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 butterflyDoxocopa 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] 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.
Phytolacca dioica
A specimen, more than 80 years old, in Buenos Aires, Argentina
This tree is categorized in the same genus as the North Americanpokeweed. 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.[4]
phytolacca, dioica, ombú, redirects, here, other, uses, ombú, disambiguation, commonly, known, ombú, spanish, umbu, portuguese, massive, evergreen, tree, pokeweed, family, phytolaccaceae, native, pampas, south, america, specific, epithet, suggests, dioecious, . Ombu redirects here For other uses see Ombu disambiguation Phytolacca dioica commonly known as ombu 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 Because it is derived from herbaceous ancestors its trunk consists of anomalous secondary thickening rather than true wood As a result the ombu 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 ombu 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 Phytolacca dioicaA specimen more than 80 years old in Buenos Aires ArgentinaScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsOrder CaryophyllalesFamily PhytolaccaceaeGenus PhytolaccaSpecies P dioicaBinomial namePhytolacca dioicaL SynonymsPircunia dioica Moq Maria molleThis tree is categorized in the same genus as the North American pokeweed The species is also cultivated in Southern California as a shade tree Ombu has been declared as a minor invasive species category 3 in South Africa where it is widely planted 4 Gallery edit nbsp Magenta petioles and leaf venation nbsp Flower nbsp Inflorescence and fruit nbsp Infructescence and seeds MHNTReferences edit 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 Glen Hugh amp Van Wyk Braam 2016 Guide to Trees introduced into South Africa pp 232 233 Struik Nature Cape Town nbsp This tree related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Phytolacca dioica amp oldid 1180521972, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
