Common Name: Skunk Cabbage

General Information

Symplocarpus foetidus is a herbaceous perennial plant that can grow up to 50cm tall. The plant has fleshy, contractile roots and thick rhizomes to 30cm or more[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Symplocarpus foetidus has a relatively restricted range, but much larger than the thresholds for a threatened category and while it is possibly declining in parts of its range, it is not thought that any global population decline is likely to meet (or be close to meeting) the threshold for Vulnerable. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2016)[].

Known Hazards

The plant is poisonous[]. This report probably refers to the presence of calcium oxylate in all parts of the plant. This substance is toxic and if consumed makes the mouth and digestive tract feel as though hundreds of needles are being stuck into it. However, calcium oxylate is easily destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Eastern and central N. America - Minnesota to Ontario and Quebec, south to Tennessee and North Carolina

Habitat

Marshes, bogs, swampy woods and by streams[]. Swamps, wet woods, along streams, and other wet low areas; at elevations up to 1,100 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects, ?Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Symplocarpus foetidus is a very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -35°c[].
Succeeds in sun or shade in a deep moist to wet lime-free soil that is rich in organic matter[]. Grows well in a bog garden or along the wet banks of streams and ponds[, ].
Symplocarpus is one of the earliest plants to flower in spring in northeastern North America, sometimes with spathes emerging through the snow on the ground. Because inflorescences are developed during the previous summer, flowering can occur during any warmer than normal weather throughout winter. The spadices of both Asian and American plants produce heat during flowering and can reach temperatures up to 25°c above ambient air temperature. These elevated temperatures give protection from cold, probably play a role in pollination and attracting pollinating insects, and also in facilitating floral development at cold temperatures[, , ].
All parts of the pant, but especially the flowers, have a strong unpleasant aroma[, ] that is said to be a combination of skunk, carrion and garlic[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, , , , ]. The root must be thoroughly dried or cooked before being eaten, see notes above on toxicity. Traditionally the root was dried for at least 5 weeks or boiled for 3 days before being eaten[].

Young leaves - cooked[, , ]. A peppery flavour[]. The water should be changed at least once during the cooking process[, ]. The leaves must be thoroughly cooked, see notes on toxicity above.

Medicinal

Skunk cabbage was much used by the native North American Indians primarily for its expectorant and antispasmodic properties to treat bronchitis and asthmatic conditions, a use that is still employed in modern herbalism[]. The plant should be used with some caution, however, and preferably under professional supervision. Handling the fresh leaves can cause skin to blister whilst excessive doses of the root can bring on nausea and vomiting, headaches and dizziness[, ].

The root is antispasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant and slightly narcotic[, , , , , ]. The rootstock has been used internally in the treatment of respiratory and nervous disorders, including asthma, whooping cough, catarrh, bronchitis and hay fever[, ]. It is occasionally used to treat epilepsy, headaches, vertigo and rheumatic problems[].
Applied externally, it has been used as a poultice to draw splinters and thorns, to heal wounds and to treat headaches[].
The rootstock is harvested in late autumn or early spring and dried for later use[]. It should not be stored for a long time because it loses its medicinal virtues[].

The root hairs or rootlets have been applied to dental cavities to treat toothache[]. A tea made from the root hairs has been used externally to stop bleeding[].

An inhalation of the crushed leaves has been used in the treatment of headaches[].
The leaf bases have been applied as a wet dressing to bruises[].

Other Uses

An infusion of the powdered root has been used as a wash to 'cure a strong smell under your arm'[].

Acetone extracts of the roots killed 65% of the mosquito larvae tested[]

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[]. The seed should be stored in water if it is not sown immediately[]. Stored seed can be sown in late winter or early spring. Stand the pot in 2cm of water to keep the compost wet. Germination should take place in the spring, prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in wet soil in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring once they are large enough.
Division with great care whilst the plant is dormant[].