POKEWEED FAMILY. 



POKEWEED FAMILY Phytolaccaceae. 

 POKEWEED Phytolacca decandra L. 



Other Common Names: Scoke, Poison Poke, Pigeon- 

 berry, Garget. 



The roots and fruit of this weed are used in medicine 

 for skin diseases and rheumatism. In some parts of the 

 country its young shoots are highly esteemed as a substi- 

 tute for Asparagus. The roots are carefully removed in 

 such cases on account of their bitter taste. On boiling, the 

 drug, which is present in all parts of the plant, is ex- 

 tracted, and the greens are quite wholesome provided the 

 first water in which they are boiled is poured off. 



The root has been mistaken for that of the Parsnip. 

 Artichoke, or Horse Radish, and human poisoning has 

 resulted mostly from such mistakes, or from overdoses 

 when used as medicine. In a few cases the death of chil- 

 dren has been attributed to the eating of the fruit and 

 seeds. Where the plant grows abundantly, the young 

 shoots have caused the death of cattle. 



Phytolaccin, an acrid alkaloid, has been isolated from 

 Pokeweed, as have also the poison phytolaccotoxin, phy- 

 tolaccic acid, saponin and a glucoside. The weed pro- 

 duces vomiting, its action in this regard being very slow. 

 The vomiting begins only after about two hours and is 

 accompanied by violent retching. Severe purging is also 

 produced, along with spasms, and sometimes convulsions. 

 Death, when it occurs, is caused by paralysis of the res- 

 piratory organs, due to the narcotic action of the plant 

 poison. 



Pokeweed is a smooth, coarse perennial, growing from 

 four to nine feet high, and found on low, rich ground in 

 Ontario and the states to the southward. Its root, the 



