pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMON NAMES:
American nightshade
cancer jalap
coakum
garget
inkberry
pigeon berry
pocan bush
poke root
pokeweed
redweed
scoke
red ink plant
poke root
poke
American pokeweed
pigeonberry
pigeon berry
pokeberry
common pokeweed

 

"Poke" is thought to come from "pocan" or "puccoon," probably from

the Algonquin term for a plant that contains dye.

 

SCIENTIFIC SYNONYMS: There are no scientific synonyms for
Phytolacca americana.

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Pending confirmation.

 

TAXONOMY: The currently accepted scientific name of pokeweed
is Phytolacca americana L. The infraspecific taxonomy of Phytolacca
americana has been long disputed. For over a century, two species

have been discussed - Phytolacca american and Phytolacca rigida.

Most recently, Phytolacca rigida is now considered a variety of Phyto-

lacca americana. While Phytolacca americans var. americana has

been recorded occurring in Facquier County, Phytolacca americana

var. rigida, although occurring in Virginia, has not yet been recorded

as occurring in Facquier County. The varieties are not always clearly

distinct. Some specimens combine the erect inflorescences of var.

rigida with the long pedicels of variety americana. Such intermediate

plants can be seen as far north as coastal Delaware, sometimes grow-

ing with var. americana.

 

NATIVE STATUS: Native, United States and Canada.

 

GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

 

Habit: This native perennial plant is up to 8' tall, branching regularly.

The stems are smooth, round, and hairless, varying from light green to

brilliant purplish red. The latter color becomes more prominent as the

season progresses and gives a striking appearance when fully mature

because of the bright reddish purple coloration.

 

Leaves: The rather large alternate leaves are up to 10" long and 4"
across. They are broadly lanceolate or ovate, with smooth margins,

and prominent veins. Their color is often light green or yellowish

green, particularly in sunny locations, and they have narrow petioles

about ½–1" long.

 

Flowers: Many of the stems terminate in an inflorescence that is

elongate and cylindrical, about 3-6" long, and 1" across. It consists

of a narrow raceme of numerous small flowers that are arranged all

around the flowering stalk on short pedicels. These pedicels may be

green, white, pink, or purplish red, depending on the stage of develop-

ment for the flowers or fruits. The flowers are about ¼" across, con-

sisting of 5 lobed white or pink sepals that flare outward, no true

petals, and several green carpels folded together in the center. The

shape of the carpels resembles an inverted bowl that is indented in

the middle.

 

Fruit/Seeds: After the flowers fade away, these carpels develop into

fruits. When mature, they become dark purple and rather shiny on the

surface, containing reddish purple juice. They are about ¼" across,

and shaped like slightly flattened spheres. Each fruit contains 10

glossy black seeds that are smooth and lens-shaped.

 

Roots: The root system consists of large deep taproot. When damaged,

this plant exudes a rank odor.

 

REGENERATION PROCESS: Pokeweed propogates itself through

reseeding.

 

HABITAT TYPES: Pokeweed is quite common where it occurs, and

widely regarded as a common weed. Habitats include moist meadows

in woodland openings, thickets, woodland borders, gravelly seeps,
edges of marshes, powerline clearances, fence rows, pastures, aban-

doned fields, vacant lots, neglected gardens, and areas along drainage

ditches, roadsides, and railroads. This plant favors areas with a his-

tory of disturbance from mowing, plowing, and other causes.

 

SITE CHARACTERISTICS: Pokeweed prefers partial sun, moist

conditions, and rich loamy soil. However, this plant will grow in full

sun, drier conditions, and other kinds of soil, consisting of clay or
gravelly material. Under these less than ideal conditions, plants will

be substantially smaller in size. When drought occurs, the lower leaves

may wilt, turn yellow, and fall off their stems. The foliage appears to

be impervious to insects and disease.

 

SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT: Flowering is from late spring to fall
(May to October).

 

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION: Pokeweed is found throughout the

eastern portions of the United States and Canada, from Florida to

Quebec, although it is not recorded as occurring in the Canadian

maritime provinces. It extends west through the Gulf coast states

and the southwest, and occurs the entire length of the western and

northwestern Pacific states. It encompasses most of the Great Plains

and prairie regions; however, it does not naturally occur in the Rocky

Mountain states, or any of the Canadian provinces west or north of

Ontario.

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION: To be determined.

 

IMPORTANCE AND USES: The flowers are visited primarily by
Syrphid flies and Halictine bees. Wasps and other kinds of flies are less
common visitors. These insects usually seek nectar; Halictine bees also
collect pollen. The berries are popular with birds, especially songbirds
(northern cardinal, brown thrasher, and northern mockingbird) favoring
brushy thickets and woodland areas, and are said to be an important
source of food for mourning doves. The berries are a source of food to
some mammals, including the grey fox, raccoon, and opossum. These
animals help to distribute the seeds far and wide. Mammalian herbivores
usually won't consume the foliage and stems because they are somewhat
toxic and bitter, particularly when this plant is mature. They contain
chemicals that can damage red blood cells. The berries are also slightly
toxic because of the seeds, although birds (and possibly some mammals)
enjoy some immunity from adverse effects. There have been reports of
birds becoming intoxicated from eating the berries, which have a flavor
that is bland and mildly sweet.

 

Pokeweed is well known to herbalists, cell biologists, and toxicologists.

According to some accounts, its young leaves, after being boiled in two

waters (the first being discarded) to deactivate toxins, are edible, even

being available canned (they pose no culinary threat to spinach). Young

shoots are eaten as a substitute for asparagus. Ripe berries were used to

color wine and are eaten (cooked) in pies. Pokeweed is used as an emetic,

a purgative, a suppurative, a spring tonic, and a treatment for various

skin maladies, especially hemorrhoids.

 

Pokeweed mitogen is a mixture of glycoprotein lectins that are powerful
immune stimulants, promoting T- and B-lymphocyte proliferation and
increased immun-oglobulin levels. "Accidental exposure to juices from
Pokeweed via ingestion, breaks in the skin, and the conjunc- tiva has

brought about hematological changes in numerous people, including

researchers studying this species". Poke antiviral proteins are of great

interest for their broad, potent antiviral (including Human Immuno-

deficiency Virus) and antifungal properties. Saponins found in Phyto-

lacca americana and Phytolacca dodecandra are lethal to the mollus-

can intermediate host of schistosomiasis. The toxic compounds in

Phytolacca americana are phytolaccatoxin and related triterpene

saponins, the alkaloid phytolaccin, various histamines, and oxalic

acid. When ingested, the roots, leaves, and fruits may poison animals,

including Homo sapiens. Symptoms of poke poisoning include sweat-

ing, burning of the mouth and throat, severe gastritis, vomiting, bloody

diarrhea, blurred vision, elevated white-blood-cell counts, unconscious-

ness, and, rarely, death.

 

 

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