Genus 
( Symplocarpus) 
The common Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus fcetidus) 
although regarded by many only with disgust, has one 
claim that cannot be disputed, that of being our first 
flower to bloom each year. It is not uncommon to find 
them with the shell-like spathe above ground and the 
pollen fully ripened even in January although from the 
latter part of February to the first of May is the usual 
flowering season. 
The flower spathes show a great diversity of color¬ 
ing according to their age, ranging from a pale green 
sparingly streaked with brown to an almost solid pur¬ 
ple tone. 
The flowers are small, perfect and closely crowded on 
the thick fleshy spadix, concealed or partially so by the 
large, thick, purple and green stained hood. The leaves 
appear after the flower has withered or commenced to 
do so; they are bright green, large, cabbage-like, and 
strongly veined; quite handsome, in fact. These plants 
range from N. S. to Minn, and southwards, chiefly in 
boggy ground. 
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