Walking outside, the temperature is finally above freezing long enough for ice and snow to melt. Lakes and ponds are no longer covered in ice, and the ground has become waterlogged and muddy. All the melted snow means that, at long last, the ground is visible once again, as are grasses and other short plants. As the weather continues to warm, more and more plants will start to flourish. During a recent walk, I saw the first signs of new plants poking through the once-frozen ground. However, one plant in particular caught my interest.

It’s one that most people ignore and is often disliked, but it is nevertheless interesting. That plant is the Eastern Skunk Cabbage, scientific name Symplocarpus foetidus. Skunk cabbage usually prefers wet or damp areas, which have become plentiful now due to the winter snowmelt. Skunk cabbage is frequently found near streams and marshes that remain wet for much of the year.

Though it may be unassuming at first glance, skunk cabbage has some incredible adaptations. It has a specialized ability among plants known as thermogenesis. Thermogenesis is the ability of a plant or animal to generate its own heat. This means skunk cabbages can warm themselves, even if the outside weather is chilly. When air temperatures are below freezing, a skunk cabbage can still maintain temperatures of 50 degrees or more. This allows them to start growing much earlier in the year than many other plants, and they are not as badly affected by a late frost. They can even be found melting snow, leaving a perfect circle around the plant.

Skunk cabbage is toxic to many animals, so you will rarely see it being eaten. However, if you have been around it, you may know that if it gets damaged it becomes very pungent. That characteristic stink which has earned the skunk cabbage its name actually does have a purpose. Unlike the many sweet-smelling springtime flowers that rely primarily on bees and butterflies for pollination, this plant has instead adapted to be pollinated mainly by flies and beetles, insects that love the smell of rotting meat and other unappealing stenches.

Photo by Jeff Tome Although beetles and flies tend to be the main pollinators of skunk cabbage, bees can also visit their flowers, as seen here

Unlike most other plants growing at this time of year, the first part of a skunk cabbage that appears is the flower; it’s that spiky bit you see poking out of the mud. Because it starts growing so early, skunk cabbage may also be the first flower you see outside this year. While they might smell when fully grown, those reddish-purple flowers are one of the first signs of new plant growth in spring.

Next time you find yourself taking a walk, I encourage you to keep an eye out for this fascinating local plant; although take care to avoid stepping on it. It may not be the most beautiful flower out there, but skunk cabbage is both unique and a sure sign that spring is just around the corner.

Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature. ACNC is located just east of Route 62 between Warren and Jamestown. The trails are open from dawn to dusk and birds of prey can be viewed anytime the trails are open. The Nature Center is open from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily except Sunday when it opens at 1 p.m. More information can be found online at auduboncnc.org or by calling (716) 569-2345.