AMERICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS 



51 



SKUNKCABBAGE 



Spathyema foetida (L.) Raf. (Fig. 95.) 



Synonym. — Symplocarpus foetidus (L.) Nutt. 



Other common names. — Skunkweed, polecat weed, swamp cabbage, meadow 

 cabbage, collard, fetid hellebore, stinking poke, pockweed. 



Habitat and range. — Swamps and other wet places from Canada to Florida, 

 Iowa, and Minnesota abound with this ill-smelling herb. 



Description. — Skunkcabbage is a curious plant, the most striking characteristic 

 of which is its rank, offensive odor. It is one of the very earliest of spring flowers, 

 appearing in February and March. The hood-shaped flower, which appears before 

 the leaves, is oddly shaped and is not easily described, but its form is well shown 

 in the illustration. The edges of the leaf are rolled inward, hiding the spadix 

 inside, which is roundish and completely covered with numerous, dull-purple 

 flowers. The leaves, which appear after the flower, are numerous and very large, 

 about 1 to 3 feet in length and about 1 foot in width. The rootstock and root 

 when bruised have the characteristic odor of the plant. 



Part used. — The rootstock with the roots, collected early in spring after the 

 flower appears or after the seeds have ripened. It should be dried either in its 

 entire state or deprived of its roots and sliced crosswise. It loses its value with 

 age and should not be kept longer than one year. -In limited demand only. 



Figure 95. — Skunkcabbage (Spathyema 

 foetida) 



Figure 96.— Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) 



SLIPPERY ELM 



Ulmus fulva Michx. (Fig. 96.) 



Other common names. — Moose elm, red elm, Indian elm, rock elm, sweet elm. 



Habitat and range. — This tree is native in woods, along streams, and on hills 

 from Quebec to North Dakota and south to Florida and Texas. It is more com- 

 mon in the western part of its range. ■ 



Description. — The usual height of the slippery elm is from 40 to 50 feet, with a 

 trunk about 2}i feet in diameter. In open woods and fields it is spreading and 

 irregular in growth, but in dense woods it grows tall and straight, branching some 

 distance from the ground. The bark is very rough, even the small branches are 

 rough, and the twigs are furnished with rough hairs. The rather large leaves, 

 which are from 4 to 8 inches long, are supported by short, downy stalks. The 

 small, bell-shaped flowers appear in dense clusters in early spring, before the leaves, 

 and are followed by flattened and circular winged fruits. Each fruit consists of a 

 single seed surrounded by a thin, winged margin, which aids its dispersion by the 

 wind. 



Part used. — The inner bark. The whole bark is shaved from the tree, and after 

 the outer bark is removed the inner portion is dried, usually under pressure so 

 that it will remain flat. In reasonably constant demand, 



