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Arisaema triphyllum - (L.)Schott.

Common Name Jack In The Pulpit, Dragonroot, Indian Turnip
Family Araceae
USDA hardiness 4-9
Known Hazards The plant contains calcium oxylate crystals. These cause an extremely unpleasant sensation similar to needles being stuck into the mouth and tongue if they are eaten but they are easily neutralized by thoroughly drying or cooking the plant or by steeping it in water.
Habitats Wet woods, bogs and swamps[43].
Range Eastern N. America - Quebec to Louisiana and Kansas.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Arisaema triphyllum Jack In The Pulpit, Dragonroot, Indian Turnip


(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future
Arisaema triphyllum Jack In The Pulpit, Dragonroot, Indian Turnip

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Green, Purple, White Main Bloom Time: Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Arisaema triphyllum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower from June to July. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Flies. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. atrorubens. Blume. Arum triphyllum.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Tuber - it must be thoroughly dried or cooked before being eaten[2, 21, 55, 57, 95, 102]. The roots can be cut into very thin slices and allowed to dry for several months, after which they are eaten like potato chips, crumbled to make a cereal or ground into a cocoa-flavoured powder for making biscuits, cakes etc[177, 183]. They can also be pounded into a powder, this is thern left to dry for several weeks when it becomes safe to use[213]. The root is up to 5cm long and 2cm wide[4]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Acrid  Antirheumatic  Antiseptic  Contraceptive  Diaphoretic  Expectorant  Irritant  Poultice  
Stimulant

The root is acrid, antiseptic, diaphoretic, expectorant, irritant and stimulant[21, 46, 222, 238, 257]. It is harvested in early spring and dried for later use[4]. The fresh root is considered to be too dangerous and intensely acrid to use, whilst the dried roots become inactive, so fresh, partially dried roots are used[213]. Due to the potentially toxic nature of this plant, it should only be used internally under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[K]. The root was applied as a poultice on headaches, scrofulous sores, rheumatism, boils, abscesses and ringworm[222, 257]. A decoction of the root has been used as a wash for sore eyes[257]. The root was used as a contraceptive by the N. American Indians. One teaspoonful of the dried powdered root in cold water was said to prevent conception for a week whilst two teaspoonfuls in hot water was said to induce permanent sterility[213].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Musical  Starch

A starch obtained from the roots is used as a stiffener for clothes[207]. It is very harsh to the hands, causing blisters and swellings[207]. The seeds have been used in rattles[257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Massing, Woodland garden. Prefers a cool peaty soil in the bog garden, woodland garden or a sheltered border in semi-shade[90, 134, 200]. Prefers a loamy or peaty soil and will tolerate a sunny position if the soil is moist but not water-logged and the position is not too hot or exposed[1, 200]. Tubers should be planted about 10cm deep[233]. Only plant out full sized tubers and mulch them with organic matter in the winter[200]. Plants need protection from slugs[200]. Most species in this genus are dioecious, but they are sometimes monoecious and can also change sex from year to year. Special Features: Attracts birds, Attractive foliage, North American native, Naturalizing, All or parts of this plant are poisonous, Wetlands plant.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame[134]. Stored seed remains viable for at least a year and can be sown in spring in the greenhouse but it will probably require a period of cold stratification. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 6 months at 15°c[134]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least a coupe of years until the corms are more than 20mm in diameter. Plant out into their permanent positions whilst they are dormant. Division of tubers when the plant dies down in late summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec (south), Nova Scotia, Ontario (south), Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Manitoba (southeast)), United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas (east), Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska (east), North Dakota (east), Oklahoma (east), South Dakota (east), Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia, Texas)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Arisaema amurenseTian Nan XingPerennial0.5 4-8  LMFSNM23 
Arisaema consanguineumTian Nan XingPerennial1.0 6-9  LMFSNM13 
Arisaema costatum Perennial0.6 6-9  LMFSNM20 
Arisaema dracontiumGreen-DragonPerennial0.8 4-8  LMFSNM11 
Arisaema flavum Perennial0.4 6-9  LMFSNM211
Arisaema jacquemontii Perennial0.6 5-9  LMFSNM20 
Arisaema negishii Perennial0.0 -  LMFSNM20 
Arisaema peninsulare Perennial0.2 -  LMFSNM10 
Arisaema quinatumIndian Turnip, Jack in the pulpitPerennial1.0 0-0  LMFSNM10 
Arisaema ringens Perennial0.3 6-9  LMFSNM01 
Arisaema serratum Perennial0.9 4-8  LMFSNM21 
Arisaema thunbergii Perennial0.6 -  LMFSNM01 
Arisaema tortuosumArisaemaPerennial0.6 6-9  LMFSNM221
Arisaema utile Perennial0.5 4-8  LMFSNM20 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(L.)Schott.

Botanical References

43200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Cindy   Wed May 4 13:24:18 2005

How do you care for this plant as an indoor container plant? What should I expect for its life expectancy?

hhh   Thu Jun 2 21:31:17 2005

Link: g g

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