skunk cabbage


noun

a low, fetid, broad-leaved North American plant, Symplocarpus foetidus, of the arum family, having a brownish-purple and green mottled spathe surrounding a stout spadix, growing in moist ground.
a related plant, Lysichiton americanum, of western North America, having a cluster of green leaves and a spike of flowers surrounded by a yellow spathe.

Origin of skunk cabbage

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55

Example sentences from the Web for skunk cabbage

British Dictionary definitions for skunk cabbage

skunk cabbage

noun

a low-growing fetid aroid swamp plant, Symplocarpus foetidus of E North America, having broad leaves and minute flowers enclosed in a mottled greenish or purple spathe
a similar aroid plant, Lysichitum americanum, of the W coast of North America and N Asia
Turkish name (1392–1913): skunkweed