Naming |
| Botanical Name: |
Phytolacca decandra
|
| Common Names: |
American pokeweed
|
| Key Name: |
|
| Parts Used: |
root; berries; young leaves
|
| Sister Plants: |
Phytolacca americana
|
| Comments: |
Highly toxic if misused; traditional use requires expert preparation
|
Taxonomy |
| Kingdom |
Viridiplantae |
Phylum |
Streptophyta |
| Class |
Magnoliopsida |
Order |
Caryophyllales |
| Family |
Phytolaccaceae |
Genus |
Phytolacca |
| Species |
|
NCBI Tax ID |
3527
|
| Organism |
Phytolacca americana
|
|
Characteristics |
| Identifying Character: |
Tall perennial with thick reddish-purple stems; large alternate Leaves; clusters of dark purple berries
|
| Stem: |
erect; branched; reddish-purple when mature; hollow
|
| Leaves: |
large; ovate; alternate; smooth margins; unpleasant odor when crushed
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| Flowers: |
small; white to pinkish; in racemes; numerous
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| Fruit: |
dark purple to black berries; in drooping clusters; 10-seeded
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| Taste: |
acrid; Bitter
|
| Odour: |
unpleasant; fetid when crushed
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| Root: |
large; fleshy; branched taproot; acrid
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| Image: |
|
Distribution |
| Distribution: |
Eastern North America; naturalized in Europe and elsewhere
|
| Cultivation: |
grows wild; prefers moist rich soil; full Sun to partial shade
|
| Harvest: |
roots in autumn; berries when ripe; young shoots in spring
|
Medical |
| Therapeutic Action: |
Allopathic: Emetic; purgative; Herbal: Alterative; Lymphatic; Anti-inflammatory; HOMEOPATHIC: mastitis; Sore Throat; rheumatic pain
|
| Medical Uses: |
Allopathic: historical Cancer research; Herbal: swollen lymph nodes; Arthritis; skin conditions; HOMEOPATHIC: glandular Swellings
|
| Constituents: |
phytolaccatoxin; phytolaccigenin; Saponins; Alkaloids; Tannins; resins
|
| Solvents: |
water; alcohol
|
| Dosage: |
Herbal: Tincture 5-10 drops; HOMEOPATHIC: 6C-30C potency
|
| Administration: |
Tincture; decoction; poultice; homeopathic pellets
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| Formulas: |
|
| Contra Indications: |
Pregnancy; lactation; children; internal use without supervision
|
| Preparation: |
|
| Chinese: |
|
| Veterinary: |
Allopathic: limited use in mastitis in cattle under supervision
|
| Homeopathic: |
Phytolacca decandra for Sore Throat; breast abscess; Sciatica
|
Pollination and Pollinators |
| Apis: |
No
|
| Pollinator: |
bees; birds
|
| Pollen: |
No
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| Pollen Notes: |
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| Nectar: |
No
|
| Nectar Notes: |
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Other |
| Non-Medical Uses: |
berry juice for ink; ornamental plant
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| Culinary Uses: |
young shoots boiled as poke sallet after proper preparation
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| History: |
Native American use for Rheumatism and Skin diseases; 19th century eclectic medicine
|
| Reference: |
King's American Dispensatory; Grieve's Modern Herbal
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| URL: |
http://ency.local/ENCY/Phytolacca_decandra
|
| Share: |
Public
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