pokeweed

American  

[pohk-weed] / ˈpoʊkˌwid /

noun

1. any of numerous and usually toxic plants of the genus Phytolacca, including P. americana, of North America, having juicy purple berries and a purple root used in folk medicine, and young shoots resembling asparagus: pokeweed species vary greatly in height, with some growing to about 3.2 feet (1 meter) and others as tall as 82 feet (25 meters).

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pokeweed British  

/ ˈpəʊkˌwiːd /

noun

1. Also called: inkberry.  Sometimes shortened to: poke.  a tall North American plant, Phytolacca americana, that has small white flowers, juicy purple berries, and a poisonous purple root used medicinally: family Phytolaccaceae

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Etymology

Origin of pokeweed

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55; poke ⁴ + weed ¹

Example Sentences

With so many far-less-risky wild edibles to try, reason sides with avoiding pokeweed as a meal altogether.

From New York Times • Oct. 5, 2017

Humans who eat any part of mature pokeweed may experience violent cramping, difficulty breathing, and eventual death by asphyxiation.

From New York Times • Oct. 5, 2017

At the point when its shoots are only a few inches tall, pokeweed can be harvested and boiled to make a basic cooked vegetable.

From New York Times • Oct. 5, 2017

The researchers also found at least 57 different plant taxa in the dung deposit, from conifer cones and wild plum to ash and pokeweed.

From Scientific American • Sep. 10, 2017

We scurried after it and hid in a thicket of dead vines and pokeweed.

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn