Native Plants

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Saturday - April 14, 2007

From: Nashville, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Arisaema triphyllum as an insect eater
Answered by: Damon Waitt

QUESTION:

Is the Jack in the Pulpit an insect eater?

ANSWER:

No, but it is pretty easy to see how the spathe (a large, cylindrical, hooded flower) of Arisaema triphyllum (Jack in the pulpit) (pictured right) could be confused with the pitcher of the insectivorous Sarracenia alata (yellow trumpets) (pictured left). Water collects in these "pitchers" and insects are trapped, decomposed, and partially absorbed by the plant.

Sarracenia alata