Skunk cabbage

Reflection of cabbage leaves and tree branches in the Wyman Woods swamp water (April 10, 2021)

The Marblehead Rail Trail goes through the wetland area of the Wyman Woods, southeast of Salem in Massachusetts. Plenty of Eastern Skunk Cabbage plants can be found here in the swampy woods on both sides of the trail.

The picture shows the cabbage-like, veined leaves of unfurled skunk cabbage plants. Skunk cabbage flowers are produced on a spadix within a spathe. In early spring, the flowers appear first—close to the muddy ground—before the large, green leaves begin unfurling from a tight leaf roll. The brownish purple, shell-like spathes of the arum plants are visible underneath the leaf umbrella on the water surface.

References and further reading

[1] New England Wildlife Center. URL: https://www.newildlife.org/education/weeziepedia/skunk-cabbage/ (accessed: April 12, 2021).

[2] Peter Muise. Skunk Cabbage Folklore. New England Folklore - Blogspot,May 17, 2017. URL: http://newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com/2017/05/skunk-cabbage-folklore.html (accessed: April 12, 2021).

[3] Symplocarpus foetidus. Native Plant Trust - Go Botany. URL: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/symplocarpus/foetidus/ (accessed: April 12, 2021).

Unfurled skunk cabbage alongside the Marblehead Rail Trail in the Wyman Woods wetland section

Reflection of cabbage leaves and tree branches in the Wyman Woods swamp water (April 10, 2021)

References and further reading