Here is a closeup, showing the flowers inside the skunk cabbage hood. The small projections on the surface of the "ball" hold the pollen. The plant emits a somewhat rotten smell, which attracts flies. Flies arrive, pick up some pollen as they walk around, and move on to the next plant, thus transfering pollen from one plant to another. This time of year, the weather is typically too cold for bees, but not usually for flies--so flies are the more reliable pollinators.