Western Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)

Identification

Western Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) is one of the first plants to emerge in early spring. Native to the pacific northwest, they grow near wetlands, streams, and lakes when the ice begins to melt. Its mottled, yellow flowers are distinct and first to emerge from the soil. Its spadix is enclosed in a hood-like leaf structure called a spathe. The spadix flower is unlike other flowering plants because they don’t produce traditional petals. Their spadix is yellow, thin and has short stamens surrounding it. Once it matures in mid-spring, it grows upward out of its spathe and transforms into a pill shaped flower coated with pollen.

Ecology

As a carrion plant, this plant emits odors that mimic rotting flesh, which is why this plant was coined "skunk cabbage". Though the smell is repulsive to humans, it is attractive to essential pollinating insects like flies and beetles. This odor repels most larger fauna that can erode the fragile wetland soil they grow in. Bears are one of the only large fauna who forage on these young plants in the early spring after hibernation. When this plant blooms, it signals its neighboring plants in the community to bloom simultaneously, increasing the exposure of pollinating insects across the community of plants and increasing the genetic diversity of its species.

Western Skunk Cabbage plants are thermogenic so they produce their own heat. The internal temperature within each spathe can reach up to 70F when the outside temperatures are freezing. This warming mechanism helps plants thaw out the icy environment they blooms in and provide warm habitats for pollinating insects.

Medicine

The western skunk cabbage has been traditionally used by humans for food during late winter famine and for medicinal purposes. Commonly, it is prepared by drying, boiling, or distilling roots into herbal extracts. Its leaves can be used to collect water and as an eating bowl. Recent studies show that it may help diabetes by balancing blood sugar levels. It is also shown to reduce inflammation, which is linked to headaches, joint pain, muscle stiffness and arthritis. Some use it to calm down lung inflammation for people with asthma, bronchitis, or whooping cough (WebMD).

Conservation

This perennial plant is deeply rooted into the soil which makes it hard to harvest. Its brain-like root structure allows it to anchor itself deep into the soil to access specific nutrients and water. This plant can live up to 20 years in its natural environment, however deforestation, wetland draining, and agriculture currently threaten their populations throughout the pacific northwest. The effect of climate change on seasonality will certainly affect the pollination/blooming cycles of the skunk cabbage.  Warming temperatures and increased drought may threaten to dry out the saturated soil environment they depend on. The skunk cabbage and its precious habitat needs to be protected. Tread lightly friends and do everything you can to preserve biodiversity and the beautiful habitats that we love. Its blooming in Oregon, so get out there and try and find one of these plants on your own!

“Skunk Cabbage: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and Warning.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-91/skunk-cabbage.