The green dragon is a leafy green plant with a long, noodly spadix (a spikelike flower part). It is a close relative of Jack-in-the-pulpit.
Green Dragon
Arisaema dracontium
Poisonous
Skin irritating
Family:
Araceae (arums)
Description:
Herbaceous perennial. The flowers are many and tiny, light green, on the lower part of a long, narrow, taillike spadix (a spikelike structure holding many tiny flowers). A tightly wrapping, green, leaflike spathe (modified bract) shelters the flowers. Blooms April–June. There is only one leaf, which is divided into 5–15 lance-shaped sections. The fruits are clustered berries that turn from shiny green to brilliant scarlet. The rootstock us a flattened, round corm, often large.
Similar species: Jack-in-the-pulpit (A. triphyllum) has leaves with no more than 3 leaflets (instead of 5–15), and its spathe has white and brown lengthwise markings and a rather blunt tip. The fruits of the two species are indistinguishable.
Size:
Height: occasionally to 3 feet.
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Green Dragon (Leaf)
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Green Dragon Plant With Fruits
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Green Dragon (Fruits)
Habitat and conservation:
Occurs in rich, moist woods, often in floodplains. When you see a green dragon in the wild, leave it alone, since this species is somewhat uncommon. If you want a green dragon for your moist shade garden, don’t dig any up. Collect a few seeds, or seek plants from reputable native plant nurseries.
Distribution in Missouri:
Scattered statewide.
Human connections:
Native Americans dried and ground the rootstocks for flour. Uncooked and improperly prepared, this plant is toxic, as it contains calcium oxalate. That’s the same chemical found in its houseplant relative dieffenbachia (dumb cane), which on contact causes mouth irritation, burning, and swelling, and gastrointestinal upset.
Ecosystem connections:
The arum family is large, and most of its members are tropical. You probably know elephant ear, calla and peace lilies, and philodendron. They all have the same kind of floral structures. There are only four aroids in Missouri’s flora, and one is an introduced exotic.
Similar Species
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
About Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants in Missouri
A very simple way of thinking about the green world is to divide the vascular plants into two groups: woody and nonwoody (or herbaceous). But this is an artificial division; many plant families include some species that are woody and some that are not. The diversity of nonwoody vascular plants is staggering! Think of all the ferns, grasses, sedges, lilies, peas, sunflowers, nightshades, milkweeds, mustards, mints, and mallows — weeds and wildflowers — and many more!