What is this strange fruit bearing plant?

[valtice]

This appeared in the garden over the summer, nestled in a pile of rocks next to a medeival wall. Any idea what it is?

(I'm in the middle of europe 100km from Vienna)

Thanks,

Valtice.

http://bic.breclav.net//mmm/Flower/P1000119.JPG
http://bic.breclav.net//mmm/Flower/P1000117.JPG
http://bic.breclav.net//mmm/Flower/P1000115.JPG

[valtice]

Still no joy in finding out the name of this plant.... I'm now waiting for an email from the helpful people at Kew. :cool:

[curiousgardener]

Hi Valtice, saw my first plant recently in a friend's garden in Suffolk, and then a few weeks later, saw a whole range of them with berries ranging from green to pink to a shiny jet black when we visited Somerleyton Hall. I asked a member of the gardening staff if he could offer an opinion as to what type of plant, and he thought it might be an "Ink Plant" but have not been able to find such a plant using various search engines.

I too contacted RBGK on their info@kew.org on 23rd of August but as yet have not had a reply....but no doubt they will be rather busy with queries from all parts of the globe. Should I be lucky enough in the meantime to find out the name of this strange plant I will let you know. All the best curiousgardener

[samsam]

Phytolacca american or similar? (aka 'pokeweed' and beloved by birds.)

[Paul Narramore]

http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z312/Paul_Narramore/West%20Dean%20and%20Denmans/?action=view&current=DSCF2111.jpg

I saw this for the first time a few weeks ago whilst visiting Denmans in West Sussex. A stunning plant, almost scary.

[curiousgardener]

Many thanks to Samsam and Paul re: "Pokeweed" It's rather like the old thing about waiting for a bus, none for ages and then all appear at once ! As Paul said "scary" but in a beautiful way especially when the berries are that wonderful shiny black.
Just in passing, does anybody know where the plant came from originally, is it indeed an "american" import or an escapee from some far off garden centre?

All the best...curiousgardener

[unique]

Some info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokeweed

[Paul Narramore]

'Polk Salad Annie' by Elivis Presley. Well well, who'd have thought of that connection? That's amazing. And there's me thinking it was always 'Poke Sally Annie'.

It reminds me of the early release by Police which everyone thought was called 'Sue Lawley' but was 'So Lonely?:)