jack-in-the-pulpit

jack-in-the-pul·pit

(jăk′ĭn-thə-po͝ol′pĭt, -pŭl′-)n. pl. jack-in-the-pulpits An eastern North American tuberous herb (Arisaema triphyllum) having three-lobed leaves and a striped, leaflike spathe that curls over an upright spadix. Also called regionally Indian turnip.

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[From the resemblance of the inflorescence to a person standing in a pulpit.]

jack-in-the-pulpit

n 1. (Plants) an E North American aroid plant, Arisaema triphyllum, having a leaflike spathe partly arched over a clublike spadix 2. (Plants) Brit another name for cuckoopint

jack′-in-the-pul′pit

n., pl. -pul•pits. any North American plant of the genus Arisaema, of the arum family, having an upright spadix arched over by a spathe. [1840–50, Amer.]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	jack-in-the-pulpit - common American spring-flowering woodland herb having sheathing leaves and an upright club-shaped spadix with overarching green and purple spathe producing scarlet berriesArisaema atrorubens, Arisaema triphyllum, Indian turnip, wake-robinaroid, arum - any plant of the family Araceae; have small flowers massed on a spadix surrounded by a large spatheArisaema, genus Arisaema - tuberous or rhizomatous herbaceous perennials
	2.	jack-in-the-pulpit - common European arum with lanceolate spathe and short purple spadix; emerges in early spring; source of a starch called arumArum maculatum, cuckoopint, lords-and-ladiesaroid, arum - any plant of the family Araceae; have small flowers massed on a spadix surrounded by a large spathegenus Arum - type genus of the Araceae: tuberous perennial herbs of Europe and Asia with usually heart-shaped leavesarum - starch resembling sago that is obtained from cuckoopint root