About Phytolacca japonica Makino
Phytolacca japonica is a species of flowering plant that belongs to the pokeweed family, Phytolaccaceae. It is native to eastern Asia, specifically occurring in China and Japan, where it ranges from the Kantō region westward. Its natural habitats include forest edges, ravines, and areas alongside riversides. Phytolacca japonica is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows to a height of 1.5 meters. Its stem is thick and fleshy, and turns red as the plant ages. It produces erect racemes of flowers that are initially pale pink, and change to a reddish color as they mature. Its flowering period runs from June to September. Its ripe fruits are purplish-black. This species can be told apart from the visually similar Phytolacca acinosa by its fused carpels, and from Phytolacca americana by its denser, more erect inflorescence.
