Emerging from moist soil in early spring, a large, brownish-purple and green, mottled, shell-like spathe enclosing a knob-like, yellowish to dark red-purple spadix covered with tiny flowers; by late spring, a tight roll of fresh green leaves beside spathe unfolding to form huge, dark green leaves.

Spathe 3-6" long.'

1-2' long, to 1' wide, veined, on stalks rising directly from ground.

Fruit

1-2'.

February-May.

Open swamps and marshes, wet woodlands, and streamsides.

This distinctive plant sprouts early in spring, and the heat of cellular respiration resulting from its rapid growth actually when the plant is bruised, resembles that of skunk (hence its common name) and lures insects that pollinate it. The huge leaves of mature plants may dominate an area.