jack-in-the-pulpit

(Arisaema triphyllum)

Conservation Status
jack-in-the-pulpit
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
Wetland Indicator Status
     
  Great Plains

FAC - Facultative

     
  Midwest

FACW - Facultative wetland

     
  Northcentral & Northeast

FAC - Facultative

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Jack-in-the-pulpit is a 12 to 36 tall, erect, perennial forb that rises from a corm with secondary roots.

There is no central stem.

Usually 2 leaves, sometimes just 1, rarely 3 rise from the corm on long, erect stalks that reach 24 by the time the plant is in full flower. The leaves are divided into 3, rarely 5, more or less stalkless leaflets. The leaflets are 2½ to 8 long, 1¼ to 5½ wide, and taper gradually to a point at the tip with concave sides along the tip. There is a prominent midvein originating from the base of the leaf and extending to the tip, and up to 10 or more prominent, parallel, lateral veins branching pinnately off the midvein. The lateral veins curve abruptly toward the leaf tip before reaching the margin, and join together in a marginal vein. The angle formed between the midvein of the terminal leaflet and either lateral leaflet is 90° or less.

The upper surface is medium to dark green and hairless. The lower surface is paler green, hairless, and covered with a whitish, waxy coating (glaucous). The margins are untoothed. The terminal leaflet is egg-shaped or broadly diamond-shaped. The lateral leaflets are distinctly asymmetrical and smaller than the terminal leaflet.

A single flower stalk (peduncle) rises from the corm with the leaves. The peduncle is shorter than the leaf stalks.

The inflorescence is a spike with tiny flowers crowded on a thickened axis (spadix). The spadix is yellow, 1 to 3½ tall, blunt-tipped, and club-shaped, tapering slightly from a narrower base to a broader tip. A leaf-like bract (spathe) forms a tube surrounding the spadix. It is expanded near the tip forming a long, tapering hood that covers the spadix and tube. The hood opens at maturity, exposing half of the spadix. The spathe is green, often with purple stripes.

The male flowers are located above the female flowers on the lower half of the spadix. The upper part of the spadix has no flowers.

The fruit is a nearly spherical, 1 5 to ¼ long, red berry with 1 to 3 seeds, borne in a tight cluster up to 2 long.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

12 to 36

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

Yellow

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

Trilliums (Trillium spp.) look similar when no flower or fruit is present. They can be distinguished from jack-in-the-pulpit by the veins on the leaves. Trillium leaves have 5 prominent veins originating from the base of the leaf and extending to the tip. The lateral veins form a network. The angle formed between the midvein of the terminal leaflet and either lateral leaflet is greater than 90° (obtuse).

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Moist to moderate moisture. Woods. Partial sun to shade.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

April to June

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 28, 29, 30.

 
  5/2/2023      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Liliopsida (monocots)  
  Subclass Alismatidae  
 

Order

Alismatales (water-plantains, seagrass, and allies)  
 

Family

Araceae (arum)  
  Subfamily Aroideae  
  Tribe Arisaemateae  
 

Genus

Arisaema (jack-in-the-pulpits and cobra lilies)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum ssp. stewardsonii)

jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum ssp. triphyllum)

small jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum ssp. pusillum)

 
       
 

Some taxonomic authorities, including GRIN and USDA Plants, recognize the three subspecies of jack-in-the-pulpit listed above. All of them occur in Minnesota. The three subspecies can be recognized in the field but herbarium specimens are difficult to separate. There is much overlap in the defining characteristics, with many intermediate forms and hybrids. Nevertheless, the subspecies are reproductively isolated in the wild. Some sources, including iNaturalist, treat them as three separate species. Most sources, including ITIS, Plants of the World Online, and World Flora Online, treat Arisaema triphyllum as one highly variable species with no subspecies. Flora of North America does not recognize the subspecies but does include a key for distingushing between them.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Arisaema acuminatum

Arisaema atrorubens

Arisaema pusillum

Arisaema quinatum

Arisaema stewardsonii

Arisaema triphyllum ssp. pusillum

Arisaema triphyllum ssp. quinatum

Arisaema triphyllum var. stewardsonii

Arisaema triphyllum ssp. stewardsonii

Arisaema triphyllum ssp. triphyllum

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

Indian jack in the pulpit

Indian turnip

jack in the pulpit

jack-in-the-pulpit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Corm

A short, solid, vertical, thickened, underground stem that serves as a storage organ.

 

Glaucous

Pale green or bluish gray due to a whitish, powdery or waxy film, as on a plum or a grape.

 

Peduncle

The stalk of a single flower or flower cluster.

 

Pinnately veined

With the veins arranged like the vanes of a feather; a single prominent midvein extending from the base to the tip and lateral veins originating from several points on each side.

 

Spadix

A spike with small flowers crowded on a thickened, fleshy axis, usually enclosed in a spathe.

 

Spathe

One or two large bracts that subtend, hood, or sometimes envelope a flower or flower cluster, as with a jack-in-the-pulpit.

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

Share your photo of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
 
 

Kberns

 
 

This one was big !

 
    jack-in-the-pulpit      
 

Wayne Rasmussen

 
    jack-in-the-pulpit      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Plant

 
    jack-in-the-pulpit   jack-in-the-pulpit  
           
 

Flower

 
    jack-in-the-pulpit      
           
 

Leaves

 
    jack-in-the-pulpit   jack-in-the-pulpit  
           
    jack-in-the-pulpit      
           
 

Infructescence

 
    jack-in-the-pulpit   jack-in-the-pulpit  

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Jack In The Pulpit
DianesDigitals
 
  Jack In The Pulpit  
 
About

Copyright DianesDigitals

 
  Arisaema triphyllum
Butler Herbarium
 
  Arisaema triphyllum  
  jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum var.)
Andree Reno Sanborn
 
  jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum var.)  
  Arisaema atrorubens (Jack-in-the-Pulpit)
Allen Chartier
 
  Arisaema atrorubens (Jack-in-the-Pulpit)  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

 

 
     
     
       
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
colong7034
 
   
 
About

Published Sep 25, 2013

Development of Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) from flowers to berries. Transylvania County, NC. Flowers shot late May, early June 2013; Berries shot late August through september 2013.

   
  MyNature Apps; Identifying Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum
MyNatureApps
 
   
 
About

Uploaded May 29, 2011

How to identify Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum also known as Bog onion, Brown dragon, Indian turnip, Wake robin or Wild turnip. www.mynatureapps.com

   
  Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
wvoutdoorman
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 9, 2012

Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Kberns
5/23/2020

Location: Hugo, MN

This one was big !

jack-in-the-pulpit  
  Wayne Rasmussen
5/31/2016

Location: Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

jack-in-the-pulpit  
  Crystal Boyd
6/2/2013

Location: Pine Bend Bluffs SNA

   
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Avon Hills Forest SNA, North Unit

Baker Park Reserve

Banning State Park

Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park

Big Woods Heritage Forest WMA

Blaine Wetland Sanctuary

Blue Mounds State Park

Brownsville Bluff SNA

Bur Oak WMA

Camden State Park

Cannon River Trout Lily SNA

Cannon River Wilderness Area

Carley State Park

Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center

Carver Park Reserve

Cedar Mountain SNA

Chamberlain Woods SNA

Charles A. Lindbergh State Park

Cherry Grove Blind Valley SNA

Chimney Rock SNA

Clear Lake SNA

Cleary Lake Regional Park

Clifton E. French Regional Park

Crosby Farm Regional Park

Crow Wing State Park

Crow-Hassan Park Reserve

Crystal Spring SNA

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Falls Creek SNA

Father Hennepin State Park

Flandrau State Park

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

Fort Ridgely State Park

Franconia Bluffs SNA

Frontenac State Park

Glacial Lakes State Park

Glendalough State Park

Great River Bluffs State Park

Greenleaf Lake SRA

Hampton Woods WMA

Hardscrabble Woods / MG Tusler Sanctuary

Hastings Sand Coulee SNA

Hastings SNA

Hemlock Ravine SNA

Hyland Lake Park Reserve

Itasca State Park

Itasca Wilderness Sanctuary SNA

John A. Latsch State Park

Kasota Prairie SNA

Keller Regional Park

Kilen Woods State Park

King’s and Queen’s Bluff SNA

Laible Woods

Lake Alexander Woods SNA, South Unit

Lake Carlos State Park

Lake Louise State Park

Lake Maria State Park

Lake Rebecca Park Reserve

Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Leif Mountain

Maplewood State Park

Margherita Preserve-Audubon Prairie

Mary Schmidt Crawford Woods SNA

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

Mille Lacs WMA

Minneopa State Park

Minnesota Valley NWR, Black Dog Unit

Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, Lawrence Unit

Mississippi River County Park

Monson Lake State Park

Moose Lake State Park

Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve

Myre-Big Island State Park

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo

P.N. and G.M. Nelson Wildlife Sanctuary

Partch Woods SNA

Paul Bunyan Savanna

Pin Oak Prairie SNA

Pine Bend Bluffs SNA

Prairie Bush Clover SNA

Prairie Creek Woods SNA

Quarry Park SNA

Rice Lake State Park

Ritter Farm Park

River Warren Outcrops SNA

Robert Ney Memorial Park Reserve

Rockville County Park

Rushford Sand Barrens SNA

St. Croix Savanna SNA

St. Croix State Park

Sakatah Lake State Park

Savage Fen SNA

Savanna Portage State Park

Scenic State Park

Schoolcraft State Park

Sedan Brook SNA

Seven Mile Creek County Park

Seven Springs WMA

Sibley State Park

Spring Lake Park Reserve

Springbrook Nature Center

Staffanson Prairie

Stanley Eddy Memorial Park Reserve

Sunfish Lake Park

Thompson County Park

Townsend Woods SNA

Tribute WMA

Twin Lakes SNA

Twin Valley Prairie Addition

Upper Sioux Agency State Park

Vermillion Highlands Research Recreation and WMA

Vermillion River WMA

Whitetail Woods Regional Park

Whitewater State Park

Whitney Island SNA

Wild River State Park

William O’Brien State Park

Wolsfeld Woods SNA

Wood-Rill SNA

Woodland Trails Park

 

 

 

Binoculars


Last Updated:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | © MinnesotaSeasons.com.com. All rights reserved.