Arisaema triphyllum
Jack In The Pulpit
a perennial member of the Arisaema genus in the family Araceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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.
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Tuber - it must be thoroughly dried or cooked before being eaten[6][9][18][19][21][2]. 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[4][5]. They can also be pounded into a powder, this is thern left to dry for several weeks when it becomes safe to use[10]. The root is up to 5cm long and 2cm wide[15]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
- Plant part
- Root
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The root is acrid, antiseptic, diaphoretic, expectorant, irritant and stimulant[9][17][11][13][14]. It is harvested in early spring and dried for later use[15]. 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[10]. 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[11][14]. A decoction of the root has been used as a wash for sore eyes[14]. 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[10].
- Product or use
- Acrid
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Contraceptive
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Irritant
- Product or use
- Poultice
- Product or use
- Stimulant
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A starch obtained from the roots is used as a stiffener for clothes[8]. It is very harsh to the hands, causing blisters and swellings[8]. The seeds have been used in rattles[14].
- Product or use
- Musical
- Product or use
- Starch
Environment
- Range
- Eastern N. America - Quebec to Louisiana and Kansas.
- Habitat
- Wet woods, bogs and swamps[16].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- permanent shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame[3]. 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[3]. 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.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a cool peaty soil in the bog garden, woodland garden or a sheltered border in semi-shade[20][3][7]. 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][7]. Tubers should be planted about 10cm deep[12]. Only plant out full sized tubers and mulch them with organic matter in the winter[7]. Plants need protection from slugs[7]. Most species in this genus are dioecious, but they are sometimes monoecious and can also change sex from year to year.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00
Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1
Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3