Practical
Plants

Symplocarpus foetidus

Skunk Cabbage

a perennial member of the Symplocarpus genus in the family Araceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Araceae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.5 m
Spread
0.5 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is poisonous[9]. 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[7].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - cooked[20][21][22][3][5]. 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[4]. Young leaves - cooked[2][3][5]. A peppery flavour[4]. The water should be changed at least once during the cooking process[21][4]. The leaves must be thoroughly cooked, see notes on toxicity above.

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[16]. 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[14][16]. The root is antispasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant and slightly narcotic[18][11][20][6][13][14]. The rootstock is harvested in late autumn or early spring and dried for later use[14]. It should not be stored for a long time because it loses its medicinal virtues[12]. The rootstock has been used internally in the treatment of respiratory and nervous disorders, including asthma, whooping cough, catarrh, bronchitis and hay fever[12][14]. It is occasionally used to treat epilepsy, headaches, vertigo and rheumatic problems[16]. Externally, it has been used as a poultice to draw splinters and thorns, to heal wounds and to treat headaches[16]. The root hairs or rootlets have been applied to dental cavities to treat toothache[12]. A tea made from the root hairs has been used externally to stop bleeding[12]. An inhalation of the crushed leaves has been used in the treatment of headaches[14]. The leaf bases have been applied as a wet dressing to bruises[12].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Odontalgic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An infusion of the powdered root has been used as a wash to 'cure a strong smell under your arm'[17].

Product or use
Cosmetic

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Manitoba, south to Georgia.
Habitat
Marshes, bogs, swampy woods and by streams[19].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[10]. The seed should be stored in water if it is not sown immediately[14]. 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[10].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in sun or shade in a deep moist to wet lime-free soil that is rich in organic matter[10]. Grows well in a bog garden or along the wet banks of streams and ponds[1][14]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -35°c[14]. All parts of the pant, but especially the flowers, have a strong unpleasant aroma[18][8] that is said to be a combination of skunk, carrion and garlic[15]. The plant can raise the temperature of its inflorescence by 15 - 35°c above the ambient air temperature, thus protecting itself from frost and helping to attract pollinating insects[10][14].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

    ↩1↩2

  4. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩1↩2

  6. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  7. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩

  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

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  9. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

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  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  12. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  13. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  14. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  15. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  16. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  18. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  19. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  20. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  21. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  22. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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