a bit out of focus.. but it sure looks like pokeweed seeds .... but that isnt a tree ... link below to pix quite a potential nightmare when they come shooting out the other end of the bird... all over the yard... and they are poison in all parts ... i think .. but its still not a tree.. so i am confused.. which is normal ... ken Here is a link that might be useful: link

I believe when the leaves unfurl, it becomes toxic...boil it and discard the water once or more, add butter, and enjoy. I find it can be very invasive if left to reseed, the birds do a good job of seeding for me as well!

Gardens North in Canada has the pokeberry - Phytolacca americana. They even have the variegated variety.

BANE! I've found this sort of "pretty" plant popping up all over my yard in metro-DC area. The really big plants are in my neighbors yard just out of my reach. I consider this plant to be BANE, because my mom had a similar issue with a neighbor that intentionally planted it. Pokeweed is EXTREMELY toxic. Both my mom's dog and her neighbor's dogs ended up in ER vet. Almost died. We think they ate the berries. My niece played with the berries and got very sick too. The purple bird poop is not fun either, but they spread the pokeweed if you lt it get to that point! I;m on a mission to get rid of it along with the poison ivy, sumac and oak I found hiding in my English ivy coming from roots in my neighbors yard. Don't get me started on what I learned today is kudzo climbing my Hemlocks and choking them out. I've got a toddler to look out for, and trying to keep these toxins away from the lovely little dog in my new neighbors yard that my daughter loves to talk to. I'm taking care of this organic way, just yanking, pulling and digging. I don't want to subject my kid to more toxins. Don't believe me? Check out http://extension.psu.edu/prepare/emergencyready/drought/dairylivestock/pokeweed among a million other sources that say it is bad! I joined gardenweb this evening because it was the first thing that popped up in my google search. I think I'm joining this discussion about 6 years too late for the original post, but thought some more balance needs to be brought to this discussion as the first url that came up on pokeweed.