116 OCCASIONALLY FATAL. . 
JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT—Avrisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott. 
Other Common Names: Indian or Wild Turnip, Three- 
leaved Arum. 
The plant is acrid, especially its corm, which is very 
poisonous, having been used, according to Pammel, as 
insect poison. It is claimed that boiling or baking re- 
duces the acridity. Animals do not eat it. 
A native of North America, it is common in low, moist 
woods as: far west as the prairies. The large pale-green 
spathe, streaked with brown or purple, arches over the 
spadix in the form of an old-fashioned pulpit. On the 
narrowed base of the spadix or “Jack’”’ small flowers are 
borne, either staminate or pistillate as the case may be. 
The fruit is bright red. The leaves are compound of 
three smooth oval leaflets with entire margins. 
LILY FAMILY—Liliaceae. 
LILY OF THE VALLEY, Convallaria majalis L., is some- 
times responsible for poisoning due to the presence 
of a very poisonous crystalline compound. It has an eme- 
tic and purgative action and a depressing effect on the 
heart. If sufficient quantites are eaten death results from 
paralysis of the heart. 
Its two broad, entire leaves and spike of nodding, 
scented, white flowers are too well known to need special 
description. 
