Skunk Cabbage (invasive species) -

A less than pretty name for this pretty
but sadly invasive non-native species.
American Skunk Cabbage is taking
over our bog land and streamsides,
blocking out sunlight and absorbing
essential nutrients away from the
smaller, less dominant Scottish plants.
First introduced in the 1800s as a
decorative pond side plant for private
gardens. Sadly its seed is easily spread
through our watercourses and also by
animals.
The smell emitted by this plant is
intense, being described as ‘strange’,
‘skunk like’ and even ‘like a decaying
body’. You will often smell it before
seeing its striking yellow flowers and
potentially gigantic foliage.
It is officially on the Scottish INNS list
and therefore all sightings should be
reported to allow safe removal and
monitoring. Sightings can be reported
In several ways
www.invasivespecies.scot/sisi
www.nature.sco...
www.lochlomond...
www.environmen...

[@zacharykenniston748]

I honestly feel sorry for the western skunk cabbage. I’m an expert on the eastern skunk cabbage and care deeply for these beings. They seem gentler than their western cousins. They don’t smell as bad and can control their odor and also produce heat. They colonize but aren’t invasive to my knowledge. It’s truly sad that the cousin of one the most advanced plants in existence has gone out of control. Something I believe the eastern one would never do. It’s humanities fault and the western skunk cabbage who appears less advanced than the eastern will have to pay the price with its life. I’m not against killing it if it’s invasive but I feel sorry for it because I truly love and cherish its eastern cousin as a friend and it’s probably just confused. I wish I could see the western skunk cabbage in person. I wish their was a humane way to kill it rather then the agonizing death of being drenched in poison or burned alive. The only thing I can think of is if you can get it out of the ground that thick brown rhizomatous caudex is its brain. The spinal cord looking part that the roots come out of… if you cut that lengthwise it would be pretty much instant death…

[@mominthe209]

So how do you remove it?