Exotic Plant ID

[AndyTh]

This plant has turned up in a friend's garden for the second year running; dies back in winter, fruit segmented like a blackberry, and held on pink panicle (most missing from this specimen). Photo taken in a sink with bar of soap for scale. Plant height at the moment 100cm. Location 1 mile from the Severn in Worcestershire.

Any Botanists out there to identify this? Local botanist can't identify it (biut not Solanum sp) so a teaser for you.

 

[Webby]

The leaves look like a rhododendron or laurel?

 

[GaryB]

Need a better pic. Not sure whats' happened to the one you've posted. Looks like it's been taken through some sort of filter.

 

[Millet]

Need a better pic. Not sure whats' happened to the one you've posted. Looks like it's been taken through some sort of filter.

It looks like a computer animated image , a better picture would definitely help.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Where's the soap (No nun jokes please!)

 

[Millet]

Where's the soap (No nun jokes please!)

You mean prison jokes, bend over pick the soap up bitch..

 

[Finman]

.
Seems to me a black orchid.
.

 

[Finman]

.
Seems to me black orchid, or a violet, which snail has eaten.
.

 

[maddydog]

Andy Warhol 'flowers'?

 

[jonathan cowley]

View attachment 13650

This plant has turned up in a friend's garden for the second year running; dies back in winter, fruit segmented like a blackberry, and held on pink panicle (most missing from this specimen). Photo taken in a sink with bar of soap for scale. Plant height at the moment 100cm. Location 1 mile from the Severn in Worcestershire.

Any Botanists out there to identify this? Local botanist can't identify it (biut not Solanum sp) so a teaser for you.

Could it be American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana),try posting another photo of it.

 

[Tim.S]

Definitely Phytolacca americana. Tim - not a botanist but a horticulturalist.

 

[AndyTh]

Thanks to you all for your informative or humorous responses. I've Googled phytolaccus Americana but that has single berries like an elderberry and red stems with pointed leaves. Phytolaccus is correct, but a check on acinosa rather than Americana is the exact match for the specimen. This is the Indian phytolaccus, which has been known in the UK for some time. Hunt over, thank you.

 

[GaryB]

Still don't think it is Indian Poke as that has white flowers. Also the leaves from the photo look much more fleshy. We need a better quality pic to be certain.

 

[bpmurray]

Good old phytolacca - magical weight loss berries, although that's definitely very unscientific.