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This is the top of one of several 4'-5' 1-inch thick stems which all eminate from central base, and each is topped with this 6 to 8 inch composite of 8-part shiny black-purple berries, attached to magenta-colored top of stem. Leaf is velvety and thin, bright green, single oval-shaped, 5 to 10 inches in length. ( picture does not do the plant justice this year as I unwittingly, sadly, overwatered this during our hot drought in July...
Thanks in advance for any help. I love this plant! but have no idea what it is! (can't find similar in books, etc. I adopted this and rest of huge perennial gardens and am learning as I go...)
Since MSJen suggested pokeweed, I've been investigating re phytolacca sp in various databases ( as much as I like this plant, I'd have to pull it up if it was the toxic pokeweed.) However- closeups of the berries of pokeweed show them to be round and smooth, not segemented (8 segments) like my plant. the color of berry, stem and leaf is very similar tho- but this plant grows as straight stalks with the composite berry-filled end sticking straight up (when it has not been overwatered! ): ) If this is of the same family- I wonder if the plant is toxic like the "regular" pokeweed. I do not find it in "toxic plant" databases- other than its resemblance, as said, to phytolacca americanus.
I'd know that plant a mile away!! POKEWEED!! ARGH! Get those berries in the trash before they are allowed to fall. They are a terrible weed for us here.
