Practical
Plants

Phytolacca americana

Pokeweed

a perennial member of the Phytolacca genus in the family Phytolaccaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
2 m
Spread
1.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are poisonous[15][30][31][32]. They are said to be safe to eat when young, the toxins developing as the plants grow older. Another report says that the seeds and root are poisonous. The plant sap can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[18]. The plant contains substances that cause cell division and can damage chromosomes. These substances can be absorbed through any abrasions in the skin, potentially causing serious blood aberratins, and so it is strongly recommended that the people wear gloves when handling the plant[18][22].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - they must be cooked and even then it is best to change the water once[1][12][24][23][32]. They are used like spinach[9]. Only the young leaves should be used since they become toxic with age[3]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Young shoots - cooked[13][23][30][3]. An asparagus substitute[9], they are delicious[5]. The shoots are sometimes blanched before using, or forced in cellars to provide an early crop[9]. The tender clear inner portion of the stem can be rolled in cornmeal and fried[9]. Although cultivated on a small scale in N. America for its shoots, caution is advised, see notes above. A nutritional analysis is available[17]. Fruit - cooked and used in pies[5][16]. Poisonous raw, causing vomiting and diarrhoea. Even the cooked fruits should be viewed with caution. The fruit is a berry about 12mm in diameter[14]. A red dye is obtained from the fruit and used as a food colouring[9].

Product or use
Colouring
Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Pokeweed has a long history of medicinal use, being employed traditionally in the treatment of diseases related to a compromised immune system. The plant has an interesting chemistry and it is currently (1995) being investigated as a potential anti-AIDS drug[21]. It contains potent anti-inflammatory agents, antiviral proteins and substances that affect cell division[21]. These compounds are toxic to many disease-causing organisms, including the water snails that cause schistosomiasis[21]. All parts of the plant are toxic, an excess causing diarrhoea and vomiting[21]. This remedy should be used with caution and preferably under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[21]. The root is alterative, anodyne, anti-inflammatory, cathartic, expectorant, hypnotic, narcotic and purgative[24][15][26][29][6][10][21]. The dried root is used as an anodyne and anti-inflammatory[16]. The root is taken internally in the treatment of auto-immune diseases (especially rheumatoid arthritis), tonsillitis, mumps, glandular fever and other complaints involving swollen glands, chronic catarrh, bronchitis etc[21]. The fresh root is used as a poultice on bruises, rheumatic pains etc, whilst a wash made from the roots is applied to swellings and sprains[18]. The root is best harvested in the autumn and can be dried for later use[21]. The fruit has a similar but milder action to the roots[21].The juice is used in the treatment of cancer, haemorrhoids and tremors[16]. A poultice made from the fruit is applied to sore breasts[18]. A tea made from the fruit is used in the treatment of rheumatism, dysentery etc[18]. The plant has an unusually high potassium content and the ashes, which contain over 45% caustic potash, have been used as a salve for ulcers and cancerous growths[19]. The leaves are cathartic, emetic and expectorant[18]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh root[19]. Its main action is on the throat, breast, muscular tissues and the joints[19].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antiviral
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Purgative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A red ink and a dye are obtained from the fruit[26][27][28][2][3][5][7]. A beautiful colour, though it is not very permanent[24]. It makes a good body paint, washing off easily when no longer required, though the slightly toxic nature of the berries should be remembered[K]. The rootstock is rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute[7]. Cut the root into small pieces and simmer it in boiling water to obtain the soap. The plant is currently (1980) being evaluated for its snail-killing properties[16].

Product or use
Ink
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Soap

Environment

Range
Northern and Central N. America. Occasionally naturalized in Britain[8].
Habitat
Damp rich soils in clearings, woodland margins and roadsides[25].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow autumn or spring in a cold frame[14]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. If you have sufficient seed, it might be worthwhile trying an outdoor sowing in a seed bed in early spring. Grow the plants on in the seedbed for their first year and plant them out the following spring. Division in March or October. Use a sharp spade or knife to divide the rootstock, making sure that each section has at least one growth bud. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils[1], though preferring a moisture retentive soil in full sun or partial shade[4][14]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[20]. Succeeds in an open woodland garden[14], growing well under trees[13]. Whilst the dormant plant is hardy in much of Britain, the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. A very ornamental plant[1], it often self sows when in a suitable position[14]. Cultivated as a dye plant[27] and on a small scale for its edible young shoots, there is at least one named form. 'White Stem' has white stems and the berries yield a golden-peach dye instead of purple. It is not yet known (1992) if it will breed true from seed[9]. This plant is an alternative host to a number of viral diseases that affect members of the Amaryllidaceae, Liliaceae (broad view, including plants recently [11] moved into separate families) and Solanaceae[14]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[20].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩

  3. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩

  5. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  7. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  8. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  10. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩

  11. PFAFimport-1992

    Unresolved citation

    ↩

  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  13. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  14. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  15. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  16. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  18. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  19. Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-333-55581-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  20. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  21. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  22. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  23. Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  24. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  25. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  26. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  27. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  28. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  29. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  30. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

  31. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

  32. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩1↩2

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