Edge/ Pokeweed

COMMON NAME: Pokeweed

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): American Nightshade, Bear’s Grape, Crowberry, Cancer-root, Poke Berry, Jalap, Pigeonberry

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Phytolacca americana

FAMILY: Phytolaccaceae

COMMUNITY: Edge

STATUS: Native

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT: to 9 feet

FLOWERING TIME: Late June to October

FRUITING TIME: Mid-August to November

DISTRIBUTION: Maine to  Gulf of Mexico ~ Statewide in NJ; Frequently a weed

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Course, widely branched ~ Large leaves ~ Smooth reddish stems ~ Flowers clusters long-stalked, often paired with leaves ~ Fruit clusters drooping, berries glossy, purple-black with red stems

GENERAL INFORMATION: Roots, seeds and mature stems and leaves are poisonous.  The 1998 edition of the Physician’s Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines reports that the presence of saponins, an irritate to mucous membranes, is responsible for the toxicity.  Symptoms of poisoning include: diarrhea, dizziness, hypotension, severe thirst, sleepiness, tachycardia, and vomiting.  In severe cases death (rarely reported) may result from respiratory failure.  The root has medicinal use as an emetic (medicine to induce vomiting), due to its saponinan content.  In Native American medicine, a pokeweed poultice was used for cancers, tuberculosis, the “itch”, rheumatism, and in small doses for syphilis. People have boiled the young shoots (up to 6 inches) and served them like asparagus. The name pokeweed comes from the Virginian Indian “pokan” which meant any red-juiced plant used as a stain or dye.  “Pokan” came from “pak” which meant blood. During Polk’s presidential campaign (1845) pokeweed twigs were worn by his followers and some latter claimed the plant got its name from the President. However, Pokeweed, had been pokeweed long before James Polk arrived on the political scene.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.