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Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
Family: Arum (Araceae)
Height: 12-36" (30-91 cm)
Flower: erect spike cluster, 2-3" (5-7.5 cm) long, of a green “club” (spadix or “Jack”) sitting inside a green striped or mottled purplish “hood” (spathe or “pulpit”) at top of a single stalk; spadix base is lined with tiny male or female flowers, protected by the spathe
Leaf: compound, 5-12" (13-30 cm) long, of 3 leaflets, dull green, smooth margin, deeply veined; 1-2 (female plant has 2; male has 1) leaves per plant
Fruit: shiny green berry, turning red in fall, 1/2" (1 cm) wide, found in cone-shaped clusters
Bloom: spring
Cycle/Origin: perennial, native
Habitat: wet soils, bogs, moist deciduous woods, shade
Range: throughout
Notes: Also called Indian Turnip because American Indians cooked its short, thickened, underground stem (corm) as food. However, no part of the plant is edible as it contains calcium oxalate crystals, which cause a burning sensation in the mouth. Its large three-parted leaves are often confused with those of Large-flowered Trillium (pg. 267), but each leaflet of Jack-in-the-pulpit has a deep vein around its margin. If disturbed or affected by other stress, the female plant declines in vigor and may stop producing fruit.