Pokeweed – Phytolacca americana
Print
EmailPhytolacca americana
L.Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed family)
MI Status
Native
Life cycle
Erect, branched tap rooted perennial.
Leaves
Alternate, hairless, broadly oval, lance- to egg-shaped with smooth to slightly wavy leaf margins.
Stems
Smooth, succulent, herbaceous, predominantly reddish and branched multiple times without a central stem, reaching up to 9 feet in height.
Flowers and fruit
Greenish white to pink flowers yield erect to nodding, hanging clusters of conspicuous, deep purple to black berries when mature. Berries are poisonous, and berry juice will easily stain.
Reproduction
Seeds. Often dispersed by birds.
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
MSU named Top 10 agriculture and forestry college in new report
Published on March 23, 2021
-
MSU research team receives USDA grant to evaluate effectiveness, cost of new blueberry pest management strategies
Published on February 19, 2021
-
MSU researcher awarded five-year, $2.5 million grant to develop risk assessment training program
Published on October 13, 2020
-
MSU researchers analyzing novel technique to improve Michigan wine production
Published on June 16, 2021
-
Student-led bird banding innovation spearheads continuation of data collection despite COVID-19
Published on March 16, 2021
-
Creating innovative models to assess spread, possible management of deadly chronic wasting disease
Published on February 1, 2021
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.