Arisaema quinatum aka Arisaema Quinatum

Arisaema quinatum belongs to the arum family, Araceae. It is a tuberous perennial: its underground tuber sustains growth from year to year. It grows wild from eastern Texas into the southeastern United States. It lives in a temperate climate, in woods with rich, moist soil. People call it Indian turnip and jack-in-the-pulpit. These names alone do not mean it is safe to eat. The RHS accepts the species name. It also lists Arisaema triphyllum subsp. quinatum as a synonym, another name for the same plant. Some botanists treat it as a form of that related species.

The plant grows about 3.3 feet [1 metre] tall. The sources give no leaf or stem details for this species. Nor do they give clear facts on flower colour or fruit. Plants For A Future calls the species dioecious. This means male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Both sexes must grow together to make seed. Flies carry pollen between flowers. The plants cannot use their own pollen to make seed.

This woodland plant needs moist soil that drains well. Plants For A Future lists sand and loam as suitable soils. It says the plant can cope with mildly acid soil. Neutral and mildly alkaline soils suit it too. Its species page allows sun, part shade, or full shade. Yet its landscape notes favour patches of shade or a shady edge, rather than deep shade. The evidence thus supports planting it in woods. The source does not confirm how well it withstands cold in Britain. Its fuller care notes cover the genus, not just this species.

Plants For A Future says to sow fresh seed in a shaded cold frame. Stored seed can stay viable for at least one year. Seed sown in spring may need a cold spell first. Seeds can take one to six months to sprout at 59°F [15°C]. Grow young plants in their own pots in light shade. The source says to keep them under glass for at least two years. Move them to their final site while dormant, when growth rests. You can also split tubers after growth dies back in late summer.

Calcium oxalate crystals make the plant unsafe to eat. They can cause severe, needle-like pain in the mouth and tongue. Plants For A Future lists the root as food only once processed. It says to dry it fully or cook it before use. Do not eat this plant raw. The same source gives it a low food-use rating. It lists no known uses as medicine or for other tasks. It also flags no risk of it becoming a weed.