PHYTOLACCACE^— POKEWEED 



FAMILY 



POKEWEED. GARGET 



Phytolacca decdndra 



A name made of the Greek word for plant prefixed to the 

 French lac, lake, alluding to the crimson coloring matter 

 of the berries. 



Perennial, native. A large smooth, branching herb, 

 with stout stalks, six to nine feet high, in fence corners, 

 roadsides, and waste land. Maine, Ontario, Minne- 

 sota, south to Florida and Texas. July-September. 



Root. — Large, often four to six inches in diameter, 

 poisonous. 



Stems. — Stout, branching, from six to nine feet high, 

 when mature, reddish. 



Leaves. — Alternate, petioled, oblong to lanceolate, 

 pointed at both ends, entire, six to twelve inches long. 

 Unpleasant odor when crushed. 



Flowers. — White, with a green centre, pink tinted out- 

 side, about three-eighths of an inch across, in long, slender 

 racemes, two to eight inches long. 



Calyx. — Four or five rounded, persistent sepals, look- 

 ing like petals. 



Corolla. — Wanting. 



Stamens. — Ten, shorter than the sepals, sometimes 

 more. 



Pistil. — Ten-celled, green, conspicuous; styles ten, 

 recurved. 



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