pokeweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• American pokeweed
• inkberry
• pigeonberry
• poke
• pokeberry
• pokeweed
• Virginia poke
• pokeroot
• American Nightshade
• American spinach
• Cancer Jalap
• Cancer Root
• Chongras
• Common Pokeberry
• Garget
• Jalap
• Kermes Bush
• North American pokeweed
• Pocan
• Red Ink Plant
• Red-Ink Plant
• Redweed
• Scoke
• Scoke Berry
• Shoke
• Virginian Poke
• common pokeweed
• garnet
• pidgeon berry
• poke salad
• poke sallet
• Coakum
• Pocan Bush
• virginian pokeweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Caryophyllales, it is further categorized into the family Phytolaccaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Phytolacca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a notable presence across various regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found growing in Austria. It is also widely distributed throughout the Czechia-Slovakia region. Finally, the plant is commonly documented within the borders of Germany.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phytolacca americana is characterized by its adaptability to diverse landscapes, frequently inhabiting disturbed or inhabited places and roadside environments. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1600 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 2000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

inhabited places, roadsides

Life history

The life history of Phytolacca americana is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, exhibiting a variable lifecycle that allows it to persist across multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural life form, the species functions as a geophte, utilizing specialized underground structures to survive unfavorable conditions, while its classification as a cryptophyte further defines its survival strategy by protecting its perennially renewing buds beneath the soil surface.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Phytolacca americana is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, functioning neither as an epiphyte nor as a parasite. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, though it is primarily described as a self-supporting structure rather than a liana or vine. Its shoots maintain an erect orientation, growing vertically from the ground. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a minimum height of 1 m, with a mean height of approximately 2.425 m, and can reach a maximum height of up to 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2.425 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phytolacca americana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating its metabolic reliance on the Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. As a non-carnivorous species, it acquires nutrients through soil uptake rather than through the capture of prey. The plant's vegetative morphology is defined by elliptic-shaped leaves that exhibit significant dimensional variability. The leaf length typically averages around 13.5 cm, with a range extending from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 25 cm. Similarly, the leaf width shows substantial variation, maintaining a mean width of 7.5 cm, while individual leaves may range from a narrow 1 cm to a maximum width of 10 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

13.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phytolacca americana is characterized by a bisexual sexual reproduction system, where self-fertilization is notably absent. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in September, featuring green flowers that range in length from 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm. These flowers are arranged in inflorescences that can vary significantly in length, from a minimum of 0.05 m up to a maximum of 30 m. The pollination syndrome is classified as biotic, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the process. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent berries that turn black upon maturity. These fruits have an average width of approximately 0.895 cm, with a maximum width reaching 1 cm. The dispersal syndrome is zoochorous, specifically endozoochorous, meaning the seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1000 seeds. The individual seeds are quite small, with a maximum length of 3 mm, a mean mass of approximately 0.00687 g (ranging from 0.0026 g to 0.00989 g), and a consistent seed volume of 93 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flower length max:

0.5 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.895 cm

Inflorescence length max:

30 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00989 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00686957133333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.0026 g

Seed volume max:

93 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Phytolacca americana has 3 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, seed.

Root

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of natural products

Fruit

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Seed

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Phytolacca americana has 56 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, STARCH, 3-Acetyloleanolic acid, 3-acetylaleuritolic acid, ANTHOCYANIN.

Flavonoids

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

STARCH

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental entomology

3-Acetyloleanolic acid

1. Dr. Duke

3-acetylaleuritolic acid

1. Dr. Duke

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Dr. Duke

Americanin

1. Dr. Duke

Americanin A

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Americanol A

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Astragalin

1. Dr. Duke

Betanin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Phytolacca americana has 302 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antimalarial, ACE-Inhibitor, Abortifacient.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Advances in therapy

Antibacterial

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

Antimalarial

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

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Phytolacca americana has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include bacteria, cancer, fungi, inflammation, malaria.

Bacteria

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

Cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Fungi

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

Inflammation

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

Malaria

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

Tumor

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

Preparations

Phytolacca americana has 4 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 70% ethanol extract, drop, methanolic extract, tablet.

70% ethanol extract

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Drop

1. Advances in therapy

Methanolic extract

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Tablet

1. Advances in therapy