WEEDS OP THE POKEWEED FAMILY. 



75 



The Pokeweed Family.- PHYTOLACCACE^. 



Tall perennial herbs, with large alternate ovate-oblong leaves 

 and small flowers in terminal racemes, which by the farther growth 

 of the stem become opposite the leaves. Petals none ; sepals 4 or 5 

 white ; stamens 10 ; ovary green, 10-celled, each cell with a single 

 seed. Fruit a globose fleshy berry. 



Only one member of the family occurs in Indiana, though 85 

 species are known, mostl5 r from the tropics. 



34. Phytolacca decandra L. Pokeweed. Poke-berry. Scoke. Pigeon- 

 berry. Ink-berry. (P. N. 2.) 

 Stem stout, smooth, erect, branching, 3-12 feet high ; leaves entire, 

 5-12 inches long. Berries in racemes like those of a grape, dark purple 

 and filled with crimson juice. Seeds black, shining, roundish or kidney- 

 shaped. (Fig. 42.) 



This large well known weed occurs throughout the State in rich 

 soil along the borders of old fields, fence-rows, roadsides, etc. June- 

 Sept. Its reddish-purple stems, 

 dark green leaves, clusters of 

 white flowers and dark purple 

 berries make of it a handsome 

 weed — if a weed can be so 

 termed. I have often found 

 the small, shining black seeds 

 beneath logs and stones where 

 they have been carried by mice 

 or shrews, and have frequently 

 mistaken them for the heads of 

 dead beetles. The stem springs 

 from a large poisonous root, 

 often 4-6 inches in diameter, 

 and the young stems and 

 leaves are sometimes used for 

 greens or eaten like asparagus. 

 If so used, care should be ta- 

 ken to separate all parts of the 

 M)ot and the water, in which 

 the shoots are first boiled, should be rejected. The whole plant 

 has a strong unpleasant odor and the pith of the hollow stem is in 

 flat disks separated from each other by cavities. Remedies: grub- 

 bing or cutting below the top of the root; repeated mowing and 

 salting. 



Fig. 42. Flowering and fruiting branch. (After 

 Chesnut.) 



