American Pokeweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• American Pokeweed
• Indian Pokeweed
• Indian poke
• Edible Pokeweed
• Jharak

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sarcoca acinosa
• Phytolacca esculenta
• Pircunia esculenta
• Phytolacca acinosa var. kaempferi
• Phytolacca acinosa var. esculenta
• Phytolacca kaempferi
• Phytolacca pekinensis
• Sarcoca esculenta

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Caryophyllales and the family Phytolaccaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Phytolacca, specifically the species Phytolacca acinosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark, Great Britain, and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, it can also be found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, its range extends to include the nation of Austria. Additionally, this medicinal species is known to grow within Belgium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phytolacca acinosa is characterized by its ability to thrive in open habitats, where it occupies diverse environmental niches. It exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from lower elevations of 500 m AMSL to high-altitude regions reaching a maximum of 3400 m AMSL. Across its natural range, the species maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1950 m AMSL, reflecting its adaptability to varying mountain and sub-mountainous climatic conditions.

Elevational range max:

3400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

open

Life history

The life history of Phytolacca acinosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist across multiple growing seasons. Structurally, it functions as a geophyte, utilizing underground storage organs to survive unfavorable environmental conditions and facilitate regrowth. Furthermore, its life form is classified as a cryptophyte, meaning its regenerative buds are protected beneath the soil surface or under leaf litter, ensuring its long-term survival and ability to re-emerge annually.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Phytolacca acinosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It functions as a self-supporting plant, rather than a climber or a liana, and maintains an independent lifestyle as it is not a parasite. The plant is terrestrial in nature, neither aquatic nor epiphytic. In terms of stature, it exhibits a variable plant height, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average height of approximately 1.25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.25 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phytolacca acinosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic strategy for carbon fixation. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake from the soil, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's leaf morphology plays a significant role in its resource acquisition, exhibiting a mean leaf length of 20 cm (ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 30 cm) and a mean width of 9.75 cm (ranging from 4.5 cm to a maximum of 15 cm), resulting in a mean leaf size of 499.785 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 512.5 cm²/g, indicating its leaf mass distribution and investment in photosynthetic surface area.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length mean:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf size mean:

499.785 cm²

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

9.75 cm

Leaf width min:

4.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

512.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phytolacca acinosa is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant's flowering period typically commences in July and concludes in August, though the timing can be variable. A key feature of its reproductive biology is the absence of self-fertilization, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruit classified as a berry, which is indehiscent, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. The seeds produced are quite small and uniform in weight, with a mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass recorded at 0.00667 g. Regarding the spread of the species, the dispersal syndrome is identified as anthropochorous, indicating that human activity plays a role in the movement and distribution of the plant.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.00667 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Phytolacca acinosa has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, fruit.

Root

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of cellular biochemistry

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Phytolacca acinosa has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Esculentoside H, Flavonoids, Saponins, triterpenoids, 3 beta-acetoxy-11 alpha,23-dihydroxytaraxer-14-en-28-oic acid.

Esculentoside H

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Journal of cellular biochemistry

Flavonoids

1. Fitoterapia
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Saponins

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of Tongji Medical University = Tong ji yi ke da xue xue bao

triterpenoids

1. Fitoterapia
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

3 beta-acetoxy-11 alpha,23-dihydroxytaraxer-14-en-28-oic acid

1. Journal of natural products

Acinospesigenin A

1. Journal of natural products

Acinospesigenin B

1. Journal of natural products

Acinospesigenin C

1. Journal of natural products

Cochliophilin A

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

ESH

1. Journal of cellular biochemistry

Activities

Phytolacca acinosa has 9 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antifungal, Antimalarial, Antimicrobial.

Antibacterial

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Anticancer

1. Journal of cellular biochemistry

Antifungal

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Antimalarial

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Antimicrobial

1. Fitoterapia

Antioxidant

1. Fitoterapia

Antiviral

1. Fitoterapia

Diuretic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Molluscicide

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Phytolacca acinosa has 15 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include edema, inflammation, bacteria, bronchitis, cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations