With a name like "Skunk Cabbage" you know it ain't gonnna be pretty

**NaClH2O** · 07:49 PM

But I find the "flowers" of the Eastern Skunk Cabbage to be really interesting. They have such great shapes, and many of them are definitely "meat like" in color. Here is a small sampling of 4.
All taken with the DS and the DA 50-200 lens
f5.6 at 1/180

f5.6 at 250

f5.6 at 1/350

f5.6 at 1/250

Nope, they aren't beautiful, or even pretty, but I think they are strangely compelling just the same. And you can't say they're not unique!

NaCl(I like weird stuff)H2O

mingdie · 04-18-2007, 07:57 PM

That is a weird plant but interesting. It looks like it is a flesh eating plant. Nice shots.

Cheers

Eddie

little laker · 04-18-2007, 08:16 PM

very interesting photo's thanks for sharing.

The top picture has a little red object on the lower left hand corner. Could this be a fresh bud? I'm just wondering if it would make another picture on it's own

**NaClH2O** · 04-18-2007, 08:25 PM

Originally posted by little laker

very interesting photo's thanks for sharing.

The top picture has a little red object on the lower left hand corner. Could this be a fresh bud? I'm just wondering if it would make another picture on it's own

Hi Stu, I think that is a barberry bud, can't be sure. I had low top sneakers on at the time, that's why I was using the 50-200, I couldn't get near the plants w/o sinking up to mid calf, and I wasn't quite ready to do that, it was barely 40 degrees that day, not to mention that swamp mud is yucko.

NaCl(I can say it is not a Skunk Cabbage bud/sprout)H2O

little laker · 04-18-2007, 09:37 PM

I wouldn't have waded either, and they're still good pic's which is all that matters

dbh · 04-18-2007, 09:56 PM

Nope, they aren't beautiful, or even pretty, but I think they are strangely compelling just the same. And you can't say they're not unique!

NaCl(I like weird stuff)H2O
----
I gotta agree. On all 4 of your points. Thanks for sharing the photos.

dbh - fascinated by nature

**Sailor** · 04-19-2007, 05:47 AM

Hey Buddy, the plants are a bit creepy (I've never seen one that I can recall), but the photography is first rate - you do so well in close-in shots.

Jer

spillway · 04-19-2007, 06:25 AM

Thanks for posting these. They are kinda eerie, but beautiful.

Um, is there a reason that they call them 'skunk' cabbages?

little laker · 04-19-2007, 07:37 AM

they do smell a little like a skunk at times.
If I remember correctly it's only certain times of the year.

**NaClH2O** · 04-19-2007, 07:55 AM

Thanks everybody for the compliments---keep them coming!

To spillway:
Yes there is a reason they are called "skunk cabbage". They are misfits in the floral kingdom. They actually are pollinated by carrion eaters, flies and the like. To be truthful, they stink! Some people describe it as a 'skunk like' odor, to me it smells more like something rotten. In any case not a plant you want to walk up to and sniff!

It must work well tho, they are a very common plant in poor drainage areas in the north east. Very early sprouters, frequently the first plants up. They are thermogenic, meaning they produce their own heat. I've seen them melt holes through as much as 4-5 inches (10-13cm) of snow! In addtion the that little "room" inside the 'flower' can get as warm as 70 F! (21 C). Botanists theorize that this helps attract pollinating insects on cold early spring days. Even their scientific name is interesting:
Symplocarpus foetidus.

NaCl(like I said, not your usual plant)H2O

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04-18-2007, 07:57 PM	#2
mingdie Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Photos: Gallery Posts: 630	That is a weird plant but interesting. It looks like it is a flesh eating plant. Nice shots. Cheers Eddie

04-18-2007, 08:16 PM	#3
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	very interesting photo's thanks for sharing. The top picture has a little red object on the lower left hand corner. Could this be a fresh bud? I'm just wondering if it would make another picture on it's own

04-18-2007, 08:25 PM	#4
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631 Original Poster	Originally posted by little laker very interesting photo's thanks for sharing. The top picture has a little red object on the lower left hand corner. Could this be a fresh bud? I'm just wondering if it would make another picture on it's own Hi Stu, I think that is a barberry bud, can't be sure. I had low top sneakers on at the time, that's why I was using the 50-200, I couldn't get near the plants w/o sinking up to mid calf, and I wasn't quite ready to do that, it was barely 40 degrees that day, not to mention that swamp mud is yucko. NaCl(I can say it is not a Skunk Cabbage bud/sprout)H2O

04-18-2007, 09:37 PM	#5
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	I wouldn't have waded either, and they're still good pic's which is all that matters

04-18-2007, 09:56 PM	#6
dbh Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Edmonton Photos: Gallery Posts: 404	Nope, they aren't beautiful, or even pretty, but I think they are strangely compelling just the same. And you can't say they're not unique! NaCl(I like weird stuff)H2O ---- I gotta agree. On all 4 of your points. Thanks for sharing the photos. dbh - fascinated by nature

04-19-2007, 05:47 AM	#7
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	Hey Buddy, the plants are a bit creepy (I've never seen one that I can recall), but the photography is first rate - you do so well in close-in shots. Jer

04-19-2007, 06:25 AM	#8
spillway Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: S. Wisconsin Posts: 110	Thanks for posting these. They are kinda eerie, but beautiful. Um, is there a reason that they call them 'skunk' cabbages?

04-19-2007, 07:37 AM	#9
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	they do smell a little like a skunk at times. If I remember correctly it's only certain times of the year.

04-19-2007, 07:55 AM	#10
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631 Original Poster	Thanks everybody for the compliments---keep them coming! To spillway: Yes there is a reason they are called "skunk cabbage". They are misfits in the floral kingdom. They actually are pollinated by carrion eaters, flies and the like. To be truthful, they stink! Some people describe it as a 'skunk like' odor, to me it smells more like something rotten. In any case not a plant you want to walk up to and sniff! It must work well tho, they are a very common plant in poor drainage areas in the north east. Very early sprouters, frequently the first plants up. They are thermogenic, meaning they produce their own heat. I've seen them melt holes through as much as 4-5 inches (10-13cm) of snow! In addtion the that little "room" inside the 'flower' can get as warm as 70 F! (21 C). Botanists theorize that this helps attract pollinating insects on cold early spring days. Even their scientific name is interesting: Symplocarpus foetidus. NaCl(like I said, not your usual plant)H2O