A spring woodland wildflower with a distinctive hooded "pulpit" enclosing a "Jack" (the spadix) — actually a flower cluster pollinated by gnats. They can change sex year-to-year based on stored energy reserves.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Arisaema triphyllum, the Jack-in-the-pulpit, is a species of flowering plant in the arum family Araceae. It is a member of the Arisaema triphyllum complex, a group of four or five closely related taxa in eastern North America. The specific name triphyllum means "three-leaved", a characteristic feature of the species, which is also referred to as Indian turnip, bog onion, and brown dragon.
Source: Wikipedia — Arisaema triphyllum Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Tall plant with 1–2 large three-parted compound leaves and a unique flower structure: spathe (hood) striped purple-and-green wrapping around erect spadix (spike); cluster of brilliant red berries on stalk after spathe withers.
Similar species. Green Dragon (A. dracontium — long whip-like spadix, single deeply-divided leaf). Skunk cabbage (related family; different growth form).
Voice. N/A
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Spring wildflower of rich eastern forests. Each plant produces 1 or 2 large compound leaves and a flower spike ("Jack") enclosed in a striped hood-like spathe ("pulpit"). Sex changes throughout life: young plants are male (smaller, single leaf), older plants are female (larger, two leaves, produce berries). Stress can revert females back to males. All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause severe mouth burning if eaten raw — but indigenous peoples knew that drying or thoroughly cooking the corms neutralizes the toxin, yielding edible starchy food.
§ Range
Eastern North America from Nova Scotia to Florida
§ Habitat
Rich moist deciduous forests
§ Threats
Deer overbrowsing of native woodland forbs, loss of moist deciduous forest, garden collection.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the jack-in-the-pulpit is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Don't collect from wild populations. Support deer management. Plant native woodland forbs in shaded gardens.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Arisaema triphyllum
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Arisaema triphyllum
- iNaturalist · taxon 51875
- IUCN Red List — search for Arisaema triphyllum
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Arisaema triphyllum
§ Sources cited
- USDA Plants Database
- Native Plant Trust (formerly New England Wild Flower Society)
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
