# Jack-in-the-Pulpit (*Arisaema triphyllum*) Jack-in-the-Pulpit is a unique plant with a tall, green hood that looks like a little tent. It grows in shady forests and has a special flower that attracts curious insects. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 72 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Brown Dragon, Indian Turnip ![Jack-in-the-Pulpit](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Arisaema_triphyllum2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Hardyplants at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arisaema_triphyllum2.jpg) ## Appearance The Jack-in-the-Pulpit has a unique flower structure, featuring a hooded, often striped 'pulpit' (spathe) that arches over a central column, the 'jack' (spadix). Its large, green trifoliate leaves, resembling a three-part umbrella, emerge distinctively from the forest floor. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Alismatales - **Family:** Araceae - **Genus:** Arisaema ## Interesting facts - Ancient people used to dry and prepare its root for months to make it edible! - Its 'flower' actually makes its own heat, attracting flies like a warm invitation! - The plant's red berries are shiny and taste like spicy fire if eaten raw! - This amazing plant can live for many decades, possibly even a century underground! ## Special abilities - **Gender Bender:** Jack-in-the-Pulpit can change sex from male to female (and back!) as it grows, helping it adapt to resources. - **Insect Trap:** Jack-in-the-Pulpit has a clever hooded structure that temporarily traps small flies, helping it get pollinated. - **Toxic Shield:** Jack-in-the-Pulpit produces irritating calcium oxalate crystals, protecting it from being eaten by most animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-60 cm - **Spread:** 20-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-20 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Fungus Gnat (*Bradysia impatiens*) — Attracted and temporarily trapped by the unique spathe. - **Eats:** Wild Turkey (*Meleagris gallopavo*) — Feasts on its bright red, late-season berries. - **Eats:** [White-footed Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-footed-mouse) (*Peromyscus leucopus*) — May dig up and consume the underground corms. - **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Enjoys the plant's distinctive, ripe red berries. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Bell-Shaped Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/bell-shaped-flower): Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Don't touch the berries or leaves, as they can be harmful if eaten. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Jack-in-the-Pulpit? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Jack-in-the-Pulpit? 30-60 cm ### How wide does Jack-in-the-Pulpit spread? 20-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on Jack-in-the-Pulpit? 5-20 cm ### When does Jack-in-the-Pulpit bloom? Spring ### Is Jack-in-the-Pulpit edible? No ### Is Jack-in-the-Pulpit toxic? Moderate ### What is Jack-in-the-Pulpit's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Berkshire Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berkshire-botanical-garden) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Bixby State Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bixby-state-preserve) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve - [Chenango Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chenango-canal) — New York, US · Historic Site - [Chesham](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chesham) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [East Windsor Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-windsor-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Field Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/field-farm) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Jack-in-the-Pulpit](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/jack-in-the-pulpit) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Jack-in-the-Pulpit: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jack-in-the-pulpit)