Subject: Re: Toxicity of pokeweed?
From: wtmorgan@pilot.msu.edu (Bill Morgan)
Organization: Michigan State University
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 1997 06:37:35 -0400
Message-ID: <MOD$970909.181@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$970907.27310@rec.gardens.ecosystems>


In article <MOD$970907.27310@rec.gardens.ecosystems>, "dhs" wrote:

> One of the elegant weeds I let grow in my new garden this year is pokeweed.
> I now read that is it poisonous. I intend to pull it out completely, and I
> want to ask:
>
> is there any problem in just pulling it out and cutting the fruit/seed away
> to discard them?
> is there any problem with using ther rest of the plant in compost?
>
> Thank you for your answers. Lisa

I don't think you need to worry about it in compost. It doesn't seem to me
that I've ever seen inhibition of other plants around pokeweed. Remember,
the toxin is a stomach poison for humans (maybe other mammals?), but that
doesn't automatically mean that it will affect other plants.

Did you know that the *young* pokeweed shoots *when properly prepared* are
not only edible, but delicious?

Really, you only need to worry about the poisonous aspects of this plant if
you have small children: the berries are just too attractive. Same
consideration with bittersweet nightshade.

Regards,
Bill

--
Bill Morgan
wtmorgan@pilot.msu.edu
Center for Room Temperature Confusion