Herbs with alternate leaves and perfect flowers, resembling in most respects the plants of the next Order, but the ovary is composed of several carpels in a ring, forming a berry in fruit. Only one Genus and one Species.

Phytolacca

Tourn. Pokeweed. P. deean'dra, L. (Common Poke.) Calyx of 5 rounded white sepals. Ovary green, of ten 1-seeded carpels united in a ring. Styles 10, short and separate. Stamens 10. Fruit a crimson or purple 10-seeded berry. Stem very tall and stout, smooth. Flowers in long racemes opposite the leaves. - Sandy soil.