Pokeweed
Most people in the Ozarks, whether from here or elsewhere, recognize poke, also called pokeweed or pokeberry, among other names. It is a large, much-branched perennial herbaceous plant that crosses all lines of categorization — edible plant, poisonous plant, medicinal plant, native plant, and weed (if you don’t like where it’s growing).
Botanists call it Phytolacca americana. It’s a member of the pokeweed family (Phytolaccaceae) which is mostly a tropical plant group. There are about 25 species of Phytolacca. The genus is derived from phyton, meaning plant, and lacca, referring to the color crimson (deep red like that derived from cochineal), in reference to the unique reddish-purple color of the stems, fruit stalks and the fruits themselves.
American pokeweed, our local native, is mostly found in the Midwest and South. It is actually quite a beautiful plant that was introduced to Asia and Europe as garden ornamentals. When I travel, I often look at the vegetation around hotel parking lots (everywhere really). Outside of a hotel in Beijing, I was surprised and pleased to see our familiar poke plant growing as a weed.
The large, relatively broad lance-shaped leaves are the famous poke salat of southern traditions, with the spring-time leaves (before the stalks become red-tined), usually boiled in two waters which are discarded with the leached-out toxins, and boiled-up with some bacon grease. Don’t confuse “salat” with “salad.” You would regret eating the leaves fresh. Whoever thought this plant is edible is beyond my comprehension.
The large roots, which in small doses induce vomiting and purging, are kind of hints to the possibility that this plant is toxic. It contains a mixture of saponins called phytolaccatoxins, including phytolaccacosides and esculentodies.
Esculentosides which implies esculent, or edible, is a strange name for a group of toxic compounds, but they are of research interest as potential anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and anticancer activities. However, just because these activities can be observed in a petri dish, doesn’t translate into medicinal utility.
Poke also contains a protein-like mitogen that can cause abnormalities of blood cells. While presumed not to be as toxic as the leaves and roots, the fruits are potentially toxic.
An Ozark folk tradition, relatively common in the South, is eating two or three poke berries a year to prevent arthritic inflammation. Likely a change of diet would be a better choice.