Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott

Common Jack in the Pulpit; Indian Turnip

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Common Jack in the Pulpit is a native herbaceous perennial in the Arum family (Araceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Common Jack in the Pulpit occurs in bottomland forests, on the floodplain of streams and rivers, in swamp forests, and in mesic hardwood forests. It is a perennial from a corm. Each corm produces 2-3 foliage leaves and a single inflorescence. The foliage leaves are petiolate with 3-5 palmate divisions. The leaflets are ovate to rhombic in outline, glabrous, with entire margins. The petiole may be green or purple in color and the leaflets may be glaucous beneath or not. Flowers are produced in a spadix (Jack) surrounded by a spathe (the pulpit) that surrounds and curves over the spadix in a hood. The spadix contains many small, greenish flowers that lack petals or sepals. Young plants may produce only male flowers. Older plants have a spadix with female flowers towards the base and male flowers towards the top. The spathe is solid green, green with white or purple stripes, or solid purple. The fruit is a red berry with 1-5 seed. All parts of Common Jack in the Pulpit contain calcium oxalate crystals and cause a burning irritation of the mouth and throat if consumed. Sever cases can cause swelling of the mouth and throat affecting breathing. Common Jack-in-the-Pulpit is a favorite wildflower because of its curious flowers. It is often available from wildflower nurseries. It prefers an organic rich soil that is moist or wet and partial to full shade. Common Jack in the Pulpit is highly variable, and several forms have been described as species, subspecies, or varieties.--A. Diamond

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Native FACW (NWPL)

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