Name this plant! - DIY Chatroom

bryan1282 · 11-01-2009, 01:17 PM

can anyone name this plant and tell me something about it or where i can find info about it. i have it around my property and personally dont like it and plan to clear it away but i figured i would at least find out what it is. its reddish or purpulish and it is same color berries on it.

pls8xx · 11-01-2009, 05:29 PM

poke salet

nap · 11-01-2009, 07:16 PM

Any way your spell it, pls8xx appears to be correct.

aka; American Pokeweed, Cancer-root, Cancer jalap, Inkberry, Pigeon Berry, Pocan, Poke, Poke Root, Pokeberry, Reujin D Ours, Sekerciboyaci, Skoke, Virginian Poke, Yoshu-Yama-Gobo, Yyamilin

and

Phytolacca americana

and it has some very interesting uses:

http://www.altnature.com/gallery/pokeweed.htm

made famous in the song "Polk Salad Annie" by Tony Joe White.

Mike in Arkansas · 11-04-2009, 02:23 PM

Back in the 50's or so my parents would take to the woods in search of Poke Salit. I'ts edable after proper preperation but forget what that involves. Don't eat it otherwise. My understanding is the only way the seeds will germinate is to go through the gut of a bird. At least that was the story.

Sheila4467 · 11-05-2009, 10:51 PM

We used to call it inkberry as kids. We even smashed the berries up and used the "ink" to write! kinda hard with your fingers, but a toothpick did better. It was fun. They get really huge too, so unless you have lots of room, give it to someone that would enjoy it. Some love the stuff!