Pokeweed
Pokeweed is pretty common around here. You can always recognize it by its distinctive cluster of dark, indigo berries.
If consumed without preparation the plant will make you sick, however, if parboiled and drained a couple of times first the leaves and stalks are some of the tastiest greens you can consume. In fact, it used to be you could buy canned pokeweed.
It was sometimes referred to as Poke Salet and Elvis wrote a song about it with the awkward title “Poke Salad Annie.”
The berries are considered to be poisonous, however, there are many that swear consuming one or two a day has cured their arthritis. Please don’t take that as medical advice - look it up yourself.
The reason I’m even blathering about this weed is I allow it to grow around the perimeter of our yard. I’ve prepared it once but since Teresa refuses to have anything to do with it I’ve kind of given up on eating it.
