Symplocarpus foetidus [Eastern Skunk Cabbage]

[Andrea B.]

Blum, A.G. (2013) Symplocarpus foetidus (L.) Salisb. ex Nutt. (Araceae) Eastern Skunk Cabbage. Flowers photographed in ultraviolet and visible light. http://www.ultraviol...-skunk-cabbage/

 

Bicentennial Park, Middletown, New Jersey, USA

N40°23'30" W74°06'06"

05 April 2013

Wildflower

 

Synonyms:

• Dracontium foetidum L.
  
• Spathyema foetida (L.) Raf.
  
• Zazen-sou (Japan)
  
• Dharma-sou (Japan)
  

Comment:

This plant, native to the Eastern US, was found growing in a wetlands area along the edges of which Toxicodendron radicans was rampant. However, its dormancy did not make that apparent. While I was happy to obtain the UV photograph of the S. foetidus, the resultant T. radicans rash from that plant's leafless twigs was somewhat unpleasant.

Aiming the lens into the green-spotted spathe of this S. foetidus revealed its spadix with a few tiny flowers and a bit of pollen. The striking feature of this plant in UV is that the emerging, rolled leaflets were quite UV-bright with a bit of UV-color at their bottom in contrast to the UV-dark spathe and spadix flowers.

The spathe/spadix produces enough respiratory warmth that it can melt spring snows around it. Early insects like the warmth. This specimen hosted a few small dark grey beetles.

 

Reference:

1. New England Wild Flower Society (2013) Symplocarpus foetidus. Skunk-cabbage. http://gobotany.newe...arpus/foetidus/

 

Equipment [Nikon D600-broadband + Nikon 105mm f/4.0 UV-Nikkor]

 

Visible Light [f/11 for 1/8" @ ISO 100 with onboard Flash and Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/11 for 1.3" @ ISO 400 with SB-14 UV-modified Flash and Baader UV-Pass Filter]

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/11 for 1" @ ISO 400 with SB-14 UV-modified Flash and Baader UV-Pass Filter]

 

Detail from preceding photo.

[Akira]

What? Skunk cabbage? Here in Japan, this species is called "Zazen-sou" or "Dharma-sou". The former means "seated meditation plant" as it looks like a Zen monk meditating. The latter comes from its appearance like meditating Dharma. Oh, well! :D

[Andrea B.]

Akira, I think that the Japanese interpretation of this little plant is so much more lovely. I am going to adopt this idea of the meditating monk sitting inside his green splotched robe. Thank you for this most interesting comment.