American Skunk Cabbage
American skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) has huge leathery leaves between 40cm – 1.5m, and bright yellow ‘flowers’ up to 45cm. The yellow ‘flowers’ emerge first around April time, followed by the leaves. The centre spike (also known as the spadix) is covered in tiny flowers which contain seeds. These seeds spread via waterways, but it is also likely they can be spread by animals and birds; by attaching to their fur, or by their droppings.
