Pokeweed

May 2012

Do you know what this is? I called it an ink plant or pokeweed.

Pokeweed, poke salad or poke salad are all common names for this plant (Phytolacca americana). In the young leafy green stage, many folks eat them as a green. They often boil the leaves, throw away the first water, then boil again—but only tender young foliage. The plant is poisonous, but the ripe berries have been used as a dye.

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