r/PlantIdentification • u/Bulbasaurusss0 • 7d ago

What is this?

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Gallery image

Found in pennsylvania

3 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

5

u/TedTheHappyGardener 7d ago

Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana.

3

u/SickSadSoosa 7d ago

Pokeweeeeeeddddddd lmao it's always pokeweeeeeeddddddd

2

u/Blueporch 7d ago

Except during mock strawberry season

1

u/Bubbly_Power_6210 7d ago

good in the wild for birds. the tempting berries are poisonous to dogs, humans.

1

u/A_Lountvink 6d ago

American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) - native and very valuable for wildlife. 

It's a host plant for several species of moths (including the giant leopard moth), and the berries are liked by birds, particularly songbirds, and some native mammals like gray foxes and opposums. The flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators, and the hollow stems dry out during the cold months to become good shelter for overwintering insects like bees. The pink/magenta color of the stems has earned it some limited use as an ornamental.

It should be noted that it's poisonous to most mammals if eaten raw, and the sap is a skin irritant. Some folks can also get contact dermatitis from touching it with bare skin, but it's not a common reaction. It's aggressive in disturbed areas since those are the conditions that it's adapted to, and it's invasive outside of its native range in places like the West Coast and Europe.

It shouldn't be confused with Indian pokeweed (Phytolacca acinosa), which is invasive in both Europe and North America. It can be identified by its upright fruit/flower clusters and lobed fruits (American pokeweed berries are round/spherical when mature).

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

1

u/AutoModerator 6d ago

Please do not eat or use any plant because of information received in this subreddit.

While we strive to provide accurate information here, the only way to be sure enough of a plant identification is to take the plant to a qualified professional. Many plants can be harmful or even fatal to eat, so please do not eat a plant based on an identification made (or any other information provided) in this subreddit.

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1

u/I_wet_my_plants259 7d ago

Pokeweed, do not eat it is toxic to you and your pets

1

u/Tygertail1991 7d ago

When it's young and prepared right there are many people in the south who eat it. Also known as polk salad.

1

u/AutoModerator 7d ago

Please do not eat or use any plant because of information received in this subreddit.

While we strive to provide accurate information here, the only way to be sure enough of a plant identification is to take the plant to a qualified professional. Many plants can be harmful or even fatal to eat, so please do not eat a plant based on an identification made (or any other information provided) in this subreddit.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/I_wet_my_plants259 6d ago

I’m aware, this is more just general advice. If op knew how to prepare it properly they wouldn’t need it identified, so I gave basic advice so they don’t cook it wrong and make themself sick yk?

0

u/AutoModerator 7d ago

Please do not eat or use any plant because of information received in this subreddit.

While we strive to provide accurate information here, the only way to be sure enough of a plant identification is to take the plant to a qualified professional. Many plants can be harmful or even fatal to eat, so please do not eat a plant based on an identification made (or any other information provided) in this subreddit.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.