Indian Pokeweed - Phytolacca acinosa
Above: Indian Pokeweed in UW Arboretum's Oak Savana off of Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin (6/17/24).
Indian Pokeweed - Phytolacca acinosa (Introduced - persisting and spreading)
Phytolacca acinosa is rare in Wisconsin. In fact, on the USDA Plants database website, Phytolacca acinosa is only in two states – Wisconsin (Dane County) and Arizona.
Indian Pokeweed grows in disturbed areas. It can reach heights up to 5 feet tall and has large, thick, lance-shaped leaves. It has a stout, smooth and shiny stem that may be green, red, pink, or purple in color. Indian Pokeweed has white to pinkish, 5-parted flowers on a spike-like cluster (raceme).
Indian Pokeweed (Phytolacca acinosa) vs. American Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana)
Many websites misidentify images related to these two pokeweeds. Indian Pokeweed and American Pokeweed look similar but are easily identified by their flowers. Indian Pokeweed plants have erect racemes but the racemes on American Pokeweed are arcuate (shaped like a bow or curve) and eventual droop (nod).
As these pokeweeds mature, other differences become obvious such as the shape of the berries (see below).
Above: (L) Indian Pokeweed (Phytolacca acinosa) flowers are on permanently erect racemes in linear clusters with each flower on a short stem; whereas, (R) American Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana) has flowers that are also in linear clusters with each flower on a short stem; but, the racemes droop and the flowers are more sparse.
Above: Indian Pokeweed (Phytolacca acinosa) berries (L) have 7-8 carpels that are free (divided) making the berries deeply furrowed and it has a dense infructescence (the berries are more crowded); whereas, American Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana) berries (R) have 8-11 carpels that fuse at maturity creating a smooth, unlobed fruit.
Other names: Red Ink Plant,
For more information on Indian Pokeweed, visit Wikipedia.
Or, for information on Indian Pokeweed (Phytolacca acinosa) visit the Wisconsin State Herbarium.
The USDA Plant Database lists Phytolacca acinosa as a synonym for Phytolacca octandra L. as does the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower website.
Indian Pokeweed
Phytolacca acinosa
Above: Indian Pokeweed in UW Arboretum's Oak Savanna next to Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 14, 2024.
Above: Indian Pokeweed in UW Arboretum's Oak Savanna next to Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on June 25, 2024.
Above: Indian Pokeweed in UW Arboretum's Oak Savanna next to Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on July 1, 2024.
Above: Indian Pokeweed next to Wingra School wrought iron fence off of Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on July 24, 2024.
Above: Indian Pokeweed next to Wingra School wrought iron fence off of Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on Auugst 12, 2024.
Above: Indian Pokeweed in UW Arboretum's Oak Savanna next to Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin on July 21, 2024.
American Pokeweed
Above: American Pokeweed off of Agawa Path in Nakoma in Madison, Wisconsin on July 15, 2023.
Read about American Pokeweed
