Eastern skunk cabbage is a large-leafed plant that requires a consistently moist or wet climate in order to survive, making the wetlands surrounding the pond and stream the perfect location. The plant is an early bloomer, usually emerging in the late winter or early spring (between February and early April) and appears in parts. The first part to appear is the spathes, a brownish-purple, shell-like pod. The spathe grows to reveal the spadix, a knob covered by small yellow flowers. The next part to bloom is a tightly rolled leaf that will unfurl to up to two feet long and one foot wide. The roots of this plant are contractile, growing downward and deeper each year, making it impossible to remove older plants. The skunk cabbage will emit a strong odor if the leaves become bruised or crushed. When the leaves rot, they are eaten by slugs and millipedes but are poisonous to mammals. However, the leaves give off heat providing shelter for small animals during the early winter months.