Trillium
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- This article is about a plant genus. For other meanings see Trillium (disambiguation).
In the east of North America, the most common is Trillium grandiflorum (Large-flowered Trillium). This plant has a large, often white, three-petaled flower above three broad leaves. Along with its three sepals, it's easy to see where trillium got its name, which it was given by Linnaeus. Trillium grandiflorum is often the first wildflower noticed by casual walkers; other spring wildflowers are much less apparent.
In western North America, a typical species is Trillium ovatum (Western Trillium) also with white flowers.
While trillium flowers are very attractive, some believe they should never be picked, since the three leaves below the flower are the plant's only food source and a picked trillium may die or take many years to recover. For this reason in many areas, e.g. British Columbia, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Washington, it is illegal to pick trilliums. While a popular belief is held that it is illegal to pick the common Trillium grandiflorum (white trillium) in Ontario, no such law actually exists. However, the Trillium flexipes (drooping trillium) is protected by law in Ontario, where it maintains its very small Canadian population.
Trillium is one of many plants whose seeds are spread by ants and mice. Trillium seeds have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that attracts ants. The ants take the seeds to their nest, where they eat the elaiosomes and put the seeds in their garbage, where they can be protected until they germinate. They also get the added bonus of growing in a medium made richer by the ant garbage.
Some trilliums have a flower which is bent downward, below the leaves.
A white trillium serves as the emblem and official flower of the Canadian province of Ontario. It features prominently on the Franco-Ontarian flag.
- Species
- Trillium albidum
- Trillium angustipetalum
- Trillium catesbaei
- Trillium cernuum
- Trillium chloropetalum - Giant Wake Robin
- Trillium cuneatum
- Trillium decipiens
- Trillium decumbens
- Trillium discolor
- Trillium erectum - Wake Robin
- Trillium flexipes
- Trillium foetidissimum
- Trillium govanianum - Himalayan Trillium
- Trillium gracile
- Trillium grandiflorum - Large-flowered Trillium
- Trillium kamtschaticum
- Trillium kurabayashii
- Trillium lancifolium
- Trillium ludovicianum
- Trillium luteum
- Trillium maculatum
- Trillium nivale - Klamath Trillium
- Trillium ovatum - Western Wake Robin
- Trillium parviflorum
- Trillium persistens - Persistent Trillium
- Trillium petiolatum - Roundleaf Trillium
- Trillium pusillum
- Trillium recurvatum
- Trillium reliquum
- Trillium rivale
- Trillium rugelii
- Trillium sessile
- Trillium simile
- Trillium smallii
- Trillium stamineum
- Trillium sulcatum
- Trillium texanum
- Trillium tschonoskii
- Trillium underwoodii
- Trillium undulatum
- Trillium vaseyi
- Trillium viride
- Trillium viridescens
External links
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