jack in the pulpit DSC 4051

Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum, Arisème petit-prêcheur) grows on the forest floor. It's hood (spathe) encloses a rod (spadix) which carries flowers hidden from sight within the folds of the spathe. Initially the young flowers are male but later it carries female flowers so it changes gender several times in its life. Most of its closest relatives are from South East Asia, with only two species in North America. St. Bruno near Montreal.