Phytolacca japonica ("Maruminoyamagobo")

Japanese name: マルミノヤマゴボウ
Scientific name: Phytolacca japonica

[Overview]
A perennial up to 1 m tall, found in the mountains.
It has a burdock-like root underground.
The stem is thick and branched.
Leaves are simple and alternate, oblong with a pointed tip, hairless and entire.
An erect raceme emerges at the stem tip.
The flowers are 6 mm across and have no petals; the petal-like calyx is pale pink and conspicuous.
The fruit is a spherical berry about 8 mm across, ripening to purplish black.
The seeds are black and glossy, with concentric lines.

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