A poisonous North American plant, Phytolacca americana, with reddish stems, broad leaves, clusters of white flowers, and dark purple berries
also called pokeberry or poke Strong-smelling shrublike plant (Phytolacca americana) with a poisonous root resembling the shape of horseradish, native to wet or sandy areas of eastern North America. It has white flowers, reddish black berries, and dark green leaves that often are red-veined or borne on red leafstalks. The berries contain a red dye used to colour wine, candies, cloth, and paper. Like the roots, the red or purplish mature stalks are poisonous. Very young green shoots (up to about 6 in. [15 cm]), however, are edible
{i} perennial tall plant that bears juicy purple berries and poisonous root (used in medicine for treating rheumatic conditions), poke