I could not have predicted that I would track this plant through its growth cycle. I’ve sure been enjoying it, though!
This is the fourth blog entry with a picture of this rogue jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) that appeared in the spring in an untended flower bed in our backyard.
Over the last week or so, the plant’s been throwing off its ripened berries, and is now down to the last three at the base of the spadix. Yes, that’s the botanical term for the “jack,” which is now left to dessicate, having done its work. The seeds are thrown out up to several feet from the plant. I say thrown out like I saw them spin away, but I haven’t; I’m just surmising.
This sets me up for next year, when I can see if any of the daughter plants germinate! Maybe I should continue to leave this bed untended….
* 1) Good title? Did you really want to check out the text?, and
2) sorry if you thought it was, but this is not a typo of a reference to James Spader (sigh).