Hi Ellen- Another neat fact about them is that they will generate their own heat to push up through the snow. They are native here in IL too. I was too busy to see if this fact is true- we had late enough snow. Best regards, Lisa -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Ellen Hornig Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2013 2:24 PM To: Pacific Bulb Society Subject: [pbs] Symplocarpus foetidus (closer to bulbous than cardamine) Do skunk cabbages (Symplocarpus foetidus) qualify as bulbous? geophytic? They have thickened rootstocks, anyway - yes? I ask because fairly near our home is a swamp with thousands of them blooming now, and I've been surprised at the range of spathe color. The darkest are almost-solid (subtlely mottled) maroon; the palest are almost solid yellow-green, with modest purple stippling; and in between there's a full range from very heavily to lightly mottled and stippled. If I have a chance, I'm going back with boots and a camera to record some of them. Of course I've seem Symplocarpus before, but I've never stopped to study a large colony. The smell is somewhat offputting, but the plants themselves are entrancing at this season. Ellen -- Ellen Hornig 212 Grafton St Shrewsbury MA 01545 508-925-5147