What are swamp lanterns?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

February 23, 2005

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In early spring, the brilliant yellow spathes of swamp lanterns (Lysichiton americanus Hultén & H. St. John) are highly evident across the forest floor in cedar/alder swamps (Thuja plicata and Alnus rubra), in boggy places, and along rivers. Its large waxy leaves arise slightly later. The spathes shelter the tiny greenish yellow flowers arranged tightly on the spadix. The swamp lantern is an aroid (family Araceae) and the only aroid with a native range from coastal Alaska and British Columbia to northern California and inland to Montana.

Skunk cabbages rise above their muddy habitat
in the temperate rainforest of the Hoh River Valley
Sam Abell/National Geographic Image Collection
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A blooming swamp lantern produces heat and a cloying skunky odor. The combination of bright yellow, warmth, and smell attract insects emerging from winter torpor—flies (family: Anthomyiidae and Lauxaniidae) and rove beetles (family: Staphylinidae). The inflorescence (spathe and spadix) acts like an 'inn' providing warmth and a meeting place to find members of the opposite sex. In turn, the flies and beetles spread pollen from the staminate (male) flowers to the pistillate (female) flowers.

Swamp lanterns have bundles of needle-shaped oxalate crystals, raphides, which protect the plants from herbivory. The raphides produce a severe burning feeling to the lips and mouths of anything foolish enough to sample the plants. Before the leaves and raphides are fully formed, though, snails and slugs feast. But snails and slugs are not the major herbivores. Elk and bears seem impervious to the smoldering sensation and tear up stands of swamp lanterns to gorge on the starch-rich rhizomes. Even humans have eaten the plants after proper preparation to destroy the raphides which is probably the source of the name skunk cabbage.

Den Virtuella Floran has posted a photo gallery of Lysichiton americanus taken by Ieva Millers, Arne Anderberg, and Anna-Lena Anderberg. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/mono/ara/lysic/lysiame2.html

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge these gorgeous images.

(Compiled from: "Lysichiton Schott" Flora of North America, Vol. 22, eFloras.org; "Profile of the Western Skunk Cabbage", Ken Steffenson, Friends of the Hylebos Wetlands; "The Fervor of Lysichiton americanus", Stephanie McKnight, Bulletin of the Native Plant Society of Oregon, July 2003; "Lysichiton", Hortus Third, Staff L.H. Bailey Hortorium, NY State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Macmillan, NY 1976; W3TROPICOS, Jim Solomon, Missouri Botanical Garden.)

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