"Symplocarpus" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
Symplocarpus refers to a genus of plants in the family Arum, commonly known as skunk cabbage or east Asian skunk cabbage. It is native to China and Japan. The name Symplocarpus comes from the Greek words "syn" meaning together and "karpus" meaning fruit, likely referring to the fusion of the styles (parts that connect the ovary to the ovules) and the carpels of the flower. Major components of the plant, such as the rootstock (rhizome), contain the toxic compound skimmianine, which is responsible for its defense mechanisms.