New York: E.P. Dutton. p. 5.
^ Christison, Dr. David (1873). "A Journey in Uruguay". Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 13: 273 plus photo plate 6.
^ Glen, Hugh & Van Wyk, Braam (2016) Guide to Trees introduced into South Africa. pp.232-233. Struik Nature, Cape Town

This tree-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Phytolacca dioica Tree Record". SelecTree. Retrieved 2021-05-28.

[2] Everett, Thomas H. (1968). Living Trees of the World. New York: Doubleday and Co. p. 144.

[3] Hudson, William H. (1918). Long Ago, Far Away. New York: E.P. Dutton. p. 5.

[4] Christison, Dr. David (1873). "A Journey in Uruguay". Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 13: 273 plus photo plate 6.

[5] Glen, Hugh & Van Wyk, Braam (2016) Guide to Trees introduced into South Africa. pp.232-233. Struik Nature, Cape Town

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Species of tree}}
-{{redirect|Ombú}}
+{{Redirect|Ombú}}
-{{Unreferenced|type=plant|date=December 2009}}
+{{Speciesbox
-{{speciesbox
-|name = Ombú
 |image = Museo Larreta ombú.jpg
-|image_caption = A specimen in [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina, which is over 80 years old
+|image_caption = A specimen, more than 80 years old, in [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina
 |genus = Phytolacca
 |species = dioica
 |authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
+|synonyms = Pircunia dioica [[Moq.]]<br />Maria-molle
 }}
-'''''Phytolacca dioica''''', commonly known as '''ombú''', is a massive evergreen [[tree]] native to the [[Pampa]] of [[South America]]. It has an umbrella-like [[Canopy (forest)|canopy]] that spreads to a diameter of 12 to 15 meters (40 to 50 feet) and can attain a height of 12 to 18 meters (40 to 60 feet). Because it is derived from [[herb]]aceous ancestors, its trunk consists of [[Secondary growth#Anomalous secondary growth|anomalous secondary thickening]] rather than true [[wood]]. As a result, the ombú grows fast but its wood is soft and spongy enough to be cut with a knife. These properties have led it to be used in the art of [[bonsai]], as it is easily manipulated to create the desired effect.  Since the sap is poisonous, the ombú is not grazed by cattle and is immune to locusts and other pests. For similar reasons, the leaves are sometimes used as a laxative or purgative. It is a symbol of [[Uruguay]] and [[Argentina]], and of [[gaucho]] culture, as its canopy is quite distinguishable from afar and provides comfort and shelter from sun and rain.
+'''''Phytolacca dioica''''', commonly known as '''ombú''' in Spanish and '''umbu''' in Portuguese, is a massive evergreen [[tree]] in the Pokeweed Family (''[[Phytolaccaceae]]'')  native to the [[Pampa]]s of [[South America]]. As its [[specific epithet]] suggests, it is [[dioecious]], with male and female flowers on separate plants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/phytolacca-dioica|title=''Phytolacca dioica'' Tree Record|work=SelecTree|access-date=2021-05-28}}</ref> The flowers are pollinated by the [[butterfly]] ''[[Doxocopa]] laurentia''. It has an umbrella-like [[Canopy (forest)|canopy]] that spreads to a diameter of 12 to 15 meters (40 to 50 feet) and can attain a height of 12 to 18 meters (40 to 60 feet). This upper growth springs up from a tuberous [[caudex]] which, according to Everett "may occupy a circle sixty feet [18 meters] in diameter".<ref>{{cite book | last= Everett | first= Thomas H. | date=  1968 | title= Living Trees of the World | location= New York | publisher=  Doubleday and Co. | page= 144 }}</ref> One tree of such a size is mentioned by  Anglo-Argentine writer [[William Henry Hudson]] in his autobiography " Far Away and Long Ago", which was fifty feet (fifteen meters) girth above the caudex.<ref>{{cite book | last= Hudson |first=  William H. | date= 1918 | title= Long Ago, Far Away | location= New York |  publisher= E.P. Dutton |  page= 5 }}</ref> Another very large Ombu at [[Belgrano]], Argentina measured ten feet thick ((nine meters girth) "clear of the buttresses"<ref>{{cite journal |last= Christison | first= Dr. David |  date= 1873 |title= A Journey in Uruguay | journal= Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh |  volume= 13 | page= 273 plus photo plate 6}}</ref> Because it is derived from [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] ancestors, its trunk consists of [[Secondary growth#Anomalous secondary growth|anomalous secondary thickening]] rather than true [[wood]]. As a result, the ombú grows fast but its wood is soft and spongy enough to be cut with a knife. These properties have led it to be used in the art of [[bonsai]], as it is easily manipulated to create the desired effect.  Since the [[sap]] is poisonous, the ombú is not grazed by cattle and is immune to locusts and other pests. For similar reasons, the leaves are sometimes used as a laxative or purgative. It is a symbol of [[Uruguay]], [[Rio Grande do Sul]] and [[Argentina]], and of [[gaucho]] culture, as its canopy is quite distinguishable from afar and provides comfort and shelter from sun and rain.
-The herb is categorized in the same genus as the [[North America]]n [[pokeweed]]. The species is also cultivated in [[Southern California]] as a shade tree.
+This tree is categorized in the same genus as the [[North America]]n [[pokeweed]]. The species is also cultivated in [[Southern California]] as a shade tree. Ombú has been declared as a minor invasive species (category 3) in South Africa, where it is widely planted.<ref>Glen, Hugh & Van Wyk, Braam (2016) Guide to Trees introduced into South Africa. pp.232-233. Struik Nature, Cape Town</ref>
 ==Gallery==
 <gallery>
 Phytolacca dioca (1).JPG|[[Magenta]] petioles and leaf venation
-Phytolacca dioica, blom, Elandsfontein, b.jpg|<center>Flower</center>
+Phytolacca dioica, blom, Elandsfontein, b.jpg|{{center|Flower}}
-Phytolacca dioica (8671566611).jpg|<center>[[Inflorescence]] and fruit</center>
+Phytolacca dioica (8671566611).jpg|{{center|[[Inflorescence]] and fruit}}
-Phytolacca dioica MHNT.BOT.2009.13.32.jpg|<center>[[Infructescence]] and seeds – [[MHNT]]</center>
+Phytolacca dioica MHNT.BOT.2009.13.32.jpg|{{center|[[Infructescence]] and seeds – [[MHNT]]}}
 </gallery>
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 {{Taxonbar|from=Q937654}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Phytolacca|dioica]]
 [[Category:Trees of Argentina]]
 [[Category:Trees of Uruguay]]
+[[Category:Dioecious plants]]