Pokeberry
Phytolacca dodecandra

Family: Phytolaccaceae

What it is like

A woody climber or a spreading shrub. The stems are slender and can be 5-8 m long. The leaves are alternate. They are 9-12 cm long. They are oval and taper to the tip. They are wedge shaped or rounded at the base. The flowering stalks are long and erect. They are white to creamy-green.

There are 25 Phytolacca species. The berry can be used to control snails causing schistosomiasis.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in mid altitude and mountain rainforest. It suits humid locations. It grows between 600-2,800 m above sea level. It often grows on termite mounds.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, Congo R, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, America, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leafy shoots are cooked and eaten. They are finely cut before cooking. Older leaves are poisonous. Caution: The leaves are poisonous to animals. (Often animals forget to cook their food!)

Edible parts

Leaves, shoots, stems, caution, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Anamamy be, Indod, Lisasingo, Lisingo, Lisilingo, Mayoko, Okomofo, Tidi, Tiri

Synonyms

Phytolacca abyssinica Hoffm.; Pircunia abyssonica Moquin; Pircunia saponacea Welw.;