Western Skunk Cabbage

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Western Skunk Cabbage

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Liliopsida
Order:	Alismatales
Family:	Araceae
Genus:	Lysichiton
Species:	L. americanus

Binomial name

Lysichiton americanus
Hultén & H. St. John

Western Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) is a plant found in swamps and wet woods, along streams and in other wet areas of the Pacific Northwest, where it is the only native species in the arum family. The plant grows from rhizomes that measure 30 cm or longer, and 2.5 to 5 cm in diameter. The leaves are the largest of any native plant in the region, 50-135 cm long and 30-80 cm wide when mature. Its flowers are produced in a spadix contained within a large, bright yellow or yellowish green spathe 30-40 cm tall; it is among the first flowers to appear in spring.

Foliage

The plant is called Skunk Cabbage because of the malodorous, distinctive "skunky" odor that it emits. This odor will permeate the area where the plant grows, and can be detected even in old, dried specimens. The foul odor attracts its pollinators, scavenging flies and beetles. Other common names include Yellow Skunk Cabbage and Swamp Lantern.

[edit] Uses

While some consider the plant to be a weed, its roots are food for bears, who eat it after hibernating as a laxative or cathartic. The plant was used by indigenous people as medicine for burns and injuries, and for food in times of famine, when almost all parts were eaten. Although the plant was not typically part of the diet under normal conditions, its large, waxy leaves were important to food preparation and storage. They were commonly used to line berry baskets and to wrap around whole salmon and other foods when baked under a fire.

[edit] See also

Eastern Skunk Cabbage: Although not in the same genus, it is very similar to Western Skunk Cabbage and is often confused with it.
Bog Arum: A similar plant grown as an ornamental herbaceous perennial.