Pokeweed
Other names: pokeberry, poke, inkberry, pigeonberry,
scoke, garget
Description: A shrub with alternate leaves that
are longer than wide. Flowers grow on stalks, are
green in color turning reddish. Berries are somewhat
round with flat ends which at first are green turning dark
purple. The juice from these berries produce red
stains on clothing.
Wildlife value: Fruit is an important food source in
late summer and fall for many songbirds and gamebirds including
Northern bobwhite, and mammals including white-tailed deer,
black bear, opossum, raccoon, and gray fox. Foliage
is also consumed by deer. Seeds are important to mourning
doves in the fall and winter. |
