MEDICINAL USES AND CHEMICAL INFORMATION:

Jack-in-the-Pulpit contains calcium oxalate crystals. These crystals are poisonous. When eaten, they stick in the mucous membranes of the mouth and cause burning, irritation, and swelling. The swelling can be severe enough to block a person's air passages.

If eaten accidentally, it is recommended that one call a poison control center, followed by a trip to the emergency room. Do not induce vomiting.

On the other hand, the calcium oxalate crystals also give Jack-in-the-Pulpit its medicinal properties. Jack-in-the-Pulpit root tea has been used as an expectorant, diaphoretic (increases perspiration), and a purgative. The roots were well aged before being used to make the tea. (Emma Kate and Christy do not recommend that you try this at home.)

NATIVE AMERICAN USES:

The Pawnee Indians ground the roots of this plant into a fine powder and dusted it onto the head and temples in order to cure headaches. Other Native Americans used it in the form of a poultice for rheumatism, boils, abscesses, and ringworm. The root was also dried, aged, and used to fight colds and coughs.

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:

Jack-in-the-Pulpit is usually between one and two feet in height and has one to two leaves with three leaflets. The bloom consists of a spathe which is a cup-like structure, and has a flap that curves over the top of the cup. The entire flower resembles a man standing in a pulpit (hence the name). The flower is green to purplish brown and can be found from April to early July. Later, the flower develops into bright red berries. Jack-in-the-Pulpit can be found in moist woods.

Other common names include Indian Turnip, Wake Robin, and Dragon Root. Other scientific names we ran across in our research include Arisaema atrorubens and Arum triphyllum.