30 



AMERICAN ROOT DRUGS. 



These smooth and shiuiug purple berries are globuhir, flattened at both ends, 

 and contain blaclv seeds embedded in a rich crimson juice. (Fig. 7.) This phmt 

 belongs to the pokeweed family (Phytolaccacese). 



Fig. 7. — I'okeweed {Phytolacca decandra), flowering and fruiting branch. 



Description of root. — Pokeweed has a very thick, long, fleshy root, conical in 

 shape and branched (fig. 8), very much resembling that -of horseradish, and 

 poisonous. In commerce it usually occurs in transverse or lengthwise slices, 



the outside a yellowish brown and finely wrinkled 

 lengthwise, and thickly encircled with lighter colored 

 ridges. It breaks with a fibrous fracture and is yel- 

 lowish gray within. The transverse slices show many 

 concentric rings. There is a slight odor and the taste 

 is sweetish and acrid. The root when powdered causes 

 sneezing. 



Collection, prices, and uses. — The root of the poke- 

 weed, which is official in the United States Pharma- 

 copoeia, is collected in the latter part of autumn, thor- 

 oughly cleaned, cut into transverse or lengthwise slices, 

 and carefully dried. It brings from 2 J to 4 cents a 

 pound. 



The root is used for its alterative properties in 

 treating various diseases of the skin and blood, and in 

 certain cases in relieving pain and allaying inflamma- 

 tion. It also acts upon the bowels and causes vom- 

 iting. 



The berries when fully matured are also used in medicine. 

 The young and tender shoots of the pokeweed are eaten in spring, like as- 

 paragus, but bad results may follow if they are not thoroughly cooked or if 

 they are cut too close to the root. 

 107 



Fig. 8. — Pokeweed root. 



