Unknown plant .....

Can anyone help with the identity of this please?



Many thanks in advance.

 

Those are the fruiting bodies of Phytolaca americana. Whilst the young shoots are reputed to be edible, the rest of the plant and the rest of the time it is rather poisonous.

 

We have them growing wild in our garden, Sis. The birds spread them around, but as Palustrus says, they are poisonous. Very attractive plant though.

 

Thank you Palustris.

We should have known what this was as we had it growing in our garden in Alabama. We called it Poke Salad (the way the Southerners pronounce it) but it's really commonly called Polk Sallet. It is widely eaten in the South .... the young leaves are fine and not poisonous but the older leaves must be boiled, the water drained then more added and re-boiled with bits of bacon/gammon .... how vile, like slime ....

Sis, you can make up a real Southern meal .... bet you didn't know that ..... :D

 

American Choke Weed, I believe.

 

Sorry, couldn't resist putting this up .... a song I remember well ....


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fRF24LY5pvw


Turn up the volume .... :thumb: