Species of the Week: Skunk Cabbage

Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) is a low growing plant that grows in wetlands or very moist areas, making it relatively easy to find around campus. It’s an early growing plant, emerging in early spring making a good plant to keep an eye out for when thinking about spring emergence times in relation to temperature. It's able to emerge so early because it creates its own heat, which can help it melt the surrounding snow. Skunk cabbage is so named because, if the leaves are crushed or damaged, it emits a smell similar to rotting meat or a skunk's spray.

Although this plant isn’t poisonous for insects, it is for people and many other mammals. If a person was to take a bite of it they would experience swelling in their mouth, burning, and possibly a choking sensation.