Symplocarpus foetidus
| Symplocarpus foetidus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Winter-Mid Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Symplocarpus foetidus (common name: skunk cabbage)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1]. The seed should be stored in water if it is not sown immediately[2]. Stored seed can be sown in late winter or early spring. Stand the pot in 2cm of water to keep the compost wet. Germination should take place in the spring, prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in wet soil in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring once they are large enough.
Division with great care whilst the plant is dormant[1].
Cultivation: Succeeds in sun or shade in a deep moist to wet lime-free soil that is rich in organic matter[1]. Grows well in a bog garden or along the wet banks of streams and ponds[3][2].
A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -35°c[2].
All parts of the pant, but especially the flowers, have a strong unpleasant aroma[4][5] that is said to be a combination of skunk, carrion and garlic[6]. The plant can raise the temperature of its inflorescence by 15 - 35°c above the ambient air temperature, thus protecting itself from frost and helping to attract pollinating insects[1][2].
Range: Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Manitoba, south to Georgia.
Habitat: Marshes, bogs, swampy woods and by streams[7].
Edibility: Root - cooked[8][9][10][11][12]. The root must be thoroughly dried or cooked before being eaten, see notes above on toxicity. Traditionally the root was dried for at least 5 weeks or boiled for 3 days before being eaten[13].
Young leaves - cooked[14][11][12]. A peppery flavour[13]. The water should be changed at least once during the cooking process[9][13]. The leaves must be thoroughly cooked, see notes on toxicity above.
Medicinal: Skunk cabbage was much used by the native North American Indians primarily for its expectorant and antispasmodic properties to treat bronchitis and asthmatic conditions, a use that is still employed in modern herbalism[15]. The plant should be used with some caution, however, and preferably under professional supervision. Handling the fresh leaves can cause skin to blister whilst excessive doses of the root can bring on nausea and vomiting, headaches and dizziness[2][15].
The root is antispasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant and slightly narcotic[4][16][8][17][18][2]. The rootstock is harvested in late autumn or early spring and dried for later use[2]. It should not be stored for a long time because it loses its medicinal virtues[19]. The rootstock has been used internally in the treatment of respiratory and nervous disorders, including asthma, whooping cough, catarrh, bronchitis and hay fever[19][2]. It is occasionally used to treat epilepsy, headaches, vertigo and rheumatic problems[15]. Externally, it has been used as a poultice to draw splinters and thorns, to heal wounds and to treat headaches[15].
The root hairs or rootlets have been applied to dental cavities to treat toothache[19]. A tea made from the root hairs has been used externally to stop bleeding[19].
An inhalation of the crushed leaves has been used in the treatment of headaches[2].
The leaf bases have been applied as a wet dressing to bruises[19].
Usage: An infusion of the powdered root has been used as a wash to 'cure a strong smell under your arm'[20].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The plant is poisonous[21]. This report probably refers to the presence of calcium oxylate in all parts of the plant. This substance is toxic and if consumed makes the mouth and digestive tract feel as though hundreds of needles are being stuck into it. H
Also Known As: Spathyema foetida.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Harris, Ben. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health, 1973.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Coon, Nelson. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press, 1975.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 McPherson, Alan and Sue McPherson. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press, 1977.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
- ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Stary, Frantisek. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn, 1983.