Skunk Cabbage AKA Syplocarpus fotidus

Last night as I lay awake, I wondered if I might have actually heard the world crumbling, I quickly realized I was probably just hearing a collective snore from man and dog.  Lying there I began to think of this blog, and then I thought of skunk cabbage, because well why not.  There’s a quirky plant that doesn’t ever get enough recognition.  I always thought this plant was native to Connecticut, but it is not.  It is native to eastern North America though and thought to have naturalized in Connecticut during colonial times.  Unfortunately, at this point it is naturalized to the point that it is considered potentially invasive.  Either way, it is a fascinating plant.  It is first to emerge proud and erect every spring appearing almost as though it could be carnivorous.  It probably deserves a better common name than skunk cabbage for its efforts. 

The plant has an interesting growth habit.  The tiny flowers of each individual plant are both male and female.  They are contained within a leafy purple and green sheath, botanically termed a spathe.  The spathes contain a spadix which is a spongy like growth that holds the cluster of tiny flowers. Both the spadix and flowers are capable of chemically producing heat which allows them, as they emerge from the earth to burn through the remaining snow cover during late winter and early spring.  The off-putting carrion like scent wafting from the opened flowers is spread further aloft by the heat produced.  The fetid unpleasant scent, hence, the Latin portion of the name fotidus, attracts flies and beetles seeking the cozy warmth and possibility of a tempting a meal.  Unfortunately for them, the reverse can perhaps hold true, as the flies and beetles may actually become the meal for opportunistic spiders who are known to spin their webs near the entrance to those flowers.  

After the flowers begin to die back clusters of heart shaped leaves emerge from the ground.  It is at this time large patches of skunk cabbage can be easily seen growing along the forest floor resembling a field of green Hosta.  As the flowers become pollinated, they produce a strange looking connected fruit which resembles a miniature pineapple.  In Latin syplocarpus means connected fruit which is the first part of the Latin name for this plant.  Each cluster of fruit contains approximately 50 seeds.  The seeds fall into the swampy earth and germinate or are carried away by birds or small mammals.  As the plant goes through repeated growing cycles.  The stems get sucked deeper into the swampy earth and the roots become extremely difficult to remove. 

Hungry bears emerging in early spring will forage and consume the young leaves. They are one of few animals that will consume this plant as the leaves produce a burning sensation in the mouth and throat.  This is caused by the calcium oxalate contained in them.  In Native American culture this plant was used for food and medicinal purposes.  I would not recommend consuming it though as preparation of this plant is lengthy, and there are far better alternatives to forage both in the forest and in the supermarket.