Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Phytolacca americana
pigeonberry, pokeberry, pokeweed
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, where introduced; native to central and eastern North America.

Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, clearings, disturbed areas.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Introduced from central and eastern North America

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies

Description:
General:

Perennial herbs, the stems to 3 m. tall.

Leaves:

Leaves alternate, petiolate, the petiole 1-6 cm. long; leaf blades lanceolate to ovate, up to 35 cm. long and 18 cm. wide, the bases rounded to cordate, the tip acuminate.

Flowers:

Flowers in open racemes 6-30 cm. long, the lowest pedicles sometimes with more than one flower; pedicles 3-13 mm. long; sepals 5, white to greenish-white or pinkish or purplish, ovate, 2.5-3.3 mm. long; petals none; stamens 10, in a whorl; ovary superior.

Fruits:

Berries black, 6-11 mm. in diameter.

Accepted Name:
Phytolacca americana L.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 1: 441. 1753.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
(none provided)
Infraspecies:
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Phytolacca americana in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Phytolacca americana checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Phytolacca americana information.

E-Flora BC: Phytolacca americana atlas page.

CalPhotos: Phytolacca americana photos.

USDA Plants: Phytolacca americana information.

22 photographs:
Group by