Venezuela pokeberry
Phytolacca rivinoides

Family: Phytolaccaceae

What it is like

A scrambling or climbing herb. From a woody base it has shoots 5 m long. The leaves are narrowly oval and 9-17 cm long by 5-7 cm wide. The flowering shoots are 15-50 cm long. The fruit are berries 2-6 mm across. The seeds are small and black.

There are 25 Phytolacca species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical America. It grows in lower mountain rainforest. It can grow up to 2,600 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Argentina, Asia, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Greater Antilles, Grenada, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, St Kitts, St Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The leaves are boiled and used for tea. Caution: Plants in this group can have toxic components.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - tea, fruit

How it is grown

The seeds can remain viable in the soil for many years until light and temperature allow them to germinate.

Its other names

Local names

Agouman, Agouman bef, Airombo, Atosaram Babarro, Bakalau tape, Boho, Callaloo, Deer calalu, Finchunu tape, Guanchaparron, Guaparron, Hatun chukllu, Hatun sara, Huahuara, Izenna, Jaboncillo, Jabon panka, Joklhkgk, Jorga, Lang bef, Mapanke'an, Quelite rojo, Sega, Soga, Tilba pata, Tuta yuyu, Wampakar, Wataraku, Yahmolli noso totolkilitl, Yakibe, Yocoto, Yukutu

Synonyms

Phytolacca icosandra var. fraseri Moq.; Phytolacca polystyla R. H. Schomb. ex Moq.;