Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Photo of Jack-in-the-pulpit plant showing foliage and flowering structure
Poisonous
Skin irritating
Scientific Name
Arisaema triphyllum
Family
Araceae (arums)
Description

Flowers tiny, on a vertical clublike structure called a spadix. This floral structure is sheltered by a canopylike 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. Blooms April–June. Leaves dull green, on long stems, compound with 3 leaflets, with the side leaflets asymmetrical. Fruits clustered berries that turn from shiny green to brilliant scarlet. Rootstock a starchy corm.

Similar species: Green dragon (A. 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
image of Jack-in-the-Pulpit Distribution Map

Statewide.

Occurs in moist upland and bottomland forests and along the bases of moist, protected bluffs. Individual plants can have both male and female flowers, the male above the female, or may have only male or only female flowers. It is reported that the plants can change these characteristics from year to year.

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 is "Indian turnip."

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.

Media Gallery
Photo of Jack-in-the-pulpit plant showing foliage and flowering structure
Julianna Schroeder
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Photo of Jack-in-the-pulpit ripe red fruit cluster
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
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jack-in-the-pulpit
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.
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Photo of a Jack-in-the-pulpit flower and leaf as they first unfold.
Jack-in-the-pulpit flower and leaf, as they are just unfolding in mid-April.
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Photo of Jack-in-the-pulpit plant showing foliage and flowering structure
Photo of Jack-in-the-pulpit ripe red fruit cluster
jack-in-the-pulpit
Photo of a Jack-in-the-pulpit flower and leaf as they first unfold.
Similar Species

Where to See Species

Wildflowers in the woods.
Engelmann Woods Natural Area
Engelmann is a rich forest community that rewards visitors with a variety of natural treats, depending on the season.
Woods at the Dark Hollow NA
Dark Hollow Natural Area
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!