Symplocarpus foetidus

Eastern skunk cabbage
Skunk cabbage in early spring

Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Genus: Symplocarpus
Species:
S. foetidus
Binomial name
Symplocarpus foetidus
Synonyms[4]
  • Dracontium foetidum L.
  • Spathyema foetida (L.)Raf.
  • Pothos foetidus (L.) Aiton
  • Ictodes foetidus (L.) Bigelow
  • Pothos putorii Barton
  • Spathyema angusta Raf.
  • Spathyema lanceolata Raf.
  • Spathyema latifolia Raf.
  • Symplocarpus foetidus f. variegatus Otsuka

Symplocarpus foetidus, commonly known as skunk cabbage[5] or eastern skunk cabbage (also swamp cabbage, clumpfoot cabbage, or meadow cabbage, foetid pothos or polecat weed), is a low-growing plant that grows in wetlands and moist hill slopes of eastern North America. Bruised leaves present an odor reminiscent of skunk.

Symplocarpus combines the Greek word symploce, meaning "connection" and carpos, meaning "fruit", to indicate that the plant has a compound fruit.[6][7]

Linnaeus gave the plant its species name of foetidus, Latin for "bad-smelling".[8] The plant produces a strong odor, which is repulsive to many but sometimes described as smelling like "fresh cabbage with a slight suggestion of mustard".[7] The odor increases in intensity over time, as the plant matures, likely due to increased ripeness in the plant's stamens.[7]

  1. ^ Maiz-Tome, L. (2016). "Symplocarpus foetidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T64325342A67731102. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T64325342A67731102.en. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference IPNI:1149384-2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  5. ^ USDA PLANTS Database: S. foetidus
  6. ^ Stritch, Larry. "Eastern Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus (L.) Salisb. Ex W.P.C. Barton)". Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Williams, Katherine A. (1919). "A Botanical Study of Skunk Cabbage, Symplocarpus Foetidus". Torreya. 19 (2): 21–29. ISSN 0096-3844. JSTOR 40595977. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ "Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) - Ontario Wildflowers". ontariowildflowers.com. Retrieved 2022-12-03.