Phytolacca octandra, also known as inkweed or red inkplant, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the pokeweed family Phytolaccaceae, originating from the Neotropical realm of the Americas.
Inkweed is a member of the family Phytolaccaceae, growing up to 1abbr=offNaNabbr=off. The leaves measure 6-15 cm in length.[1]
Phytolacca octandra was first described by Carl Linnaeus in the second edition of Species Plantarum in 1762.[1] The name Phytolacca is derived from the Greek word phyton ("plant") and the Latin word lacca ("red dye"), while Octandra is a Latin name referring to the eight stamens of the plant.[2] The species is sometimes considered a synonym for Phytolacca icosandra.[3]
The species is found globally in subtropical and tropical regions worldwide.[3]