Size: 30-90 cm (1-3 ft.).

Leaves and Flowers: Leaves are long-stemmed, dull green and have 3 parts; there will be one or two on the plant.

Flowers appear as a curving ridged hood (spathe or "pulpit"); is green or purplish-brown and often streaked. It envelops an erect club (spadix or "Jack"), 5-7 cm (2-3 in.). The tiny flowers are at the base of the spadix and will become a cluster of shiny red berries in late summer and fall. Flowering is from April-June.

Habitat: Damp rich woods.

Range: Southern Quebec and New Brunswick; south through Appalachians and coastal plain to Florida, west to Louisiana and eastern Texas.

Use: It is often called Indian Turnip. When eaten raw, it has a peppery taste which causes intense burning in the mouth, throat, and stomach. Native Americans gathered the fleshy taproots, corms, for cooking as a vegetable which eliminates the burning sensation.

The Sauk and Mesquakie (Sac and Fox) also considered it a magical plant that could predict the outcome of illness. One of the seeds would be taken from a berry and dropped in a cup of swirling water, if it floated around the surface four times the patient would recover, if it sank, the patient would die. The red berries were also used as dye. Other groups would use the raw root, or dry powdered root, on the head or temples to cure a headache. A tea from the root would also be used to relieve sore eyes.

The Iroquois called the flower "Cradleboards". They did not have the words "jack" or "pulpit" in their language.