Poke Sallet or Poke Sallit, common name for it where I grew up. Awesome plant and I ate my share of it, the very tender young leaves, 3 times cooked with the water tossed every time. It was also considered medicinal by the Cherokees and by my great aunt, so she made a decoction, used it as a tonic and I reckon we all lived through it. Lovely plant.
I gathered the berries and decorated every rock and cliff on that mountainside, left my red mark wherever I went. Dyed my clothes, dyed my hair a few times, left some berries for the birds. I learned a lot from that plant, also had to wear the dreaded asphidity bag around my neck every time we went to the top of the mountain to gather it.
I still love it, but haven't painted the town red with it in a long long time! Nor have I eaten it since Aunt Bett passed away; I never trusted anyone else to fix it properly, but I swear it was so good with a little bacon grease and hot cornbread. (No sugar!!)
Thanks Jo!! Nice article.
