jack-in-the-pulpit

North American plant (Arisaema triphyllum) of the arum family, noted for the unusual shape of its flower. One of the best-known perennial wildflowers of late spring in the eastern U.S. and Canada, it grows in wet woodlands and thickets from Nova Scotia to Minnesota and south to Florida and Texas. Three-part leaves on each of two long stalks overshadow the flower, which consists of a conspicuous green- and purple-striped structure called a spathe (“pulpit”) that rises on a separate stalk. The spathe curves in a hood over a club-shaped spadix (“jack”) that, at its base, bears minute flowers. In late summer the plant produces a cluster of brilliant red berries that are poisonous to humans but are eaten by many wild animals.

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A jack-in-the-box is a children's toy that outwardly consists of a box with a crank. When the crank is turned, it plays out a melody - the Mattel version played Pop Goes the Weasel. At the end of the tune, the lid pops open and a figure of some sort, usually a clown, pops out of the box.

Origin

A theory as to the origin of the jack-in-the-box is that it comes from the 13th century English prelate Sir John Schorne who is often pictured holding a boot with a devil in it. It is believed in folklore that he once cast the devil into a boot to protect the village of North Marston in Buckinghamshire. If it's true, it would explain why in French, a jack-in-the-box is called a "diable en boîte" (literally "boxed devil").

Influence on culture

The Jack-in-the-Box toy has had a widespread effect on culture:

• The toy gave its name to the fast food restaurant chain Jack in the Box, which features a mascot named "Jack" who resembles a toy clown from a jack-in-the-box.
• The toy was part of the inspiration for the character Jack-in-the-Box, from the Astro City comic book series.
• One of Mattel's most popular toys from the 1950's to the 1970's was its Jack-in-the-box.
• The toy frequently appears in horror movies. A certain tension lies in knowing that when the tune ends, something pops out – and in horror movies it's usually more sinister than a toy clown. In the preview for Child's Play 2, a jack-in-the-box is seen moving on its own and just before it pops out, Chucky stomps on it, proclaiming, "Sorry Jack, Chucky's back!"
• A murderous jack-in-the-box called "Jack Attack" is featured in the Demonic Toys trilogy, where it teams up with other evil toys.
• A jack-in-the-box named "Charlie-in-the-box" serves as the sentry to the Island of Misfit Toys in the Christmas movie Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
• In the Bullfrog computer game Dungeon Keeper 2, the Jack-in-the-box Trap appears to be a harmless object but, upon being touched, will pursue and lethally frighten enemy imps.
• In the video game American McGee's Alice the protagonist Alice can use the Jack-bomb weapon which is essentially an explosive Jack-in-the-box that can be thrown at enemies.
• The computer game The Incredible Machine features a Jack-in-the-Box as a tool to complete puzzles
• The computer game Jack in the Dark featured a Jack-in-the-Box replica of One Eyed Jack, an infamous pirate who was the main enemy in Alone in the Dark 2.
• The Hand-in-the-box in Sid's room from a Disney/Pixar film Toy Story.
• A Jack-in-the-Box, known simply as Jack, is also the protagonist of the children's book The Plucker, written and illustrated by the science-fiction and fantasy artist Gerald Brom.
• In Spyro the Dragon, the Dreamweavers boss is named Jacque and throws boxes at his enemies, which is an obvious connection to the children's toy.
• The rap duo Insane Clown Posse have released an album entitled Riddle Box, whose cover resembles an evil jack in the box.
• There is a schedule ident for PBS Kids on which Dot turns a crank.
• Zebedee, a character in The Magic Roundabout, is a Jack-in-the-box without the box.
• In the military context, some tanks which store ammunition inside their turrets will violently eject their turrets if their ammunition is made to detonate, an analog to a Jack-in-the-Box bursting open.
• In the movie "Elf" starring Will Farrell, he tests several jack-in-the-boxes during one of the scenes.
• In the movie Fantasia 2000 there is a segment based on The Steadfast Tin Soldier where the villain is a jack-in-the-box rather than a troll doll from the original fairy tale.
• In the video game Donkey Kong 64, the boss of Frantic Factory is a giant jack-in-the-box named Mad Jack.
• In the fan-made Alice Cooper music video "Wind-Up Toy" , the main character in the video, Stephen, releases a wind-up Alice Cooper doll from a Jack-in-the-Box.
• In a TrueCredit commercial, a jack-in-the-box was used and the announcer says, "Don't know Jack about your credit? Stop clowning around."
• In the game Raze's Hell, the race of creatures known as Kewletts use a jack-in-the-box weapon called the "Death-in-the-Box".
• In the anime and manga One Piece one of the zombies on Thriller Bark is a jack-in-the-box disguised as a treasure chest meant to scare those searching around the mansion.
• The magic and mystery of Christopher R. Coppola's genie jack-in-the-box in I Am, the magical imp stuck inside of a jammed box gets freed when two homeless boys kick it into a trash heap by accident.
• Some older jack-in-the-boxes are very valuable as collectibles. Especially ones made with famous TV or movie characters as the theme.