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American skunk cabbage

Invasive Species Information

What is American skunk cabbage - (Lysichiton americanus)?

Habitat: Terrestrial. Needs wet areas.
Distribution in Ireland: Sparse distribution but locally abundant in some places.

Status: Established
Family name: Araceae.

Reproduction: Male and female (sometimes hermaphrodite) flowers can occur within the same distinctive inflorescence which consists of a spathe and spadix. Pollination is carried out by beetles in North America.

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American Skunk-Cabbage

Native to North America it was introduced to Ireland by gardeners and now resides in boggy acid soils in wet woodlands, streamsides and pond margins. American skunk cabbage is identified by a strong skunk-like smell, large yellow flowers and grows to 90cm height. It can be invasive but the impacts are currently unknown. 

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Colour: Large green leaf surrounds a yellow spathe within which is a green/yellow spadix (a spike of inflorescence).

 

Smell: As the name suggests, the plant emits a foul smelling odour when damaged/crushed or when dying back.

 

Size: Can grow up to 1.5 metre 

American skunk cabbage - Lysichiton americanus ID Guide V4.gif

How To Identify American skunk cabbage?

American Skunk-Cabbage ID Guide
American skunk cabbage
Spadix
American skunk cabage spadix
Spathe & Spadix
American skunk cabbage leaves
Leaves

Why Is American skunk cabbage A Problem?

Forms dense stands which can shade out native species.

Its preference for wet soils means that the seed can easily be dispersed via waterbodies.

European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 non-native invasive plant species A-Z (Updated 2017)

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There are currently 35 invasive plant species listed in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations (annex 2, Part 1)...

 

Click on a species from the following list to find out more regarding non-native species subject to restrictions under Regulations 49 and 50

  1. American Skunk-Cabbage - Lysichiton americanus

  2. Brazilian Giant-Rhubarb - Gunnera manicata

  3. Broad-Leaved Rush - Juncus planifolius

  4. Cape Pondweed - Aponogeton distachyos

  5. Cord-Grasses - Spartina (all species and hybrids)

  6. Curly Waterweed - Lagarosiphon major

  7. Dwarf Eel-Grass - Zostera japonica

  8. Fanwort - Cabomba caroliniana

  9. Floating Pennywort - Hydrocotyle ranunculoides

  10. Fringed Water-Lily - Nymphoides peltata

  11. Giant Hogweed - Heracleum mantegazzianum

  12. Giant Knotweed - Fallopia sachalinensis

  13. Giant-Rhubarb - Gunnera tinctoria

  14. Giant Salvinia - Salvinia molesta

  15. Himalayan Balsam - Impatiens glandulifera

  16. Himalayan Knotweed - Persicaria wallichii

  17. Hottentot-Fig - Carpobrotus edulis

  18. Japanese Knotweed - Fallopia japonica

  19. Large-Flowered Waterweed - Egeria densa

  20. Mile-a-Minute Weed - Persicaria perfoliata

  21. New Zealand Pigmyweed - Crassula helmsii

  22. Parrots Feather - Myriophyllum aquaticum

  23. Red Alga - Grateloupia doryphora

  24. Rhododendron - Rhododendron ponticum

  25. Salmonberry - Rubus spectabilis

  26. Sea-Buckthorn - Hippophae rhamnoides

  27. Spanish Bluebell - Hyacinthoides hispanica

  28. Three-Cornered Leek - Allium triquetrum

  29. Wakame - Undaria pinnatifida

  30. Water Chestnut - Trapa natans

  31. Water Fern - Azolla filiculoides

  32. Water Lettuce - Pistia stratiotes

  33. Water-Primrose - Ludwigia (all species)

  34. Waterweeds - Elodea (all species)

  35. Wireweed - Sargassum muticum

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