Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: Could you give me some information on California Pokeweed?
QUESTION:
We have found in our garden a plant of which we believe is called California
Pokeweed. Another name it has is Thorn Apple. I cannot find any information on
the
plant.
ANSWER:
I am from California and I am familiar with a poisonous East Coast plant known as
pokeweed, which grows as an exotic weed in California, but I don't know of
anything called California Pokeweed.
Pokeweed leaves or shoots are sometimes boiled and drained a couple of times and
safely eaten, but otherwise it is quite poisonous and has killed both children
and adults with its array of irritants, mitogens, alkaloids, sapponins and other
toxins. Nasty stuff.
Thorn apple is also given to several members of the and datura...all very
poisonous,
too.