Hungry Mother Conservation Area was purchased in April of 1962.
Media
Safety Concerns
Name
Poisonous
Name
Skin irritating
Scientific Name
Arisaema triphyllum
Family
Araceae (arums)
Description
An unforgettable spring wildflower, Jack-in-the-pulpit is common throughout the state: “Preacher Jack” in his “pulpit” is sheltered by the canopy-like spathe, which is green with white and brown lengthwise markings.
The flowers are tiny, on a vertical clublike structure called a spadix. This floral structure is sheltered by a canopy-like spathe, a modified leaf that is green with white and brown lengthwise markings. The base of the spathe forms a cylinder around the spadix and is thus the “pulpit.” The tip of the spathe is rather blunt.
- Individual plants can have both male and female flowers, the male above the female, or they may have only male or only female flowers. It is reported that the plants can change these characteristics from year to year.
Blooms April–June.
The leaves are dull green, on long stems, compound with 3 leaflets, with the side leaflets asymmetrical.
The fruits are clustered berries that turn from shiny green to brilliant scarlet.
The rootstock is a starchy corm.
Similar species: Green dragon (Arisaema dracontium) has leaves with 5–15 leaflets, and its spathes are green, wrap tightly around the spadix, and are long-tapering to a pointed tip. The fruits of the two species are identical.
Size
Height: to 2½ feet, but usually about 18 inches.
Where To Find
Statewide.
Habitat and Conservation
Occurs in moist upland and bottomland forests and along the bases of moist, protected bluffs.
Status
Native Missouri wildflower.
Human Connections
This plant contains poisonous calcium oxalate crystals and can (rarely) cause a skin rash in some people.
If it isn't properly prepared, this plant is toxic to eat. Native Americans dried the corms and ground them into a flour; cooking and processing them correctly renders the plant edible. Another name for this species is "Indian turnip."
Ecosystem Connections
The arum family is large, and most of its members are tropical. You probably know elephant ear, calla and peace lilies, and philodendron. They all have the same kind of spathe/spadix floral structures. There are only four aroids in Missouri's flora, and one is an introduced exotic.
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Media Gallery
Image
Credit
Julianna Schroeder
Right to Use
Photo by Julianna Schroeder, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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Credit
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
Right to Use
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
Image
Credit
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.
Right to Use
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
Image
Caption
Jack-in-the-pulpit flower and leaf, as they are just unfolding in mid-April.
Right to Use
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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Similar Species
Similar Species
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Where to See Species
An initial donation in 1975 by Charlie Heath, a longtime resident and sportsman established this area.
Teszars Woods is located in the City of Arnold.
Engelmann is a rich forest community that rewards visitors with a variety of natural treats, depending on the season.
This 315-acre area was purchased mostly in 1993 and designated a Natural Area in recognition of its diverse, old growth forest.
About Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants in Missouri
A very simple way of thinking about the green world is to divide the vascular plants into two groups: woody and nonwoody (or herbaceous). But this is an artificial division; many plant families include some species that are woody and some that are not. The diversity of nonwoody vascular plants is staggering! Think of all the ferns, grasses, sedges, lilies, peas, sunflowers, nightshades, milkweeds, mustards, mints, and mallows — weeds and wildflowers — and many more!