Symplocarpus

Symplocarpus
Symplocarpus foetidus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Orontioideae
Genus: Symplocarpus
(L.) Salisb. ex W.P.C.Barton[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Spathyema Raf.
  • Ictodes Bigelow

Symplocarpus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to United States, Canada and eastern Asia.[2][3] The genus is characterized by having large leaves and deep root systems with contractile roots used for changing the plant's level with the ground. Symplocarpus species grow from a rhizome and their leaves release a foul odor when crushed.[4][5][6]

The best known species is Symplocarpus foetidus, commonly called "skunk cabbage".[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference IPNI:2926-1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ^ Govaerts, R. & Frodin, D.G. (2002). World Checklist and Bibliography of Araceae (and Acoraceae): 1-560. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  4. ^ a b Flora of North America Vol. 22, Symplocarpus foetidus (Linnaeus) Salisbury ex W. P. C. Barton, Veg. Mater. Med. U.S. 1: 123. 1817.
  5. ^ Flora of China, Vol. 23 Page 5, 臭菘属 chou song shu, Symplocarpus Salisbury ex W. P. C. Barton, Veg. Mater. Med. U. S. 1: 124. 1817.
  6. ^ Bown, Deni (2000). Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family. Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-485-7.