Northwest Native Plants  Skunk Cabbage 

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Skunk Cabbage - lysichitum americanum

Appearance

  • Leaves are fresh, lance-shaped, oval.
  • Flowers are small yellowish-green and/ or cream colored.
  • Round and upright, leaves 6-9 cm thick and 30 mm long.
  • Leaves are spread low.
 Skunk Cabbage

Habitat

  • Grows in wooded wetlands, swamps, marshes, and wet meadows.
  • Likes to get it's feet very wet.
 Skunk Cabbage

Growth Habit

  • Skunk Cabbage is a perennial plant.
  • In spring it has no leaves.
  • In summer it grows all the time.
  • In winter it dies down
  • In fall it sprouts again
 Skunk Cabbage

Natural History

  • Crowns are eaten by animals
  • Native Americans ateparts ofSkunk Cabbage
  • Native Americans used Skunk Cabbage as a possible cure for ring-worm
  • The leaves are waterproof and used by Native's for drinking cups