Flower ID: IMG_0128.JPG-04-16-2017 Flower name (scientific): Symplocarpus foetidus (Linnaeus) Salisbury ex W. P. C. Barton PY: 1817. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) sim-plo-KAR-pus FET-uh-dus Flower name (common): Skunk Cabbage Family name (common): Arum Family name (scientific): Araceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek symplokos for connected, and karpos for fruit. Referring to the connected ovaries into a compound fruit. Specific epithet: Stinking, bad smelling, referring to the plant odor, particularly when bruised or broken. Common name origin: From the unpleasant odor arising when parts of the plant are bruised or broken. Cabbage probably refers to supposed similarity of the leaves with cultivars of Brassica oleracea, the common vegetable cabbage. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.3 inches (0.3 to 0.8 cm) Petal count: 4 tepals. Color: flower cream-pale yellow, the spathe is brownish or red-purple, and mottled. Other: flower arrangement, Spadix Plant description: Erect Size: 12 to 36 inches (30 to 91 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal, type is simple Size: Leaves up to 60 cm long and up to 40 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, oval or oval-ovate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Very common. Bloom time (typical): March to May Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woodlands, thickets, swamps, sun or shade, wet soil. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes. Ethnobotany: The Menominee employed this plant to treat wounds and cramps. In the following reference Smith gives the name of the plant as Spatheyma foetida(Smith, p. 23, 1923). The Meskwaki used the rootlets or root hairs as a remedy for toothaches and the leaf bases were employed to reduce swellings (Smith, p. 203, 1928). The Chippewa used the root as one component of a cough medicine (Gilmore, p. 124, 1933). Latitude: 44.795555 Longitude: -91.499947 Altitude: 251.20 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (NB, NS, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Dracontium foetidum Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 967. 1753. Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): OBL Wetland Status (MW): OBL