American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

            American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is an invasive perennial plant that is herbaceous and very common in a majority of North America.  It actively grows through the spring and summer, but then dies down to the roots each winter.  It is present in 40 out of the 50 states in America, where it is native.   There are a variety of common names designated for Phytolacca americana, such as common pokeweed, inkberry, pokeberry, pigeonberry, American nightshade, redweed, and poke root.

                Everywhere that it is found is considered its native location, according to the native map from USDA Plants website.  The only reason American Pokeweed is invasive is because of its rapid growth that can cause ecological damage to the environments it is present in.  American Pokeweed is found in a variety of habitats, such as thickets, fields, roadsides, and clearings.  According to the World Wildlife Fund, American Pokeweed is found in virtually every biome across North America.  The few that it is not present in are the tundra, the montane grasslands and shrublands, mangrove, and deserts and xeric shrublands.

It has the ability to survive fires because of its roots.  The plant trunk can store much water and it has very strong roots underground, which grow thick and fast, and deeply penetrate the soil, at least 16 inches.  The leaves of American Pokeweed can grow up to nine inches long, and produce a foul smell.  The flowers are small white petals, and as the dark purple berries from the plant begin to grow, the petals darken to a pinkish color. 

            There are multiple uses for the different parts of American Pokeweed that has been utilized over the years by many

            This seeds produced by this plant are poisonous.  As long as you avoid cracking the seed open, much of the rest of the plant is very useful.  Certain birds are able to ingest the pokeberries with no harm done.  This is because the seed remains in tact during the digestive process.  Due to pokeberries being a common food for some birds help spread the seeds for more pokeweed production.

            Indians would utilize the use of the berry juice because they found it to be a great source for dye.  They used it to color feathers, and even horses.  At one point in history, the juice was used to color wine, but is not practiced anymore due to the risk of poisoning.

           Pokeweed contributes as a medicinal purpose to society as well.  Many parts of the plant have been used to treat some very serious conditions, such as cancer.  For example, the berries (and not biting into the seed) are used for arthritis, tremors, and cancer.  Root oil has also been used to help treat cancer, along with breast abscesses. 

Some elements of Pokeweed have been used for food.  Though some may be hesitant to try a bite, due to the association of poisonous seeds, others use the berries to make jellies or pies.  The leaves of younger plants are also eaten after blanching them more than once.  Even a song was written about food containing pokeweed.  It is titled, "Poke Salad Annie," and it was originally written by Tony Joe White in 1969.  Later, Elvis Presley himself started performing the song in the 1970s.  (To listen to  "Poke Salad Annie," click here to be  directed to  YouTube.)

            I chose American Pokeweed because I thought it was very appealing and looked interesting.  The way that the berries grew seemed very unique and I was curious if they were edible.

     There is a wide range of habitats that American Pokeweed can be found in.  Because it is invasive, it can stand many conditions as well as destroy other plants in a certain environment.  American Pokeweed is found often in

waste places, fields, fencerows, woodland openings and border, thickets, marsh edges, neglected gardens, roadsides, power line clearances, and pastures.  It has the ability to thrive in either sunny, or shady, locations.  Due to the

root structure, it has the ability to survive fires, as well.  It is normally a trend to find Phytolacca americana in areas that have been disturbed somehow, such as mowing or plowing.

    Of the 14 major habitat types according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), American Pokeweed is found in 10 within the Nearctic realm, the only one where Phytolacca americana is found.  The four types that is it not found in

are the following: taiga/boreal forests, tundra, mangroves, and deserts and xeric shrublands.

    Because the American Pokeweed plant is invasive, it has the ability to cause much change in the habitat that it is present in.  There are multiple ways in which environments are affected by invasive species, such as American

Pokeweed.  It is more of a threat to environments and habitats for plants than they are to it.

    Many of the native plants begin to compete with American Pokeweed, which causes a struggle for survival, and can ultimately eliminate the native plants in the environment.  Humans also have an affect on how invasive species

react in an environment.  Human disturbance of habitats make them more vulnerable when the environment undergoes unfamiliar, or unnatural changes.  This can weaken plants because they are not, for example, getting as

much food and nutrients that they need to thrive like before.

    Invasive species like American Pokeweed do not only threaten other plants, but people, as well.  Pokeweed can invade gardens around homes and do the same kind of damage discussed above.  In order to move such invasive

plants, you may have to use special formulas or even machinery to completely rid the plants as well as the roots.  It is always best to try to prevent the invasion before it occurs.

    Overall, there are both good and bad aspects of Phytolacca americana.  Certain parts of the berries that are produced may be used for food or dye.  Due to the fact that the plant is invasive, it can destroy many other habitats and

other plants.  There is no real threat to American Pokeweed, unless it was to duel another invasive plant.  In that case, there would be a threat.  To remedy it, you would have to manually remove the opposing invasive plant

entirely in some way, whether it is chemicals or machinery; unless, of course, American Pokeweed would triumph over its enemy with no assistance. Also, there is a risk with the berries being poisonous; they need to be treated

correctly in order for ingestion.  

    References:

      Phytolacca americana (American Pokeweed) [Internet]. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service; [cited 2008 Feb 18]. Available from http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PHAM4

      Phytolacca americana [Internet]. [updated 2008 Feb 8]. Wikipedia; [cited 2008 Feb 18]. Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytolacca_americana

      Poke Salad Annie [Internet]. [updated 2008 Jan 7]. Wikipedia; [cited 2008 Feb 18]. Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poke_Salad_Annie

      Eggers Ware, Donna M. 2004. The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago (IL): Pokeweed. p. 603

    Pokeweed [Internet]. Illinois Wild Flowers; [cited 2008 Mar 6]. Available from http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/pokeweed.htm

    Invasive Species [Internet]. [updated 2008 Mar 6]. Wikipedia; [cited 2008 Mar 6]. Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_species