There is an Indian legend that tells how the skunk cabbage received its elk-skin blanket and war-club that involves salmon rewarding uncle skunk cabbage for feeding the people before the coming of the salmon. It is a charming tale. The natives only ate it in times of famine and then only after steaming or roasting. The leaves were used as "wax paper" and for lining berry baskets, berry drying racks and steaming pits.
I took some pictures this afternoon as Ken and I dusted off our bikes and took a ride, as it was a beautiful day. Actually, it involves more than dusting, as our tires are always flat. He gets double exercise, once in hand pumping up the tires and then again when we ride. Here are the pictures.
I had Ken stand by one of them so you can see the relative size. Don't let this small size fool you. By summer the leaves of the Skunk Cabbage can be as long as 36 inches and about 10 - 12 inches wide, at which time the yellow bracts aren't visable any longer. I haven't gotten close enough to smell them, as the name suggests something not too pleasant!
3 comments:
Thank you for the nature walk. Don't you just love to find out about the local native plants? It is a passion of mine
Yes, actually my book was from a college class that I thought I'd like. That is until I found out that it was designed for Science majors-of which I wasn't one, and that it mostly involved learning their scientific names, yada yada. I just wanted to satifisy my native curiousity, not teach it. Needless to say, I dropped the class, but kept the book. It is a wealth of infomation and when I see something new, I look it up and have even pressed some of the small plants, between the pages of the book that I have found in the area.
That was a fun walk through your part of the woods! They look really pretty!
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