Wild Berry Plant in New England

[Mary Doo]

<p>Can someone identify this giant wild soft-stem plant for me? I cannot find any reference in Net.</p>

<p>I have several growing wild in my yard - and I hope it is edible! :)</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

[JDMvW]

<p>Pokeweed, although I'm no botanist.<br /> It's definitely not edible.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>All parts of pokeweed are toxic including the raw aboveground leaves sprouting in the early spring</p>

</blockquote>

<p>from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokeweed</p>

[Mary Doo]

<p>Well, JDM, that was swift! I should have asked much sooner instead of spending hours to find it! Well, forget about Pokeweed Lunch then. Leave something for the birds! :)</p>

<p>Thanks,<br /> Mary</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>Like poisonous cassava, some people actually process and eat parts of the plant, but leaving it for the birds (who seem to like it) is best.</p>

<p>You must be emulating my "Darwinian Backyard" if you've got this growing. :)</p>

[Mary Doo]

<p><< You must be emulating my "Darwinian Backyard" if you've got this growing. :) >><br>

<br />Does "Darwinian Backyard" mean a wild backyard? Yes, I would like the backyard to look a little wild - to attract birds and butterflies. The front yard, of course, has to look "better" for my nice neighbors. :)</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>Absolutely.<br>

I do only delicate "pinching" off of some undesirable spp. once a year. Other than that, my backyard (nicely fenced off from most of my neighbors) struggles for the "survival of the fittest."</p>

<p>It has got to the state where my old dog (may she rest in peace) was getting a little nervous about stepping out into it.</p>

[Mary Doo]

<p>Hahahaha!</p>

<p>Seriously I would like part of my backyard to be a "<a href="http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Outdoor-Activities/Garden-for-Wildlife/Create-a-Habitat.aspx?CFID=21530333&CFTOKEN=309f2d36e2dc9d03-1261BB95-5056-A84B-C3E88C0946E06FF5">Certified Wildlife Habitat</a>" but I am not quite there yet. I am a member of the local Conservation Commission. I have wanted to have one of our specialists help me out but have not had the time to deal with it. Well, one of these days...!</p>

<p> </p>

[bill_stice1]

<p>Mary, JDM is correct. This is Pokeweed. The scientific name is Phytolacca americana. It has an alkaloyd called phytolaccin which is toxic. It is a biennial and many people in the south eat the plant sprouts from the first year. It it the plant that the song "Poke Salad Annie" was written about. I am a botanist and have eaten it as a young man in Arkansas but I wouldn't recommend eating it unless you are certain that it is the first year's growth. This can be tricky so it is probably best not to eat it. Several plants have toxic parts while other parts of the same plant are not. I hope this helps.</p>

[Mary Doo]

<p>Thanks Bill! I have concluded that, while "Poke Salad" sounds intriguing, I had better not be too curious! I must say that the stems look a little like rhubarb though! :)</p>

[dave_wilson1]

<p>I have more of this than I need here in NJ, would anyone like some more? It is a curious big plant and makes for some interesting pictures, it also gets quite big. Cheers</p>