Scientific Name
Symplocarpus foetidus
Common Name
Skunk cabbage

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN!

Characteristics

Family
Araceae
Plant Description
Perennial herb; leaves large and heart-shaped; flowers small in a dark spadix surrounded by a purple-brown spathe, foul-smelling.
Origin
USA, NC
Distribution
Mountains and Piedmont.
Where Found
Forest or natural area in wet woods.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
All parts.
Symptoms
Burning and swelling of lips, tongue, and throat; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Young, uncurled leaves and roots HARVEST TIME: Only collect leaves and roots from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. Collect the bright green, unfurled leaves in the very early spring. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: Soak young shoots and roots in warm water to remove dirt and debris. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Carefully handle leaves after collecting. Bruised leaves will give off an unpleasant smell. The smell disappears after cooking. Cook for 20 minutes, change the water at least twice and replace with fresh, boiling salted water. Serve like greens. Roots are very bitter and burning in their raw state. Peel, cut into small pieces, roast in an oven for at least one hour and grind in a flour or coffee grinder until quite fine. Add to bread dough or muffin batter. SOURCE: Crowhurst, A. 1972. The Weed Cookbook. Lancer Books, Inc. New York, 190 pp.
Toxic Principle
Calcium oxalate crystals and possibly others.
Severity
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN!

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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