Family: Araceae Juss.
Distribution: Species of western part of North America from Alaska through British Columbia to Washington, Oregon, northern California, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Ecology: Wet areas, in open woods, along water streams, up to elevation of 1400 m. Blooms in late winter and early spring.
Description: Perennial herb, stemless, up to 40 cm tall, from underground rhizome. Leaves are basal, several, petiolate, lanceolate to oval, blades up to 135 cm long, 70 cm wide, margins smooth, fully mature after blooming. Many minute flowers, yellowish green, in a cylindrical spadix, surrounded by partially open distinct, yellow spathe, up to 40 cm long. Rank-smelling flowers attract small beetles as main pollinators. Fruits berry-like, green or reddish, embedded in spadix.
Note: Native tribes used leaves of this plant for food and medicine.
These images were taken in Canada, British Columbia, Burton (by Karel Bergmann jr. and sr.: April 2006 and September 2013).
