Pokeweed; Poke Salad

Phytolaccaceae

LIFE FORM: Perennial

NATIVITY: Eastern North America

VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS:

A robust, herbaceous bush that can grow to 6 feet tall in a single season; large, pale green leaves are simple and alternate, about 6 inches long by 3 inches wide; thick, hollow stems are a striking reddish color; massive taproot is highly toxic.

FLOWERS:

Numerous racemes of small, white flowers are produced from July through September.

FRUIT/DISPERSAL AGENTS:

Conspicuous, juicy berries turn purple-black and are non-poisonous; readily eaten and dispersed by birds; highly attractive to children.

ECOLOGICAL PREFERENCE:

Grows best in deep, moist soils in full sun; very persistent once established; readily colonizes disturbed ground. Prefers neglected residential and commercial landscapes; minimally maintained public parks and open space; vacant lots and rubble dump sites; freshwater wetlands, ponds and streams; chain-link fence lines; unmowed highway banks and median strips with frequent salt applications; railroad tracks with ballast substrate.

ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION:

Food and/or habitat for wildlife; erosion control on slopes; stream and river bank stabilization.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Young shoots in the spring, after boiling, are popular in the south, where it is known as "poke salad"; the mature foliage and root is toxic and used in traditional medicine.