American Pokeweed - Phytolacca Americana
Above: American Pokeweed in the Prairie Moraine Dog Park in Verona, Wisconsin (9/10/23)
American Pokeweed - Phytolacca Americana (Phytolacca americana var. americana)
(Careful, this native plant is hazardous!)
American Pokeweed grows in open or edge habitats such as disturbed areas, edges of woods and places with moderate moisture.
It has simple leaves on green to red or purplish stems. The flowers have white petal-like sepals without true petals, on white pedicels and peduncles in an upright or drooping raceme.
American Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana) vs. Indian Pokeweed (Phytolacca acinosa)
Many websites misidentify images related to these two pokeweeds. American Pokeweed and Indian Pokeweed look similar but are easily identified by their flowers. American Pokeweed racemes are arcuate (shaped like a bow or curve) and eventual droop (nod) but, the racemes on Indian Pokeweed plants are erect.
Unless you live in Dane County, Wisconsin or select places in Arizona, chances are you will not come across Indian Pokeweed in the United States.
Also, as these pokeweeds mature, other differences become obvious such as the shape of the berries (see below).
Above: (L) American Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana) has flowers that are in linear clusters with each flower on a short stem but the racemes droop and the flowers are sparse; whereas, (R) Indian Pokeweed (Phytolacca acinosa) flowers are also on racemes in linear clusters with each flower on a short stem, but the racemes are permanently erect.
Above: American Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana) berries (L) have 8-11 carpels that fuse at maturity creating a smooth, unlobed fruit; whereas, Indian Pokeweed (Phytolacca acinosa) berries (R) have 7-8 carpels that are free (divided) making the berries deeply furrowed and it has a dense infructescence (the berries are more crowded)
Other names: American pokeberry, Pokeweed, Inkberry, Poke Sallet.
Phytolacca: from Greek phyto, "plant," and Latin lacca, "crimson lake," because of the color in the berries
For more information on American Pokeweed, visit Wikipedia.
Or, for information on American Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana) visit the Wisconsin State Herbarium.
Or, for information on American Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana) visit the USDA PLant of the Week.
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca Americana
Above: American Pokeweed in UW Arboretum's Oak Savanna next to Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 14, 2024.
Above: American Pokeweed berries starting to form in the Prairie Moraine Dog Park in Verona, Wisconsin (7/04/24)
Above: American Pokeweed berries starting to form in the Prairie Moraine Dog Park in Verona, Wisconsin (8/11/24)
Above: 1806 botanical illustration of American Pokeweed - Phytolacca decandra (Virginian Poke).
Above: 1913 illustration of American Pokeweed.
Above: Illustration of American Pokeweed from the USDA NRCS, Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species.
Above: American Pokeweed berries.
Above: Poke Salad Annie video about a southern woman who eats Poke Salad (NOTE: Pokeweed is considered poisonous and should not be eaten). Poke Salad Annie was made famous by Elvis but the version by Tony Joe White who wrote the song in 1968 is more gritty .
Indian Pokeweed
Above: Indian Pokeweed in UW Arboretum's Oak Savanna next to Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 17, 2024.
Read about Indian Pokeweed
