This plant is known for its ability to change gender.

The flaplike spathe is green or purplish brown, often striped, and curves gracefully over the club-shaped spadix (the “Jack” or preacher in his canopied pulpit). Flowers tiny, at base of spadix; staminate and pistillate flowers often on separate plants. Leaves 1 or 2, long-stalked, 3-parted. Fruit a cluster of scarlet berries.