Flora of the Southeastern United States

Intro: Strong-smelling, low, fleshy perennial that emerges in late-winter in seepage-fed bogs and non-alluvial swamps.

Stems: Stem a thick, underground rhizome that sends up the fleshy inflorescence and, later, the leaves.

Leaves: Leaves basal and clustered, emerging after flowers, petioles lengthening over time, broadly oval, 6-24 in.long, with netted veins and entire margins; smells like cabbage when bruised.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers completely cover a short-stalked, round to oval spadix that is mostly enclosed by a purple-mottled, fleshy spathe with in-rolled margins. Flowers yellowish or reddish, consisting of 4 perianth segments.

Fruits: Fruit a cluster of fleshy berries embedded in the spadix.

Comments: Through a chemical process, the flowers create heat, which can melt snow surrounding the spadix.

Height: 1-2 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Strong-smelling, low, fleshy perennial that emerges in late-winter in seepage-fed bogs and non-alluvial swamps.

stems: Stem a thick, underground rhizome that sends up the fleshy inflorescence and, later, the leaves.

leaves: Leaves basal and clustered, emerging after flowers, petioles lengthening over time, broadly oval, 6-24 in.long, with netted veins and entire margins; smells like cabbage when bruised.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers completely cover a short-stalked, round to oval spadix that is mostly enclosed by a purple-mottled, fleshy spathe with in-rolled margins. Flowers yellowish or reddish, consisting of 4 perianth segments.

fruits: Fruit a cluster of fleshy berries embedded in the spadix.

comments: Through a chemical process, the flowers create heat, which can melt snow surrounding the spadix.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America