Skunk Cabbage

It's spring in the Pacific Northwest and I'm out taking pictures of skunk cabbage instead of daffodils and tulips! This plant has very nostalgic childhood memories of playing in creeks and swamps. When injured, the plant smells just like a skunk!
Supposedly, the plant has been used in the past for medicinal and food preparation purposes. I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole for such uses. It's really fun to play with, though.
Wikipedia claims that bears eat skunk cabbage roots after hibernating as a laxative. Currently, I have no plans to camp out by the skunk cabbage patch to find out. Although there are claims the plant is edible, be careful to read up on the effect it has on the tongue, even after being cooked, before trying it!

For the curious, these pictures were taken in Otis, Oregon. (Yes, it is on the map . . . about an hour from our home.)

Yep, it's spring in Oregon. Fun!