Even though the American Pokeweed is poisonous, this plant is used as a wild edible when young and as medicine by many Native American communities as the plant matures. Its name comes from the adaptation of an Algonquin word, pocan, puccoon, or poughkone, and can be found growing in Connecticut and throughout New England.
About American Pokeweed
American pokeweed is a member of the Phytolaccaceae family that is usually found growing in tropical and subtropical climates with only two varieties being found in North America. Phytolacca americana or American Pokeweed is found throughout New England. This herbaceous, shrub-like perennial can grow up to ten feet high and has simple alternate leaf margins that are tapered at the end. When the leaves are crushed they have an acrid odor. This shrub has stems that range in color from green and pink to red. The plant flowers in clusters from May to October. The flowers are borne in pinkish clusters and range in color from white and green to pink and purple. They have five sepals, no petals, and about ten stamens. The berries this shrub produces are purple-black in color and about one-quarter inch in diameter with six to twelve seeds. American Pokeweed can be found at the edge of forests, in pastures and fields, and on the edge of habitats. They prefer open spaces where birds are able to roost.
Even though the plant is poisonous in its mature state it has been used for food and medicine for millennia. In the early spring, Native Americans harvest shoots of this plant when they are about six inches tall. The young shoots are carefully blanched in water before eating to reduce the risk of ingesting toxins. The young greens are also mixed with other wild greens. The taste of American Pokeweed is said to be similar to asparagus. The Algonquian use the deep red color of the berries to paint and dye textiles and basket reeds.
There are many uses for this shrub medicinally. One of the most common ways it was used was to treat arthritis and inflammation. The Cherokee drink an infusion of the berries or roots and berries to treat arthritis. The Delaware roast and crush roots and mix them with sarsaparilla and grape bark and drank this mixture as a blood purifier and stimulant. The Iroquois made an infusion of roots and twigs and used this mixture as herbal steam to treat rheumatism. They also cooked the stalks as greens and used them to treat rheumatism. The Mahuna used the roots to treat severe neuralgic pain. The Cherokee, Mahuna, Delaware, and Iroquois used various parts of this plant, usually the roots and sometimes the leaves to make a salve to treat skin diseases, bruises, and chronic sores. The Delaware roasted the roots and used them to treat glandular swellings and the Iroquois used a compound of undried roots to treat bunions. The Mohegan used a poultice of mashed berries to cure sore breasts but considered the roots poisonous and didn't use them.
The Iroquois used this plant for bewitchment. They also used this plant as a love medicine and would tie leaves in a poplar tree and place the roots of this shrub around the tree to attract their beloved.
Did You Know...
Regional names for this shrub are poke, poke sallet, dragon berries, redweed, and pokeberry.
Berries were once used to make ink, which is sometimes why this plant is referred to as inkberry.
The fruits of this plant are an important source of nutrition for mockingbirds, northern cardinals, and morning doves. Many songbirds are not affected by the toxins of this plant.
The name phytolacca means red dye plant.
Pokeweed has been celebrated in the hit single "Polk Salad Annie" written by Tony Joe White and sung by a variety of performers including Elvis Presley and Conan O'Brien. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4csFnpZXek
Canned Pokeweed was sold by Bush Brothers in Arkansas until 2007.
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