WILD FLOWERS WHITE AND GREENISH 
curving leaflets or bracts. Two of the tiny sepals flare at 
the sides, and the third or upper one unites with the pet- 
als to form a hood. The lip curves into a little sac with 
asharp tip. ‘The leaves were formerly used by the In- 
dians as an antidote for snake bites, and, according to 
Pursh, they were widely known as a certain cure for hy- 
drophobia. This species ranges from Florida and Ten- 
nessee, north to Minnesota, Ontario, and Newfoundland. 
POKE. SCOKE. PIGEON-BERRY. GARGET. 
INK-BERRY 
Phytolacca decandra. Pokeweed Family. 
This tall, smooth, strong-smelling, stout and branch- 
ing herb grows from four to twelve feet high from a 
large, poisonous, perennial root. It is a most familiar 
plant during autumn, when its round, purple-stained 
stalk, and conspicuous, long, drooping clusters of rich, 
dark crimson juiced and shining fruit attract our 
attention along roadsides and fence rows and in 
meadow corners. The large, tapering, oval leaves 
have strong midribs and toothless margins, and alter- 
nate upon the stalk with short stems. The small, 
squatty, five-parted, green-centred, pink-tinted, white 
flowers are gathered in long, terminal, clustering, pur- 
ple stemmed spikes. The petal-like parts are really 
coloured sepals which take the place of a corolla. In 
the early spring the young shoots are much used as 
food and are boiled and eaten like asparagus. For 
this purpose they should be thoroughly cooked and 
not cut too close to the root, otherwise they will produce 
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