JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT 
Arisaema triphyllum (Linnaeus) Torrey 
Jack-in-the-pulpit, sometimes called Indian turnip, comes into 
bloom in spring along with violets and columbines. It thrives in 
tich moist woods, and in favorable surroundings develops into a 
plant two feet tall. Some spathes contain staminate flowers and others 
pistillate flowers. In some cases both staminate and pistillate flowers 
ate found in the same plant, the latter growing above the former, at 
the base of the club. The fruit, which consists of a ball of bright ted 
berries, ripens in September. The bulblike corm, sunk deep in the 
ground, is very pungent when tasted raw, causing the mouth and 
tongue to burn for hours afterward. It was used by the Indians as 
food, however, after baking or boiling to remove the irritating sub- 
stances. 
The Arum family, to which Jack-in-the-pulpit belongs, is com- 
posed chiefly of tropical plants but includes the skunkcabbage, wild 
calla, greendragon,and goldenclub, as well as the cultivated calla. 
Jack-in-the-pulpit is found from Florida to Kansas and northward 
to Nova Scotia and Minnesota. Our specimen grew at Bryn Mawr, 
Pennsylvania. 
Jack-in-the-pulpit preaches today, 
Under the green trees, just over the way; 
Squirrel and song sparrow high on their perch, 
Hear the sweet lily-bells ringing to church. 
Come hear what his reverence rises to say, 
In his low painted pulpit, this calm Sabbath day. 
Fair 1s the canopy over him seen 
Penciled by nature’s hand, black, brown and green. 
Green is his surplice, green are his bands; 
In his queer little pulpit, the little priest stands. 
CiaRA SMITH 
PLATE 331 
