skunk cabbage (American skunkcabbage; swamp lantern; western skunk cabbage; yellow skunk cabbage)
Araceae (Arum family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Introduction
Skunk cabbage, or swamp lantern, is a native perennial western North American species found only in a handful of western US states (Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho) and one Canadian province (British Columbia) (USDA 2011). A single report from Wyoming may be erroneous (Flora North America 2011). In British Columbia, it is common in southern BC, west of the Coast-Cascade Mountains, but is less frequent elsewhere in BC, south of 56 degree north (Douglas et al. 1998). This is an aquatic to semi-aquatic species that is sun and shade tolerant. It is found in swamps, bog edges (lags), wet ditches, sloughs and moist forests in the lowland and montane zones. It is a common species in sloughs along the Fraser River (e.g. Finn Slough).
Skunk cabbages have distinctive large bright yellow 'flowers' or spathes which are actually bracts that surround the spadix (spike) of tiny yellowish-green flowers. Flowering is from early spring (March) through to late spring (May). As the flowers die back, large basal 'cabbage' leaves (up to 150 cm long) appear. Skunk cabbages plants have a distinctive, skunk-like smell that is noticeable when leaves are brushed against, crushed or stepped on. The large, bright yellow, striking 'flowers' of this species, followed by lush green foliage, have made it an attractive species for gardeners. It was introduced in Europe by gardeners for use in ponds and wet sites, and has escaped and become invasive in some areas. It was first introduced in Great Britain in 1901 and first reported naturalizing in 1947 (Klingenstein and Alberternst 2010). Skunk cabbage plants are reported to live up to 80 years (Klingenstein and Alberternst 2010). View a photo of this species invading a creek in Glasgow, Scotland. Flora North America provides a detailed description of this species and discussion of its range. Read about skunk cabbage in Europe. |
Species Information
General:
Perennial semi-aquatic or terrestrial herb from a short, thick rhizome and fibrous roots; stems several, 30-70 cm tall.
Leaves:
All basal, blades egg-shaped to broadly lanceolate, entire, 30-150 cm long, 10-70 cm wide, short-stalked.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of numerous, densely packed, perfect flowers in a cylindric spike 7-12 cm long, the spike on a 30- to 50-cm long stalk and subtended by a yellowish bract similar to the leaves in shape but much smaller; perianth 4-lobed; ovaries 2-celled.
Fruits:
Berry-like, broadly egg-shaped, greenish to reddish, 6 mm long; seeds 1 or 2.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Ecology
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
345 | 0 | 1740 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
11 | 0 | 120 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
37 | 0 | 360 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
5 | 1 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
1716 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
CWH | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BWBS(1), CDF(89), CWH(1137), ESSF(9), ICH(262), IDF(7), MH(87), SBPS(1), SBS(85) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Swamps, wet ditches and moist forests in the lowland and montane zones; common in S BC west of the Coast-Cascade Mountains, less frequent elsewhere in BC south of 56degreeN; N to SE AK and S to MT, ID and CA.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Lysichiton camtschatcensis auct. non (L.) Schott
Taxonomic Notes
It's funny how we ignore our native skunk cabbage when the Brits make such stunning use of it in their gardens. A harbinger of spring in the wild moist places of BC these swamp lanterns lift their golden yellow spathes in early spring which are followed by large 'tropical' foliage. Moist soil, bog gardens or containers without drainage.
Note Author: Gary Lewis, Phoenix Perennials |