JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT 



Artsaema triphyllum (Linnaeus) Torrey 



Jack-in-the-pulpit, sometimes called Indian turnip, comes into 

 bloom in spring along with violets and columbines. It thrives in 

 rich 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 

 are 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 red 

 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 is 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. 



Clara Smith 



plate 331 



