jack-in-the-pulpit n. 1. A common American spring-flowering woodland herb (Arisæma triphyllum) having sheathing leaves and an upright club-shaped spadix with overarching green and purple spathe producing scarlet berries; also called Indian turnip.Syn. -- Indian turnip, wake-robin, Arisaema triphyllum, Arisaema atrorubens.[WordNet 1.5]
2. A common European arum (Arum maculatum) with lanceolate spathe and short purple spadix; it emerges in early spring and is a source of a sagolike starch called arum.Syn. -- cuckoo-pint, cuckoopint, lords and ladies, lords-and-ladies, Arum maculatum.[WordNet 1.5]