Symplocarpus foetidus
Skunk Cabbage
Family Araceae
|
Use
Flour, cooked green. Thoroughly dried rootsalks can be ground into
flour. Dried young leaves can be reconstituted in soups.
CAUTION: RAW PLANT TISSUE CONTAINS CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALS,
WHICH PRODUCE A BURNING SENSATION IN THE MOUTH.
THESE CAN ONLY BE REMOVED BY THOROUGH DRYING.
|
Description
Growth Form: Low herbaceous plant, height at maturity is 30-90cm (1-3ft).
Leaves: Large, wide, appear in spring after the flowers.
Flowers: Mottled greenish-yellow, brown, or purplish spathe covers round purple spadix. Flowers in late winter-early spring.
|
 Fully emerged leaves,
(c) Dan L. Perlman/EcoLibrary.org
|
Emerging leaves,
(c) Dan L. Perlman/EcoLibrary.org
|
Habitat and Range
Open and wet areas; mostly found in northern United States and southern Canada.
Season
Gather leaves in very early spring, and the rootstock from fall until early spring. These can then be dried for use any time.
|
Fun Facts
Known as 'skunk cabbage' because crushed plant matter gives off an unpleasant skunk-like odor. It is also known as polecat weed.'
This is one of few plants this far north that is able to metabolize stored energy and produce heat, allowing it to flower in early spring before most other plants.
|
Spadix
|
|
