skunk cabbage
Definition of skunk cabbage
: any of several early-blooming perennial herbs of the arum family that occur in shaded, wet to swampy areas and have a fetid odor suggestive of a skunk:a : one (Symplocarpus foetidus) of eastern North America and eastern Asia that has a hoodlike, brownish-purple spatheb : one (Lysichiton americanus synonym L. americanum) chiefly of the Pacific coast region of North America that has a large yellow spathec : one (Lysichiton camtschatcensis synonym L. camtschatcense) of eastern Asia that has a large white spathe
From the M-W Editors
Illustration of skunk cabbage
1751
First Known Use of skunk cabbage
1751
SKUNK CABBAGE Defined for English Language Learners
skunk cabbage
Definition of skunk cabbage for English Language Learners
-
: a North American plant that grows in wet, shady areas and that produces a strong odor
Learn More about skunk cabbage
-
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about skunk cabbage
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up skunk cabbage? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!