Eastern Skunk Cabbage
Symplocarpus foetidus
It is thermogenic, meaning it can generate its own heat (up to 15-35°C above surrounding air temperature) to melt through frozen winter ground and snow.
- Scientific name
- Symplocarpus foetidus
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Liliopsida › Alismatales › Araceae › Symplocarpus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Saturated soils, deciduous swamps, wet woodlands, marshes, and seeps.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis, drawing nutrients from rich, anaerobic wetland soils).
- Range
- Eastern North America, Northeastern United States, Southeastern Canada
- Size
- Leaves grow 40-55 cm long; the hooded spathe stands 8-15 cm tall.
- Lifespan
- Can live for several decades, possibly up to 100 years, due to a massive, contracting root system.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland draining, land development, pollution from agricultural runoff, and invasive plant encroachment.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to observe and touch, but highly toxic if ingested. The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals which cause severe burning and swelling of the mouth and throat. Keep pets away. If ingested, seek medical help immediately. Wash hands if you contact the raw sap.
Symplocarpus foetidus , commonly known as skunk cabbage or eastern skunk cabbage (also swamp cabbage , clumpfoot cabbage , or meadow cabbage , foetid pothos or polecat weed ), is a low growing, foul-smelling plant that grows in wetlands of eastern North America.
Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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