 Photo Courtesy of K. Hubeny |
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| Common Name(s) | Pokeweed | ||||
| Scientific Name | Phytolacca americana | ||||
| Family | Phytolaccaceae | ||||
| Location/Vegetative Zone | Thicket (Bike Path) | ||||
| Flowering Period | |||||
| Identifying Characteristics | Grows up to 12 feet in height | ||||
Description
- Leaves are alternate with coarse texture and moderate sized pores.
- Flowers are borne in elongated clusters, perfect and regular with four to five sepals that are white or green, no petals.
Medicinal/Edible Uses
- Berries
- Safe for making pies ONLY when cooked
- Still not recommended!
- Tea made by Native Americans for rheumatism, arthritis, dysentery
- Native Americans poulticed berries on sore breasts
- Used by colonists to improve cheap wine
- Safe for making pies ONLY when cooked
- Roots
- Poulticed for rheumatism, neuralgic pains, bruises
Cultural Uses
- Early colonists made dye from the berries
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