Thermogenesis of Skunk Cabbage

This short video montage shows the late winter landscape and the heat generation (thermogenesis) of skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus). The skunk cabbage uses uses food/calories to convert to heat, produce more leaves/flowers and more efficiently survive a hard time in early spring.  This unique wildflower has the capability of generating heat to help prevent freezing and volatilizing fragrances to attract pollinators.  

• What are some costs and benefits to using energy/food stores to create a lot of heat?

• What season does it appear to be in the video?
• Has the plant growing season begun yet?
• What prevents plants from growing at this time of year?  
• What would the plant need to have to generate heat?
• How do our bodies generate heat?

Students could:

• Brainstorm the costs and benefit of using food stores to produce more leaves/flowers or more efficiently survive a hard time in early spring.  
• Research niche utilization- beating pollinator competition by being the first, avoiding shade by blooming before tree canopy, etc.

• In Defense of Plants| Skunk Cabbage: Matt Candeias, botanist and host of the “In Defense of Plants” podcast, writes a short article and video on skunk cabbage. 
• Khan Academy | Temperature Regulation Strategies: A teacher or student reading selection describing how organisms regulate temperature and the costs/benefits of each
• Duke Farms | Skunk Cabbage Lesson Plan: Written for upper elementary, this lesson plan could be adapted to middle/high school students about skunk cabbage.