Pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

fight-oh-LAK-ah ah-mer-ah-CANE-ah

Phytolaccaceae

Native to: Lower 48 states and Canada.

Florida abundance and distribution: Common throughout

Recognition: Perennial herb that can reach up to 10’ in height and often has a purple stem. The small round white flowers are in erect (to dangling) racemes; and the berries are a deep purple to black.

Others:  Despite historical uses as a fully cooked “edible” green, it is deadly poisonous.  Children have died from ingesting the berries; mistaken for root crops, the roots have killed people that have eaten them.  Merely touching the plant can cause an extreme immune-system response due to highly bioactive “pokeweed mitogens.”