Quartet of Skunk Cabbage Spathes
by Carol Senske
Title
Quartet of Skunk Cabbage Spathes
Artist
Carol Senske
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Skunk cabbage earns it's name from the skunk-like smell the leaves give off when crushed. It "blooms" in our locale in mid-to-late February and, because it creates its own heat, it can melt snow and ice allowing the spathes to emerge. This heat is caused by cellular respiration caused by its rapid growthThe fetid smell draws insects which act as pollinators.
The stink repels most mammals and draws bees and wasps in droves. This leads some people to incorporate them in gardens. The plants are considered poisonous to humans, however, and if you eat them (and if you can get beyond the smell) you can get very ill. All parts except the earliest, unfurled leaves are to be avoided. The new leaves can be cooked and eaten safely if you follow rigid guidelines about cleaning and cooking. I think it is foolhardy to try.
Once pollination is done the spathes wither and gorgeous, huge, beautiful, textured, green leaves emerge. In autumn you can find the seed pods; they look like black balls with a textured pattern. You can see the "flower", which is yellow with spiky things, inside the largest spathe. This becomes the seed head.
Uploaded
May 16th, 2021
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Comments (13)
Anita Pollak
What a wonderful capture of these very cool spathes, and thank you so much for that very interesting information! We have skunk cabbage in the wooded wetland behind our house, but I've never gotten close enough to them to see these! (Ticks). l/f
Carol Senske replied:
Thanks for this wonderful comment, Anita! I do understand the tick part - yuck! Lyme disease and all, never mind the general grossness.
Sharon W
Wow Carol, that is fascinating! I have never seen or heard of these, a super excellent capture!!
Carol Senske replied:
Nature is awesome! Thanks my dear for the visit and the nice words. I always treasure your visits:>)
Bette Devine
It looks poisonous! Why would anyone experiment with eating it! But you've made a great image from it, Carol :)
Carol Senske replied:
People do strange things - LOL. Thanks, Bette. This is one picture I do favor because it catches all the details of the plant in early spring.
Jurgen Lorenzen
Beautiful Skunk Cabbage portrait, Carol!
Carol Senske replied:
Thanks, Jurgen:>). I always look for them in February when everything else is still asleep.
Bette Devine
A fascinating creation of Nature - and an equally fascinating description,Carol. Beautifully photographed - and sharp! Fave x
Carol Senske replied:
Hi, Bette! As usual, the days slip away and the things to do keep stacking up. LOL. I've made myself a promise to post at least one thing a week - enforced by sheer will.Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your kind support! It means the world:>)
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