Symplocarpus foetidus (closer to bulbous than cardamine)
Shoal Creek Succulents (Sat, 06 Apr 2013 12:41:07 PDT)

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