Hey everybody, it's a skunk cabbage! (Look, they can't all be cool salamanders)

March 20, 2020

Hey everybody, it's a skunk cabbage! (Look, they can't all be cool salamanders). Symplocarpus foetidus, commonly known as skunk cabbage or swamp cabbage, is a pretty interesting plant. It can be found from Nova Scotia all the way down to North Carolina and Tennessee (while it's pretty common in southside Virginia, it's actually considered endangered in Tennessee). If you break the leaf of a skunk cabbage, you'll quickly understand how it earned its name; it releases a pungent odor, and it also releases a foul smell when it blooms. This stench attracts its pollinators, which include scavenging flies, stoneflies and bees. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of skunk cabbage is that it's a thermogenic plant, meaning it can raise its temperature above that of the surrounding air. It grows and flowers in early spring, often while snow is still on the ground, so it can raise its temperature as high as 63 degrees Fahrenheit to melt the frozen ground surrounding it. #BenInNature

About this post: Social distancing can be difficult, but the next few weeks present a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. While he is working from home, Administrator of Science Ben Williams is venturing outdoors each day to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world.

This post brought to you by VMNH Corporate Partner The Lester Group.