Guest ExtremeSoloDubV Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 on the edge of all of our fields, there is some type of vegetation that I am curious to know what it is. It has a red stalk that is not hard as bark on a tree, and has berries of some sort growing on them. On about 80% of them, bucks have rubbed like they would a tree....they seem to love rubbing them and also they seem to be eating the tips of them. What are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Picture would help, but I have three guesses--Pokeweed, Elderberry, or Red Osier Dogwood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerkillr777 Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 if the stalk is kinda hollow, berry come in bunches like graps, if so we have them all over the edge of our power lind and some scattered threwout the woods. i was also wonderign what they might be i jsut call them weeds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 if the stalk is kinda hollow, berry come in bunches like graps, if so we have them all over the edge of our power lind and some scattered threwout the woods. i was also wonderign what they might be i jsut call them weeds We have these scattered all over our property too, not quite certain what the plants are. Our cows get into the plants from time to time and have purple colored stains in the whites on their faces from the berries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slugger Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 sound like poke or polk however you spell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Look like this? Pokeweed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Yep, that is what I was talking about. Guess I know the name of it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 This plant is toxic. Roots and seeds particularly so. If you have kids or animals around this plant, you should kill it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ExtremeSoloDubV Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 that's exactly it...... so it's toxic huh? It creates good cover though from fields into the thickets..... what do you recommend we do with them, as I said the bucks have rubbed on all of the stalks.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted September 12, 2007 Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 that's exactly it...... so it's toxic huh? It creates good cover though from fields into the thickets..... what do you recommend we do with them, as I said the bucks have rubbed on all of the stalks.... First of all, I doubt the deer are rubbing them. I know it appears that way, but if you get close to them, and actually push on them yourself, you will see that they are a very weak plant and deer would easily flatten them if they actually rubbed on them. I used to think they were rubbing on them too until I actually looked at the plant. If you have kids or livestock, I'd get rid of them, if you have neither, I'd just walk around them like I do now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted September 12, 2007 Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 Thats poke salad:D. Alot of people around this area eat it. I know my dad use to like it with eggs, but I never was crazy about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 13, 2007 Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 Never knew the stuff was toxic Chris. Mostly have it here around ditches and spots that I dont typically get to when I bush hog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted September 13, 2007 Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 Never knew the stuff was toxic Chris. Mostly have it here around ditches and spots that I dont typically get to when I bush hog. Only toxic if you ingest it William. Like Okie mentioned though, and I know Kevin (MCH) eats it too, if you boil it and change the water it will kill the toxicity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 13, 2007 Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 Knew we had "polk salad" around here, but thought the leaves were more fuzzy and had a yellowish flower? Dont know if my cows have ever ingested any of the leaves or berries from those plants or not, but I do know they have had the stains on their faces plenty of times. After you posted your reply in here I did a little research, but never found anywhere that said how much would have to be ingested to be a fatal amount. Did have some of those plants around one of my barns where it is kind of tight to get to with the tractor, along with wild blackberry vines. Not any great concentration of those plants anywhere on the property, just a plant here and there scattered. Also have some growing around our silo, where it sits on the hillbank, especially around the area where the motor for the fan sits, it is about impossile to mow close to. Guess I will hit the stuff with round up after hacking it down sometime this fall. Think what has me kind of curious about this now is that about 4 years or so ago we lost a yearling cow that had seemed to be perfectly healthy. Talked to Dale about it, and he did not know, now I kind of wonder if she maybe did not eat some of those berries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Sorry, just found this thread. Polk salad is great. We mix ours with an egg or two, just enough to bind it. Salt and pepper and I can eat until I get sick. Like Chris mentioned it is toxic. The pic above is a mature plant. In order to make polk salad, you need to catch it early, when its not over 3 foot tall. Then you pluck the top "shoots". They're the most tender. Also, after you boil it, you'll need to flush it with cold water. We usually flush it twice. Make sure you squeeze as much of the water out as possible. Also, William, I've never heard of a cow eating pokeweed and dying. We've raised cows all my life and we've always had pokeweed in the area as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgcorn Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 pokeberries you have pokeberries when they turn dark purple the birds will have a hay day with them. Oh and they make a mess when they fly over your vehicle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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