Skunk Cabbage season is once again upon us. In swamps near and far, or at least in the northeastern fourth of the U.S., Skunk Cabbage will begin breaking ground any day now. While many of my non-Christian friends will disagree, I think this plant has divine design written all over it.
Also known as Symplocarpus foetidus, this plant is completely designed to attract pollinators at a challenging time of year. Not long after the flower (the lovely red and yellow structure) breaks ground, the spathe, the large outside 'envelope', starts to rot. The process of rotting generates heat, enough heat to actually melt the snow directly around it. Also enough heat to encourage the pollinating insect, most likely a fly or beetle, to crawl in to warm up.
Of course, as things rot they typically start to smell bad. The foul odor yet again helps direct pollinators to the spadix, the yellow ball inside where the reproductive structures are located. The pollinator crawls around on the spadix, thus picking up pollen and moving it around. As if any more help were required, the color of the spathe is eerily reminiscent of decaying flesh.
The Skunk Cabbage is therefore designed to attract pollinators through sight, smell, and touch (heat). If that is not design, redundant design at that, in action, then I don't know what is! Let me encourage you to visit a woodland swamp near you and seek out these little gems, poking up through the icy crust.
No comments:
Post a Comment