One of the first native plants to bloom in early spring in the upper Midwest is Symplocarpus foetidus, commonly called skunk cabbage, swamp cabbage or other names referring to the shape of the large leaves or it’s smell. Skunk cabbage was used medicinally by Native Americans and in the 19th century was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia as the drug “dracontium” for the treatment of respiratory diseases, nervous disorders, rheumatism, and dropsy.
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https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/skunk-cabbage-symplocarpus-foetidus/