Common Name: common skunk cabbageScientific Name: Symplocarpus foetidus (L.) Nutt.Family Name: Araceae - Arum FamilyIdentification NotesLife Cyclenative perennial, reproducing by seed and a thick rhizome Leavesbasal, oval with rounded or heart-shaped base and blunt-pointed tip, dark green, margins entire, smooth, appear as flowers end, petioled Flowers4-sepaled, yellowish-green to purple, small; round or oval spadix inside hooded and fleshy spathe, spathe brownish purple with green spots or stripes, near ground, before leaves emerge often when snow is still present Fruitbrown to black berries, round cluster Other: unpleasant skunk-like smell when crushed or cut