Both male and female Jack-in-the-Pulpits of my acquaintance appear to flower
only when they have two leaves.  Female plants are often larger.  The
single-leaved plants are invariably sterile.  Perhaps the energy
requirements for flowering require two leaves.

Carol
----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Hayward" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 10:02 AM
Subject: jack-in-the-pulpit


> Greetings,
> A member of my wildflower class brought to my attention a discrepancy in
> the literature I gave out about the sex life of the Jack-in-the-Pulpit.
> In a write up from Marilyn Mollicone to JBS, 1992, she states that the
> male Jacks have two leaves and the females one leaf as a rule.
> In another article (Paulette Bierzychudek, Natural History Magazine,
> 1982) it is stated that the males have one leaf and the females two.
> So, being the curious botanist, I went into my own garden (yes, ideal
> growing conditions for all my Jacks for years) and found that they all
> have two leaves and that there are 3 males, 9 females, and several
> single leaves with no inflorescence.
> Please shed some professional light on this quandary and reply to all of
> us.
> Many thanks,
> Susan
>