Pokeweed (Phytolacca acinosa), fam. Phytolaccaceae.
   Blooms in the garden beds of the city in June, the fruits ripen in August. This plant is very controversial. On the one hand, pokeweed is often praised for healing medicinal values (there is advice to consume 1 berry per day "against hypertension"). On the other hand, all its parts are often thought to be very toxic, even able to cause lethal outcome. There are possibly several varieties with different ratios of medicinal and toxic properties, so anyway it is not desirable to risk with them.
   Pokeweed is a perennial plant, only its roots survive the winter. It is usually propagated from seeds.

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