Pigeon Berry

Pigeon Berry Rivina humilis. A weak, soft-stemmed, shade loving forest plant that rarely reaches 2’ tall, with medium sized, soft leaves and terminal spikes of small, white flowers that convert to orange-red berries.  Unlike the much taller Poke-Weed (Phytolacca Americana), which has smooth leaves, Pigeon Berry leaves have irregular outlines, appear somewhat wrinkled, and have a more cordate (heart-shaped) outline.  Stems may turn reddish with age, but are otherwise a dull green.  Flowers are similar to P Americana (Poke), but the berries are red (not black), though otherwise equally indelible, and equally inedible, though as the name implies, birds eat them.  Shaded margins of forested sections of MK, CC, CA and DORBA. (Not in Book) 5/10/16; 5/10/17- ; 5/26/18; 5/25/19; 20 no obs;

Pigeon Berry habit; low growing, soft stemmed plant with alternating, wrinkled, heart shaped leaves and terminal spikes of small, white flowers that convert to red-orange berries.

Note; wrinkled, broadly elliptical, to heart shaped leaves arranged around stems in an alternating spiral

Note; terminal spikes of small white flowers, each with 5 petals

Note; red, inedible berries which stain indelibly