Q. Can you identify this odd looking plant? It is 8 ¾” tall. The berry look-alike seeds on the top are 1/8 to 3/8” in size. No leaves. I first noticed it last year when there was a single stalk. This year there are three stalks, several inches apart. Other plants in the immediate area are Joe Pye Weed, fern and Matricaria. This particular garden used to be filled with Canterbury bell which I dug out and planted other plants. I usually label everything but have not idea where this plant came from. Thank you, Marion Goodwin – Tacoma, WA
A. The picture appears to me to be a flower stalk of a Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema spp.). Most commonly grown Jack-in-the-pulpit is native to the eastern United States (Arisaema triphyllum). I am not aware of any Northwest Native Jack-in-the-pulpits so it if I am correct in my identification of this stalk the plant either was brought in by a bird or other animal via seed or you planted it and subsequently forgot (join the club!). The distinctive flowers from which the plant gets its name appear in the early spring with just one or two leaf stalks with three leaves at the end of each. After early summer the leaves die back and the plant goes dormant leaving the solitary fruiting stalk behind. The Jack-in-the-pulpit prefers a shady woodland setting. From the plants you described growing in the area it sounds like you have at least part shade in this location. If you pull away the soil around the base of the flowering stalk you should find a round flattened tuber. This tuber gives the plant it’s other common name of “Indian Turnip” since the Eastern Native Americans used it as a food source despite the nasty calcium oxylate crystals that are sharp and unpalatable. Native Americans had many ways of processing seemingly unpalateable foodstuffs. In this case the Indian turnip was processed to extract a flour similar to arrowroot. Next spring keep an eye out for “Jack” and let me know if you find him.