Pokeweed

Family: Phytolaccaceae
Scientific name: Phytolacca americana
Description: Plant Form Perennial herb or shrub. Size Up to 2.5 m tall. Stem Purplish, fleshy, with toxic sap. Leaves Soft, eliptic tapering shape. Large, up to 40 cm long. Flowers Small, white to greenish, in elongated clusters which hang from branches. Fruit and Seeds Showy green berries ripening to dark purple and juicy. In long drooping spikes with bright red stalks. Highly toxic. Habitat Roadsides, disturbed areas, waste areas, urban bushland. Distinguishing Features Taller, has larger leaves, and berry stalks droop more than closely related Inkweed (Phytolacca octandra) which is also a troublesome weed. Weed Status: Other Weed Weed Type: Environmental, Agricultural Lifeform: Herbaceous, Shrubby

Example images for this weed