Summary: Phytolacca dodecandra (pokeweed) is a plant in the Phytolaccaceae family. Verdica documents 0 traditional uses, 0 phytochemical compounds, and 0 herb-drug interactions for this species.
Phytolacca dodecandra, commonly known as African Soapberry, Endod, or Gopo Berry, is a native to Tropical Africa, Southern Africa, and Madagascar. It is an evergreen shrub growing up to 4 m in height. The leaves are alternate, oval, and taper to the tip.The flowering stalks are long and erect, and are white to creamy-green. Medicinally used as treatment for edema, diarrhea, abdominal pain, asthma, tuberculosis, eczema, psoriasis, scabies, ringworm, leprosy, boils, vitiligo, conjunctivitis, river blindness, otitis, malaria, rabies, sore throat, jaundice, epilepsy, etc. It is also used as a laxative and anti-inflammatory. Stems and young leaves are cooked and used as a vegetable. The fruits are fleshy, and sometimes eaten. The leaf and fruit extracts are added to drinks and food as a stimulant. The plant is sometimes grown as a hedge. The fruits yield a red dye while the leaves produce yellow dye. Ashes of burnt plants can be made into soaps. Unripe fruits show molluscicidal activities due to its saponins content.
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Watering | Moderate — keep soil moist |
| Soil | Well-drained, moist, acidic |
| Hardiness Zone | USDA 10-12 |
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