[Illustration: ROUGE PLANT]
Leaves alternate, entire; sepals 4-5; petals absent; stamens 3 to many,
sometimes united at the base; ovary with 1 to many distinct or united
carpels.
Rouge Plant. Small Pokeberry (_Rivina vernalis_) was named for A. Q.
Rivinus, a botanist of Leipzig. It was known as _Rivina humilis_, the
latter name meaning low. It has small flowers, about ¼ in. broad, with 4
white or pink petal-like sepals and 4 stamens. The bright red berries
often occur on the stems while flowers are still present. The low
plants, a foot or more high, grow profusely in woods in Central Texas,
but may be found from Arkansas to the tropics. When vegetable dyes were
in common use, a red dye was obtained from the berries.
Ink-Berry. Large Pokeberry (_Phytolacca americana_) is a leafy, stout,
branched plant 3-9 ft. high, with large leaves and spike-like clusters
of white flowers and purple berries. It is a perennial that grows from a
poisonous root. With special care in the picking and preparation, the
young shoots are sometimes used for greens. The shoe-button-like berries
were used for ink in pioneer days. Maine to Texas. Summer and fall.