Wellies and waders were called for at a work party on Wednesday when TI volunteers splashed down to help eradicate an unwelcome visitor from the burn running across the water meadow on the Community Land. Skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) is native to western North America and grows in wet ground and on pond and river edges. Its large yellow flowers give off a stink of rotting meat to lure pollinating flies, hence its name. Since its introduction in to the UK, it has spread in our waterways, where it out-competes native plants and can block the watercourse.
Skunk cabbage is on the invasive/introduced plants list and banned from sale; it must not be planted or allowed to escape in to the wild.
