skunk cabbage

skunk cabbage

n.1. A foul-smelling aroid plant (Symplocarpus foetidus) of eastern North American wetlands, having small flowers on a spadix enclosed in a greenish or purplish spathe and blooming early in the spring.2. A similar aroid plant (Lysichiton americanus) of western North America, having a bright yellow, stalked spathe.

skunk cabbage

n 1. (Plants) a low-growing fetid aroid swamp plant, Symplocarpus foetidus of E North America, having broad leaves and minute flowers enclosed in a mottled greenish or purple spathe 2. (Plants) a similar aroid plant, Lysichitum americanum, of the W coast of North America and N Asia Turkish name (1392–1913): skunkweed

skunk′ cab`bage

n. 1. a low, fetid, broad-leaved North American plant, Symplocarpus foetidus, of the arum family, having a brownish purple and green mottled spathe surrounding a stout spadix, growing in moist ground. 2. a related plant, Lysichiton americanum, of W North America, having a cluster of green leaves and a spike of flowers surrounded by a yellow spathe. [1745–55, Amer.]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	skunk cabbage - deciduous perennial low-growing fetid swamp plant of eastern North America having minute flowers enclosed in a mottled greenish or purple cowl-shaped spathefoetid pothos, polecat weed, Symplocarpus foetidusgenus Symplocarpus, Symplocarpus - one species: skunk cabbagebog plant, marsh plant, swamp plant - a semiaquatic plant that grows in soft wet land; most are monocots: sedge, sphagnum, grasses, cattails, etc; possibly heath
	2.	skunk cabbage - clump-forming deciduous perennial swamp plant of western North America similar to Symplocarpus foetidus but having a yellow spatheLysichiton americanumbog plant, marsh plant, swamp plant - a semiaquatic plant that grows in soft wet land; most are monocots: sedge, sphagnum, grasses, cattails, etc; possibly heath