Phytolacca dioica L.
Diagnostic description:
A deciduous or evergreen, dioecious tree up to 15 m tall. Trunk greyish, with a broad, often spreading and buttressed base. Leaves ovate to lanceolate or elliptical, entire, up to 12 cm long. Flowers about 5 mm across, with 5 perianth segments, greenish-white, in drooping cylindrical racemes 8 to 15 cm long. Fruit about 1 cm across, berry-like, black when ripe.
Distribution:
Local: Fairly common in Gibraltar. Found in various places around Gibraltar where they have been planted, especially Europa Flats.
Global: Native of South America, but found throughout most of the Mediterranean where it is planted as an ornamental tree and for the shade it provides.
Ecology:
Flowers from April, May, June, July, August to September (October).