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SlideshowReport

Eastern skunk cabbage, an endothermic plant, can melt its way up through spring snow cover

Description
How does the skunk cabbage fuel the heating of its inflorescence? It has a large root in which it stores large quantities of starch. Some of this starch is translocated to the inflorescence, where it is metabolized at a high rate, generating large quantities of heat in the process. This heat, besides keeping the inflorescence from freezing, may help attract pollinators. Various pollinators are attracted to both the warmth and the sweetish scent given off by the plant.
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