Swamp Cabbage

I went for a walk in the woods 3 days ago and came across some swamp cabbage. At the time I had no idea what it was, but the green colour was so vibrant, especially in contrast to the swampy ditch it was growing in, I felt that I had to take a picture and try to identify it. Here it is:

As I mentioned above, it's called Swamp Cabbage, or Lysichiton americanum. It grows in wet, swampy areas, and is one of the first plants to welcome spring. It's sort of edible, and apparently is antispasmodic, but requires a lot of care and effort to remove toxins. You have to approach this plant with a lot of caution if your intention is to consume any of it. The rhizomes can be eaten if THOROUGHLY DRIED AND ROASTED, as can other parts of the plant, which may also be boiled with multiple changes of water. Failure to properly remove the toxins in the plant (including a high concentration of calcium oxalate) before consumption can cause intense burning of the mouth and tongue, and even when properly prepared, consumption of large amounts can cause nausea and vomiting. You also have to be EXTREMELY careful not to confuse it with young False Hellebore, which apparently looks very similar, and is deadly poisonous!!! Although bears apparently quite like swamp cabbage, all in all you're probably best just to leave it alone and simply admire it's beauty!!!

Spring roles on, and the trail goes on...