Medicinal Monday...Jack in the Pulpit Pretty and Dangerous

Jack in the Pulpit, also commonly called Indian turnip is a perennial plant in the Arum family that includes its close relatives, like skunk cabbage and arrow arum. It is noted for its hooded flower that blooms in the spring. Although the roots, berries, and foliage are poisonous to humans, Native American communities did find a way to use this spring plant medicinally.

About

The plant’s underground corm (root system) that produces one to two stems that can be up to two feet tall. Each stem has three broad leaflets. A third stem holds a single hooded flower, which emerges in late spring or early summer. The flower looks unusual in the Connecticut woodlands with its maroon stripes and green hood.  The hood of the flower is known as the spathe or the "pulpit" and contains a finger-like center spadix (or spike of flowers),  called the "jack". The flower has a fungal smell that attracts insects to its flower assuring pollination. Jack-in-the-Pulpit produces a mace-like cluster of red berries in the fall that is poisonous to humans but can be eaten by some wildlife.  The plant grows in wet woodlands and thickets. It is native to Eastern North America.

Medicinal Uses and Culinary Uses

No part of this plant can be eaten raw. The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause a powerful burning sensation and will affect breathing. Native Americans harvest the fleshy underground corms of the Jack-in-the-pulpit plant that resemble tubers and would cook and consume them in a manner similar to eating onions or potatoes. Native Americans also dry the corms and then ground them into flour.

Medicinally many Native Americans made a topical ointment to treat skin conditions and soreness. The Iroquois make an infusion of the corms and use it as a contraceptive drink for women. The Choctaw use a decoction of the root as a blood medicine and purifier. Additional medicinal uses include the treatment of sore eyes, snakebite, and rheumatism.

Folklore notes that the Meskwaki would chop the raw corm up and mix it with meat and leave it behind for their enemies to find and eat. The taste of oxalate in the raw corms could not be tasted because of the flavored meat and those eating the meat would die in great pain.

Did You Know

Although the foliage, berries, and roots are poisonous to humans the roots can be eaten if cooked or dried for at least six months. Ingestion of the raw plant can result in choking or blisters. The foliage irritates the skin so be sure to wear gloves when touching it.

Birds and other small animals that eat the berries help to spread the plant after ingestion.

Other names for Jack-in-the-pulpit are Indian turnip, bog onion, and brown dragon.

Sometimes Jack-in-the-pulpit is mistaken for poison ivy because of its three green leaves, but this plant's leaves are generally larger and the plant is generally bigger than poison ivy. Look for the hooded flower and berries to be sure.