Phytolacca americana L.

American Pokeweed; Common Pokeweed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

American Pokeweed is a native herbaceous perennial in the Pokeweed family (Phytolaccaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. American Pokeweed occurs primarily in disturbed areas such as in clear cuts, in field and pasture margins, on roadsides, and along fence lines. It is often one of the first plants to respond to forest openings. The seed may remain dormant in the soil for many years. American Pokeweed is a perennial from a large fleshy taproot. The stems are erect, up to 8 feet in height, red or green in color, branched above the middle, and glabrous. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, lanceolate to ovate in outline, entire, and glabrous. Flowers are produced in drooping terminal or axillary racemes. The individual flowers have 5 whitish sepals and no petals. The fruit is a purple-black berry with 5-12 shiny black seed. The berries are eagerly consumed by birds which spread the seed. All parts of the plant are toxic if eaten by mammals. The young leaves of American Pokeweed are consumed in early spring in parts of the South. The preparation involves 3 repetitions of boiling the young leaves in fresh water for 20 minutes, discarding the old water each time and rinsing the plants in cold water between boiling. American singer-songwriter and guitarist Tony Joe White released the hit song "Polk Salad Annie" in 1969. It was also recorded by Joe Dassin, Elvis Presley, and Tom Jones. American Pokeweed berries can be used to make a pink dye, and the word "Poke" is thought to have originated from the Algonquin word "pocan" or "puccoon," meaning a plant that contains dye.—A. Diamond

**

Native FACU+ (NWPL)

**