Help in Valdosta Georgia

[Brian Sayre]

I came across this in the woods and would love for it to be elderberry, but as you can see the berries are not arranged in a canopy shape.  What is this?

[linda]

     This is Poke Salad.  I cooked some years ago just to know what it tasted like.....I had to change the water three (3) times, until the water boiled clear.  It would be a black water color the first two (2) boils.  I was told it would be poisonous to eat the plant before boiling three times.  I didn't like the greens that much for all the trouble it took to cook them, but they would be good if there was nothing else to eat.
     I also used the berries to dye some shirts.  I didn't know to use vinegar to 'set' the dye so they faded and faded, but were pretty.