Phytolacca dioica L.

Family: PHYTOLACCACEAE

Genus: Phytolacca

Catalan common name: Bella ombra.

Spanish common name: Bella sombra. Fitolaca. Ombú.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Dragonera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): South America

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Macrophanerophyte.

Habitats: Garden plants.

Description: A tree that does not usually grow to over 10 m in height, and retains its leaves year round, only losing them if the winter is rather harsh. The most spectacular of characteristic of these trees is their trunk, thick and irregular at the base. The trunk and root base of the adult plant expands in a monstrous fashion. Leaves have large petioles, are simple with an entire margin, some 6 to 12 cm in length, and slightly lustrous on the obverse, are alternate in position and obovate to elliptic to lanceolate. Flowers are not very showy, small and grey in colour, attached to hanging spicules that are almost as long as the leaves. Fruit is a fleshy berry, purple-black in colour.

Observations: The trunk base of the older varieties is broad and twisted, with thick roots that emerge; these are very forceful and can easily uplift any type of structure.