May 01 2008
Pokeweed
I do believe I have talked about pokeweed before on the blog but since I was literally walking through it yesterday I felt the need to write about it again and show it to you.
I remember many times out hunting this plant with my grandma, both of them actually. Personally I have only ever been fond of one type of greens and that is spinach. Although poke greens are said to taste like spinach. I know quite a few people are quite fond of them.
Like a lot of wild plants - poke contains a toxin and has to be prepared a specific way in order to remove it. If you want to know a lot more about poke greens you can check out - Wikipedia - Pokeweed.
Also like a lot of plants this one has many uses. Even more than most. Did you know - the Declaration of Independence was written using fermented pokeberry juice? I sure didn’t. The plant grows to a height of from 5 to 10 feet and has purple berries on it once it matures.
Anyway, if you plan to cook it, definitely read up on it some before you do because the toxin can do nasty stuff to you.
I haven’t really found any particular one area to find the pokeweed. It seems to just grow anywhere. Once you know what it looks like - it is hard to miss.
Adding these photos of the mature pokeberry bush . Thanks Matthew.
