ARUM FAMILY ARACEAE 
SKUNK CABBAGE 
Symplocarpus foetidus (L.) Nutt. 
Skunk Cabbage is found throughout the northern half of 
I]linois in swamps and other low places that are moist throughout 
the year. It occurs in similar situations from Nova Scotia south 
to North Carolina and 
westward to Ontario, 
Minnesota and Iowa. 
This is our earliest 
flowering plant. It usu- 
ally begins to bloom in 
late February or early 
March, but may be found 
in bloom any time during 
very mild winters. The 
first part of the plant to 
appear is the hoodlike 
spathe, variously spotted 
and streaked with purple 
and yellowish green. 
Within this spathe the 
flowers are clustered on a 
fleshy spadix. Each flower 
has 4 fleshy sepals, 4 stamens and an angular pistil with a small 
stigma. The flowers at the top of the spadix open first, and the 
pistil of each matures several days before the stamens of the 
same flower begin to discharge their pollen. After the blooming 
season the plant develops a cluster of cabbagelike leaves around 
the enlarged spadix, and the seeds embedded in the spadix 
mature in late summer. 
The odor of the Skunk Cabbage, though unpleasant to man, 
is attractive to many insects, especially bees and flies. During 
the early part of the season honeybees are the chief agents of 
pollination, but later numerous small flies carry on this work. 
You have robbed the bee, South Wind, in your adventure, 
Blustering with gentle flowers; but I forgave you 
When you stole to me shyly with scent of hawthorn. 
South Wind—St£GFRIED SASSOON 
42 
