skunk cabbage
skunk cabbage Lexical Profile
• noun
North American A low-growing, foul-smelling wetland plant (Symplocarpus foetidus) native to eastern North America, known for its mottled purple spathe that emerges in early spring and generates heat to melt surrounding snow.
"While hiking through the muddy wetlands in early March, we spotted the distinct purple hoods of the skunk cabbage pushing through the frost."
North American A robust wetland plant (Lysichiton americanus) native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, featuring massive green leaves and a bright yellow spathe, noted for its strong, musky odor.
"The pungent, swampy scent of the western skunk cabbage filled the damp air along the coastal trail in Washington."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-18th century in North America; named for the plant's fetid odor, which resembles the defensive spray of a skunk, combined with its large, unfurling leaves that resemble those of a cabbage.