2/28/2024 0 Comments Pokeweed imagesPokeweed can be a weed in landscape beds and nurseries. Numerous birds use the fruit as a food source. They are very noticeable and contain a lot of red juice. The fruit are green at first and turn purple to almost black as they mature. The small white flowers grow on reddish-stemmed racemes (clusters of lowers grown on short pedicels). Pokeweed produces flowers from July into early fall. A pokeweed taproot can be over a foot long and 4 inches thick. The new shoots that emerge each year from the taproot resemble seedlings, but are thicker and clustered together before extending laterally. The seedlings have alternate leaves that are reddish on the underside. New leaves and roots, along with the berries, should not be eaten because they are toxic having said that, years ago parts of the plant were used for medicinal use. Mature plants resemble shrubs or young trees. The name “phytolacca” means red dye plant.Common pokeweed ( Phytolacca decandra) is an herbaceous perennial plant that can grow up to 9 feet tall. The fruits are important food for mockingbirds, northern cardinals, and mourning doves. Regional names for the plant include poke, poke sallet, poke salad, and pokeberry. Young leaves and stems when properly cooked are edible and provide a good source of protein, fat and carbohydrate. The entire plant is poisonous causing a variety of symptoms, including death in rare cases. This species may flower year around in southern states, and May to October in northern states. It is also found in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick in Canada. It is found from Washington south to California then east through Arizona and New Mexico to the Atlantic coast, north to Nebraska, Minnesota and Maine. It is found at forest edge, in fence rows, under power lines, pastures, old field, forest openings, and other similar areas. It produces purple-black berries that are about 6 to 11 millimeters (1/4 to 2/5 inches) diameter with 6 to 12 seeds.Īmerican pokeweed is a species of open or edge habitats, especially those where birds are able to roost. Flowers have 5 sepals, no petals, about 10 stamens. The flowers are usually white to greenish, but may be pinkish or purplish. Bruised or crushed leaves and stems have a somewhat acrid odor.įlowers are borne in pinkish racemes, linear clusters with each flower on a short stem. The leaves are usually 20 to 35 centimeters (7 3/4 to 14 3/4 inches) long by 10 to 18 centimeters (about 4 to 7 inches) wide. The leaves are alternate, thin, green on top, and lighter below. The often pinkish-red, smooth and partially hollow stem is rigid to flexible, not strong, and up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) diameter. One or more stems arise from a tuber-like taproot that can become large over several years. This pokeweed is usually 1.8 meter to 3.0 meters (about 6 to 10 feet) tall, but may in some instances reach 21 feet tall. ![]() A few tropical species have been introduced unintentionally in imported products or intentionally as ornamentals. Two native species of pokeweed are recognized in North America, one found across much of North America and one found in California and the southwestern U.S. ![]() The genus Phytolacca contains about 25 species which range from herbs to shrubs to tall trees. About 16 genera and 100 species are recognized in the family. Members of the family are found around the world in tropical and subtropical distribution with a few species that occur in temperate areas. American Pokeweed ( Phytolacca americana L.)Īmerican pokeweed is a member of the Phytolaccaceae, the Pokeweed family. Taylor.Īmerican pokeweed ( Phytolacca americana) plant at edge of wood lot. Taylor.Īmerican pokeweed ( Phytolacca americana) close up of flower. USDA PLANTS Database.Īmerican Pokeweed ( Phytolacca americana) ripe fruit on raceme.
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