A photo essay starting at the end and evolving backwards.
Clusters of berries that have been partially eaten, perhaps by birds that will spread the seeds to new areas:
Beautiful ripe berries:
Because there are berries, these two plants were female.
But get this: next year, both of these same plants will probably be male! Jack-in-the-pulpits change sex depending on how much energy they have stored. Producing berries takes a lot of energy, so usually the next year they’re male.
Family photo of four blooming jacks under their tall, umbrella-like leaves. I assume the two plants on the right are male, though I didn’t know to check while they were blooming. Next year I will look more closely!
Stretching their leaves open:
Unfurling:
Just getting started:
Very cool – did not know that they take turns fruiting.
Great photo essay to use for phenology identification.