Phytolacca americana

From Permawiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Phytolacca americana
Light:Full Sun Part Shade
Moisture:Mesic
Hardiness:4
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:7'
Width:5'
Speed:Fast
Blooms:Late Summer-Early Fall
Open Woods Forest
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Phytolacca americana (common name: pokeweed)

Propagation: Seed - sow autumn or spring in a cold frame[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

If you have sufficient seed, it might be worthwhile trying an outdoor sowing in a seed bed in early spring. Grow the plants on in the seedbed for their first year and plant them out the following spring.

Division in March or October. Use a sharp spade or knife to divide the rootstock, making sure that each section has at least one growth bud. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Cultivation: An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils[2], though preferring a moisture retentive soil in full sun or partial shade[3][1]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[4]. Succeeds in an open woodland garden[1], growing well under trees[5].

Whilst the dormant plant is hardy in much of Britain, the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts.

A very ornamental plant[2], it often self sows when in a suitable position[1].

Cultivated as a dye plant[6] and on a small scale for its edible young shoots, there is at least one named form. 'White Stem' has white stems and the berries yield a golden-peach dye instead of purple. It is not yet known (1992) if it will breed true from seed[7].

This plant is an alternative host to a number of viral diseases that affect members of the Amaryllidaceae, Liliaceae (broad view, including plants recently [8] moved into separate families) and Solanaceae[1].

Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[4].

Range: Northern and Central N. America. Occasionally naturalized in Britain[9].

Habitat: Damp rich soils in clearings, woodland margins and roadsides[10].

Edibility: Leaves - they must be cooked and even then it is best to change the water once[2][11][12][13][14]. They are used like spinach[7]. Only the young leaves should be used since they become toxic with age[15]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Young shoots - cooked[5][13][16][15]. An asparagus substitute[7], they are delicious[17]. The shoots are sometimes blanched before using, or forced in cellars to provide an early crop[7]. The tender clear inner portion of the stem can be rolled in cornmeal and fried[7]. Although cultivated on a small scale in N. America for its shoots, caution is advised, see notes above. A nutritional analysis is available[18].

Fruit - cooked and used in pies[17][19]. Poisonous raw, causing vomiting and diarrhoea. Even the cooked fruits should be viewed with caution. The fruit is a berry about 12mm in diameter[1].

A red dye is obtained from the fruit and used as a food colouring[7].

Medicinal: Pokeweed has a long history of medicinal use, being employed traditionally in the treatment of diseases related to a compromised immune system. The plant has an interesting chemistry and it is currently (1995) being investigated as a potential anti-AIDS drug[20]. It contains potent anti-inflammatory agents, antiviral proteins and substances that affect cell division[20]. These compounds are toxic to many disease-causing organisms, including the water snails that cause schistosomiasis[20].

All parts of the plant are toxic, an excess causing diarrhoea and vomiting[20]. This remedy should be used with caution and preferably under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[20].

The root is alterative, anodyne, anti-inflammatory, cathartic, expectorant, hypnotic, narcotic and purgative[12][21][22][23][24][25][20].

The dried root is used as an anodyne and anti-inflammatory[19]. The root is taken internally in the treatment of auto-immune diseases (especially rheumatoid arthritis), tonsillitis, mumps, glandular fever and other complaints involving swollen glands, chronic catarrh, bronchitis etc[20]. The fresh root is used as a poultice on bruises, rheumatic pains etc, whilst a wash made from the roots is applied to swellings and sprains[26]. The root is best harvested in the autumn and can be dried for later use[20].

The fruit has a similar but milder action to the roots[20].The juice is used in the treatment of cancer, haemorrhoids and tremors[19]. A poultice made from the fruit is applied to sore breasts[26]. A tea made from the fruit is used in the treatment of rheumatism, dysentery etc[26]. The plant has an unusually high potassium content and the ashes, which contain over 45% caustic potash, have been used as a salve for ulcers and cancerous growths[27].

The leaves are cathartic, emetic and expectorant[26].

A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh root[27]. Its main action is on the throat, breast, muscular tissues and the joints[27].

Usage: A red ink and a dye are obtained from the fruit[22][6][28][29][15][17][30]. A beautiful colour, though it is not very permanent[12]. It makes a good body paint, washing off easily when no longer required, though the slightly toxic nature of the berries should be remembered[K].

The rootstock is rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute[30]. Cut the root into small pieces and simmer it in boiling water to obtain the soap.

The plant is currently (1980) being evaluated for its snail-killing properties[19].

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Late Fall

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Known Hazards: The leaves are poisonous[21][16][31][14]. They are said to be safe to eat when young, the toxins developing as the plants grow older. Another report says that the seeds and root are poisonous. The plant sap can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[26]._x005F

Also Known As: P. decandra.

Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  3. ↑ Sanders, Thomas. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge, 1926.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named pfaf1992
  9. ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
  10. ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
  11. ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Organ, John. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber, 1960.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Saunders, Charles. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1976.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Kavasch, Barrie. Native Harvests. Vintage Books, 1979.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Elias, Thomas. A Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1982.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 McPherson, Alan and Sue McPherson. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press, 1977.
  18. ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  23. ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
  24. ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
  25. ↑ Emboden, William. Narcotic Plants. Studio Vista, 1979.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Castro, Miranda. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan, 1990.
  28. ↑ Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.
  29. ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Buchanan, Rita. A Weavers Garden.
  31. ↑ Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.


Retrieved from "https://old.permawiki.org/w/index.php?title=Phytolacca_americana&oldid=30495"