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You are here: Home / Language / How did the “Jack-in-the-Pulpit” get its name and Where does the term Jack-in-the-Pulpit come from?

How did the “Jack-in-the-Pulpit” get its name and Where does the term Jack-in-the-Pulpit come from?

April 17, 2020 by Karen Hill

The American wildflower Jack-in-the-Pulpit, growing only in marshy woodlands, is unknown in some parts of the country.

To anyone who has seen it in springtime, the cause of the name is obvious.

The upright sturdy spadix or flower spike stands under a protecting canopy or spathe, vividly resembling a priest at his pulpit with sounding board curved above him.

The plant is also called Indian turnip, but woe betide the unfortunate lad whose mates beguile him into being misled by the name.

The tuber, edible when properly cooked, is burningly pungent when eaten raw, the effect lingering for hours.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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