Botanical Family · Caryophyllales

Phytolaccaceae

Pokeweed Family

4 speciesOrder Caryophyllales4+ well-known plants

The Phytolaccaceae family (Pokeweed Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Caryophyllales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 4 species across 3 genera. Members range from undershrubs to trees. Well-represented genera include Phytolacca, Petiveria and Rivina. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Guinea Hen Weed, Pokeberry Tree and Inkweed.

Browse all 4 species ↓

Representative specimen · Phytolaccaceae

Key pattern

Large, simple alternate leaves on herbs and shrubs; small flowers with a petal-like calyx and no true petals ripen into a fleshy berry, often stacked in a long spike, that stains deep purple-red when crushed.

The intensely staining purple-red juice from ripe berries was historically used as a dye and ink, though the whole plant is toxic if eaten raw in any quantity.

Identify the species

Which Phytolaccaceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Phytolaccaceae species.

Click a node to trace its path · pinch or scroll to zoom · drag to pan

HabitWhat is the plant's growth habit?

Herb

Tree

Family identification method

To check whether a plant belongs to Phytolaccaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.

Learn the full family-identification method

Notable members

Guinea Hen WeedPetiveria alliaceaPokeberry TreePhytolacca dioicaInkweedPhytolacca octandraBaby Pepper, Bloodberry, Coralito, Inkberry, Pigeonberry, Rouge Plant, Small PokeweeedRivina humilis

Families that can look similar

Amaranthaceae

Compare against Amaranthaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Amaranthaceae

Cactaceae

Compare against Cactaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Cactaceae

Polygonaceae

Compare against Polygonaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Polygonaceae

Aizoaceae

Compare against Aizoaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Aizoaceae

All 4 species in PHYTOLACCACEAE

Identify any Phytolaccaceae plant in seconds

Point your camera and SASYA names the species on-device — offline and private.

Download SASYA — Free