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Arisaema triphyllum

Indian-turnip · Jack in the Pulpit · Indian Jack-in-the-pulpit

Family AraceaeGenus Arisaema

A single mottled stem carrying two three-parted leaves and a striped green hood curled over a dark spadix, in leaf litter
The whole plantHardyplants at English WikipediaPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
tuberous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
1-2.5 ft30-75 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-2 ft30-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Brown/Copper, Green, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
4-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in April-May.

7 days from start to sowing.

95% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 3 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Arisaema p. 100Public domain
Show the original text
Arisaema (Araceae). The Asiatic species were received as dried berries in midwinter and germ. readily at 70 after WC for 7 d. The American species exhibited complex behavior. Germination is hypogeal in all species. The seed forms a corm and root system before sending up the single true leaf. This first true leaf is a single leaflet in A. triphyllum germ. best if the seed was left outdoors in the berries until March 1 and then WC (7 d or 14 d gave similar results). This seed germ. 95% in 1-3 w at 70 and 95% in April-May in outdoor treatment. The leaf developed in the 2nd w after germination. Seed collected in October and immediately WC for 7 d germ. 70(23%)- 40-70(77% in 1-3 w) and none in either 40-70 or outdoor treatment. Light had no effect. As with
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Arisaema p. 100. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 10, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 9, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: either

    23 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: either

about 6 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5, in 21 days.

77% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Arisaema p. 100Public domain
Show the original text
Arisaema (Araceae). The Asiatic species were received as dried berries in midwinter and germ. readily at 70 after WC for 7 d. The American species exhibited complex behavior. Germination is hypogeal in all species. The seed forms a corm and root system before sending up the single true leaf. This first true leaf is a single leaflet in A. triphyllum germ. best if the seed was left outdoors in the berries until March 1 and then WC (7 d or 14 d gave similar results). This seed germ. 95% in 1-3 w at 70 and 95% in April-May in outdoor treatment. The leaf developed in the 2nd w after germination. Seed collected in October and immediately WC for 7 d germ. 70(23%)- 40-70(77% in 1-3 w) and none in either 40-70 or outdoor treatment. Light had no effect. As with
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Arisaema p. 100. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Nothing germinated outdoors.

7 days from start to sowing.

0% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 3 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Arisaema p. 100Public domain
Show the original text
Arisaema (Araceae). The Asiatic species were received as dried berries in midwinter and germ. readily at 70 after WC for 7 d. The American species exhibited complex behavior. Germination is hypogeal in all species. The seed forms a corm and root system before sending up the single true leaf. This first true leaf is a single leaflet in A. triphyllum germ. best if the seed was left outdoors in the berries until March 1 and then WC (7 d or 14 d gave similar results). This seed germ. 95% in 1-3 w at 70 and 95% in April-May in outdoor treatment. The leaf developed in the 2nd w after germination. Seed collected in October and immediately WC for 7 d germ. 70(23%)- 40-70(77% in 1-3 w) and none in either 40-70 or outdoor treatment. Light had no effect. As with
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Arisaema p. 100. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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