SKUNK CABBAGE. 45° 
Mr. Nuttall, who has observed the germination 
of this plant, informs us that the seed does not ap- 
pear to possesss any other cotyledon, than a 
sheathing stipule, similar to that which is after- 
wards produced in the plant. The principle bulk 
of the seed is formed: by what he considers a 
vitellus, having the embryo exactly resembling 
the future plant, situated in an umbilical depres- 
sion at its top. ‘The attachment of this body to 
the embryo is at first by a minute funiculus, 
which enlarges and becomes more distinet dur- 
ing the progress of germination ; but the most sin- 
gular circumstance respecting it is the length of 
time for which it continues attached to the grow- 
ing plant, apparently inert at the base of the can- 
dex for twelve or even eighteen months, = 
The offensive and powerful odour which char- 
aeterizes this plant is not peculiar to it. The 
fruit of some of the North American currants, and 
particularly Ribes rigens of Michaux, a species 
often met with on the high mountains of the East- 
‘ern States ; emits when bruised a scent exactly 
similar to this vegetable. : 
The odour of the Ictodes resides in a princi- 
are which is extremely volatile. I have not been 
able to separate it by distillation from any part of 
the plant, the decoction and the distilled water be- 
