''Trillium'' (trillium, wakerobin, toadshade, tri flower, birthroot, birthwort, and sometimes "wood lily") is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of about fifty

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants t ...

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriat ...

in the family

Melanthiaceae Melanthiaceae, also called the bunchflower family, is a family of flowering herbaceous perennial plants native to the Northern Hemisphere. Along with many other lilioid monocots, early authors considered members of this family to belong to t ...

. ''Trillium'' species are native to temperate regions of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and th ...

and

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

, with the greatest diversity of species found in the southern

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. The ...

in the southeastern

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

Description

Plants of this genus are

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...

herbs In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicina ...

growing from

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow ...

s. There are three large leaf-like

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or o ...

s arranged in a whorl about a scape that rises directly from the rhizome. There are no true aboveground leaves but sometimes there are scale-like leaves on the underground rhizome. The bracts are

photosynthetic Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's activities. Some of this chemical energy is stored in ...

and are sometimes called leaves. The

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are forme ...

is a single flower with three green or reddish

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coine ...

s and three

petal Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corolla''. Petals are usuall ...

s in shades of red, purple, pink, white, yellow, or green. At the center of the flower there are six

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the fila ...

s and three stigmas borne on a very short style, if any. The fruit is fleshy and capsule-like or berrylike. The seeds have large, oily elaiosomes. Occasionally individuals have four-fold symmetry, with four bracts (leaves), four sepals, and four petals in the blossom.. The tetramerous condition has been described for several species of ''Trillium'' including ''T. chloropetalum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. maculatum'', ''T. sessile'', and ''T. undulatum''.

Taxonomy

In 1753, Swedish botanist

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, ...

established the genus ''Trillium'' by recognizing three species, ''Trillium cernuum'', ''Trillium erectum'', and ''Trillium sessile''. The

type specimen In biology, a type is a particular specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to anchor or centralizes th ...

''Trillium cernuum'' described by Linnaeus was actually ''Trillium catesbaei'', an oversight that subsequently led to much confusion regarding the type species of this genus. Initially the ''Trillium'' genus was placed in the family

Liliaceae The lily family, Liliaceae, consists of about 15 genera and 610 species of flowering plants within the order Liliales. They are monocotyledonous, perennial, herbaceous, often bulbous geophytes. Plants in this family have evolved with a fair ...

. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries it was sometimes placed in a smaller family, Trilliaceae. By 1981

had grown to about 280 genera and 4,000 species. As it became clearer that the very large version of Liliaceae was

polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage of organisms or other evolving elements that is of mixed evolutionary origin. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as homoplasies, which are explained as a result of conver ...

, some botanists preferred to place ''Trillium'' and related genera into that separate family. Others defined a larger family,

, for a similar purpose, but included several other genera not historically recognized as close relatives of ''Trillium''. This latter approach was followed in 1998 by the

Angiosperm Phylogeny Group The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) is an informal international group of systematic botanists who collaborate to establish a consensus on the taxonomy of flowering plants (angiosperms) that reflects new knowledge about plant relationships disc ...

, which assigned the genus ''Trillium'', along with its closest relatives, ''

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

'' and '' Pseudotrillium'', to the family Melanthiaceae. However, other taxonomists have since preferred to break up the heterogenous Melanthiaceae into several smaller monophyletic families, each with more coherent morphological features, returning ''Trillium'' to a resurrected Trilliaceae. In 1850, German botanist

Carl Sigismund Kunth Carl Sigismund Kunth (18 June 1788 – 22 March 1850), also Karl Sigismund Kunth or anglicized as Charles Sigismund Kunth, was a German botanist. He is known for being one of the first to study and categorise plants from the American continents, ...

segregated ''Trillium govanianum'' into genus ''Trillidium''. Some authorities consider ''Trillidium'' to be a synonym for ''Trillium'' , while others recognize the taxon ''Trillidium govanianum'' based on morphological differences (with other ''Trillium'' species) and molecular evidence. Still others support the segregation of ''Trillium undulatum'' into genus ''Trillidium'' alongside ''Trillidium govanianum''.

Infrageneric taxa

All names used in this section are taken from the International Plant Names Index. ,

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...

(POWO) accepts 49 species and 5 named hybrids, all of which are listed below. The geographical locations are taken from POWO and the

Flora of North America The ''Flora of North America North of Mexico'' (usually referred to as ''FNA'') is a multivolume work describing the native plants and naturalized plants of North America, including the United States, Canada, St. Pierre and Miquelon, and Greenlan ...

, except where noted.

Subgenera

The ''Trillium'' genus has traditionally been divided into two

subgenera In biology, a subgenus (plural: subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between ...

, ''Trillium'' subgenus ''Trillium'' and ''Trillium'' subgenus ''Sessilium'', based on whether the flowers are

pedicellate In botany, a pedicel is a stem that attaches a single flower to the inflorescence. Such inflorescences are described as ''pedicellate''. Description Pedicel refers to a structure connecting a single flower to its inflorescence. In the absenc ...

or sessile with respect to their attachment to the apex of the scape. The former is considered the more primitive group. Until recently the sessile-flowered subgenus was known by the name ''Phyllantherum'', but the name ''Sessilium'' has precedence and should be used instead. has been shown to be a monophyletic group by molecular systematics but its segregation renders the remaining

paraphyletic In taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be paraphyletic ''with respect to'' the excluded subgroups. In ...

. In 1830, Rafinesque placed '' Trillium catesbaei'' into subgenus ''Delostylium''. Since then '' Trillium persistens'' and all members of the '' Trillium pusillum''

species complex In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...

(including '' Trillium georgianum'' and '' Trillium texanum'') have been added to this subgenus, which has been shown to be monophyletic. Members of are distinguished from other pedicellate-flowered trilliums by the presence of a definite

style Style is a manner of doing or presenting things and may refer to: * Architectural style, the features that make a building or structure historically identifiable * Design, the process of creating something * Fashion, a prevailing mode of clothing ...

. The word ''Delostylium'' means "with a small but conspicuous style". Phylogenetic analysis confirms the monophyly of ''Trillidium'' and supports the inclusion of ''Trillium undulatum'' into that genus. Excluding ''Trillium govanianum'' and ''Trillium undulatum'' from the analysis, genus ''Trillium'' can be separated into four major lineages: # Erectum group (15 species) # Grandiflorum group (3 species) # ''Trillium'' # ''Trillium'' Since all four species groups are monophyletic, this leads to a four-part concept of ''Trillium'' that sharply contrasts with the traditional pedicellate vs. sessile dichotomy outlined previously.

Erectum group

This group of species has pedicellate flowers (on a short stalk) with three separate stigmas (no style) and solid green leaves (not mottled). Species in this group are distributed across North America and Asia, as indicated below. Hybrids are common within this group (the only group of pedicellate-flowered trilliums with natural hybrids). * '' Trillium apetalon'' – Japan, Kuril Islands, E Russia (Sakhalin) * '' Trillium camschatcense'' – NE China (Jilin), Japan, Korea, Kuril Islands, E Russia (Primorsky Krai, Khabarovsk Krai, Kamchatka Peninsula, Sakhalin) * '' Trillium cernuum'' – Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan; Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; Saint Pierre and Miquelon * '' Trillium channellii'' – Japan (E Hokkaido) * '' Trillium erectum'' – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec; Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia * '' Trillium flexipes'' – Ontario; Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin * ''Trillium'' × ''hagae'' (''Trillium camschatcense'' × ''Trillium tschonoskii'') – Japan, E Russia (S Sakhalin) * '' Trillium hibbersonii'' – British Columbia * ''Trillium'' × ''komarovii'' (''Trillium camschatcense'' × unknown) – Japan, E Russia (Primorsky Krai) * ''Trillium'' × ''miyabeanum'' (''Trillium apetalon'' × ''Trillium tschonoskii'') – Japan * '' Trillium rugelii'' – Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee * '' Trillium simile'' – Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee * '' Trillium smallii'' – Japan, E Russia (S Sakhalin) * '' Trillium sulcatum'' – Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia * '' Trillium taiwanense'' – E Taiwan * '' Trillium tschonoskii'' – Bhutan, China (Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet Autonomous Region, Yunnan, Zhejiang), NE India (Sikkim), Japan, Korea, Kuril Islands, Myanmar, Russia (Sakhalin), Taiwan * '' Trillium vaseyi'' – Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee * ''Trillium'' × ''yezoense'' (''Trillium apetalon'' × ''Trillium camschatcense'') – Japan

Grandiflorum group

This group of species has pedicellate flowers (on a short stalk) and solid green leaves (except ''T. ovatum'' on the west coast of California, which occasionally has mottled leaves). The stigmas are fused together at their bases (basally connate) but lack a definite style. Species in this group are distributed across North America (but not Asia). These flowers were and still are consumed and used by Native Americans in different regions of America. * '' Trillium crassifolium'' – Washington * ''

Trillium grandiflorum ''Trillium grandiflorum'', the white trillium, large-flowered trillium, great white trillium, white wake-robin or french: trille blanc, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. A monocotyledonous, herbaceous perennial, t ...

'' – Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec; Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin * '' Trillium nivale'' – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin * '' Trillium ovatum'' – Alberta, British Columbia; California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming * '' Trillium scouleri'' – Alberta, British Columbia; Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming

''Trillium'' subgenus ''Delostylium''

This subgenus has pedicellate flowers (except for one variety of ''T. pusillum'') with a definite style and solid green leaves (not mottled). Distribution is restricted to the southeastern and south central United States. * '' Trillium catesbaei'' – Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee * '' Trillium georgianum'' – Georgia * '' Trillium persistens'' – Georgia, South Carolina * '' Trillium pusillum'' – Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia

''Trillium'' subgenus ''Sessilium''

This subgenus (previously known as ) includes species with sessile flowers (no flower stalk), erect petals (except in ''T. stamineum''), and mottled leaves (except in ''T. petiolatum'' and occasionally in plants of other sessile-flowered species). * '' Trillium albidum'' – California, Oregon, Washington * '' Trillium angustipetalum'' – California * '' Trillium chloropetalum'' – California * '' Trillium cuneatum'' – Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee * '' Trillium decipiens'' – Alabama, Florida, Georgia * '' Trillium decumbens'' – Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee * '' Trillium delicatum'' – Georgia * '' Trillium discolor'' – Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina * '' Trillium foetidissimum'' – Louisiana, Mississippi * '' Trillium gracile'' – Louisiana, Texas * '' Trillium kurabayashii'' – California, Oregon * '' Trillium lancifolium'' – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee * '' Trillium ludovicianum'' – Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas * '' Trillium luteum'' – District of Columbia, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee * '' Trillium maculatum'' – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina * '' Trillium oostingii'' – South Carolina * '' Trillium petiolatum'' – Idaho, Oregon, Washington * ''

Trillium recurvatum ''Trillium recurvatum'', the prairie trillium, toadshade, or bloody butcher, is a species of perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is native to parts of central and eastern United States, where it is found from ...

'' – Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin * '' Trillium reliquum'' – Georgia, South Carolina * ''

Trillium sessile ''Trillium sessile'' is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. The specific epithet ''sessile'' means "attached without a distinct stalk", an apparent reference to its stalkless flower. It is commonly known as toads ...

'' – Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia * '' Trillium stamineum'' – Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee * '' Trillium underwoodii'' – Alabama, Florida, Georgia * '' Trillium viride'' – Illinois, Missouri * '' Trillium viridescens'' – Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas

Ungrouped taxa

The following pair of taxa are widely accepted but do not fit into any of the above groups since they are markedly different from other ''Trillium'' species. There is evidence to support the segregation of these species into a separate genus (''Trillidium'') but the proposal is controversial. * '' Trillium govanianum'' – NE Afghanistan, Bhutan, China (Tibet Autonomous Region, Yunnan), N + NE India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Uttarakhand), Nepal, N Pakistan * '' Trillium undulatum'' – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec; Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia The following taxon is an intergeneric hybrid: * ''Trillium'' × ''crockerianum'' (''Trillium ovatum'' × ''Pseudotrillium rivale'') – California

Other taxa

does not accept these taxa: * '' Trillium texanum'' , also known as ''Trillium pusillum'' var. ''texanum'' , are considered by some authorities to be synonyms for ''Trillium pusillum'' var. ''pusillum''. * '' Trillium tennesseense'' is considered by some authorities to be a synonym for ''Trillium lancifolium'' * ''Trillium parviflorum'' is an accepted name by some authorities while others regard this name as a synonym of ''T. albidum'' subsp. ''parviflorum'' . The following taxon is of historical interest: * ''Trillium rivale'' has been segregated to a

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispe ...

genus as ''

Pseudotrillium rivale ''Pseudotrillium'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Melanthiaceae containing the single species ''Pseudotrillium rivale''. The genus was proposed in 2002 on the basis of morphology and molecular evidence that suggest the pl ...

'' .

Distribution

''Trillium'' species are native to North America and Asia.

North America

More than three dozen ''Trillium'' species are found in North America, most of which are native to eastern North America. Just six species are native to western North America: ''T. albidum'', ''T. angustipetalum'', ''T. chloropetalum'', ''T. kurabayashii'', ''T. ovatum'', and ''T. petiolatum''. Of these, only ''T. ovatum'' is pedicellate-flowered.

Canada

''Trillium'' species are found across

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

, from Newfoundland to southern British Columbia. The greatest diversity of species are found in Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. *

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest T ...

: ''T. ovatum'', ''T. scouleri'' *

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, for ...

: ''T. hibbersonii'', ''T. ovatum'', ''T. scouleri'' *

Manitoba Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...

: ''T. cernuum'' *

New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

: ''T. cernuum'' *

Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories (abbreviated ''NT'' or ''NWT''; french: Territoires du Nord-Ouest, formerly ''North-Western Territory'' and ''North-West Territories'' and namely shortened as ''Northwest Territory'') is a federal territory of Canada. ...

: none *

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Nunavut Nunavut ( , ; iu, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ , ; ) is the largest and northernmost territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the '' Nunavut Act'' and the '' Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act'' ...

: none *

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirte ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...

: ''T. cernuum'' *

Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...

: none

United States

Except for the desert regions of the

southwestern United States The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southwest or simply the Southwest, is a geographic and cultural region of the United States that generally includes Arizona, New Mexico, and adjacent portions of California, Colorado, N ...

, ''Trillium'' species are found throughout the

contiguous U.S. The contiguous United States (officially the conterminous United States) consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states and the Federal District of the United States of America. The term excludes the only two non-contiguous states, Alaska and Hawaii ...

states. In the

western United States The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the We ...

, species are found from Washington to central California, east to the

Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico ...

. In the eastern United States, species range from Maine to northern Florida, west to the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...

valley. ''Trillium'' species are especially diverse in the

southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also referred to as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical List of regions in the United States, region of the United States. It is located broadly on the eastern portion of the south ...

, in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The state of Georgia is home to 21 species of trillium. *

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

: ''T. catesbaei'', ''T. cuneatum'', ''T. decipiens'', ''T. decumbens'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. lancifolium'', ''T. maculatum'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. rugelii'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. stamineum'', ''T. sulcatum'', ''T. underwoodii'', ''T. vaseyi'' *

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U ...

: none *

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

: none *

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...

: ''T. flexipes'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. viridescens'' *

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

: ''T. albidum'', ''T. angustipetalum'', ''T. chloropetalum'', , ''T. kurabayashii'', ''T. ovatum'' *

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the ...

: ''T. ovatum'', ''T. scouleri'' *

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'' *

District of Columbia ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle (Washington, D.C.), Logan Circle, Jefferson Memoria ...

: ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. luteum'', ''T. sessile'' *

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and ...

: ''T. decipiens'', ''T. lancifolium'', ''T. maculatum'', ''T. underwoodii'' *

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

: ''T. catesbaei'', ''T. cuneatum'', ''T. decipiens'', ''T. decumbens'', ''T. delicatum'', ''T. discolor'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. georgianum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. lancifolium'', ''T. luteum'', ''T. maculatum'', ''T. persistens'', ''T. reliquum'', ''T. rugelii'', ''T. simile'', ''T. sulcatum'', ''T. underwoodii'', ''T. undulatum'', ''T. vaseyi'' *

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

: none *

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Monta ...

: ''T. ovatum'', ''T. petiolatum'', ''T. scouleri'' *

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. viride'' *

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. sessile'' *

Iowa Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. recurvatum'' *

Kansas Kansas () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its Capital city, capital is Topeka, Kansas, Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita, Kansas, Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebras ...

: ''T. sessile'', ''T. viridescens'' *

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...

: ''T. cuneatum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. luteum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. sulcatum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is bord ...

: ''T. foetidissimum'', ''T. gracile'', ''T. ludovicianum'', ''T. pusillum'' (syn: ''T. texanum''), ''T. recurvatum'' *

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and nor ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean t ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and t ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'' *

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

: ''T. cuneatum'', ''T. foetidissimum'', ''T. ludovicianum'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. stamineum'' *

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

: ''T. flexipes'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. viride'', ''T. viridescens'' *

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...

: ''T. ovatum'', ''T. scouleri'' *

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...

: ''T. nivale'' *

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...

: none *

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delawa ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Albuquerque metropolitan area, Tiguex , Offi ...

: none *

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. undulatum'' *

North Carolina North Carolina () is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 28th largest and List of states and territories of the United ...

: ''T. catesbaei'', ''T. cuneatum'', ''T. discolor'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. luteum'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. rugelii'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. simile'', ''T. sulcatum'', ''T. undulatum'', ''T. vaseyi'' *

North Dakota North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minnesota to the east, ...

: ''T. cernuum'' *

Ohio Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...

: ''T. pusillum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. viridescens'' *

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

: ''T. albidum'', ''T. kurabayashii'', ''T. ovatum'', ''T. petiolatum'' *

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

: ''T. catesbaei'', ''T. cuneatum'', ''T. discolor'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. lancifolium'', ''T. maculatum'', ''T. oostingii'', ''T. persistens'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. reliquum'', ''T. rugelii'', ''T. undulatum'', ''T. vaseyi'' *

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, who comprise a large po ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. nivale'' *

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 36th-largest by ...

: ''T. catesbaei'', ''T. cuneatum'', ''T. decumbens'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. lancifolium'', ''T. luteum'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. rugelii'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. simile'', ''T. stamineum'', ''T. sulcatum'', ''T. tennesseense'', ''T. undulatum'', ''T. vaseyi'' *

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

: ''T. gracile'', ''T. ludovicianum'', ''T. pusillum'' (syn: ''T. texanum''), ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. viridescens'' *

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to its ...

: none *

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provin ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. sulcatum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

: ''T. albidum'', ''T. ovatum'', ''T. petiolatum'', ''T. scouleri'' *

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. sulcatum'', ''T. undulatum'' *

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. recurvatum'' *

Wyoming Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to t ...

: ''T. ovatum'', ''T. scouleri''

Other

Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Pierre and Miquelon (), officially the Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (french: link=no, Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon ), is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France in t ...

: ''T. cernuum''

Asia

In Asia, the range of ''Trillium'' species extends from the

Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 10 ...

across China, Korea, Japan, and eastern Russia to the Kuril Islands. The greatest diversity of ''Trillium'' species is found on the islands of Japan and Sakhalin. *

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is borde ...

: ''T. govanianum'' *

Bhutan Bhutan (; dz, འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul ), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan,), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, between China in the north and India in the south. A mountainou ...

: ''T. govanianum'', ''T. tschonoskii'' *

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...

: ''T. camschatcense'' (

Jilin Jilin (; Postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kirin or Chilin) is one of the three Provinces of China, provinces of Northeast China. Its capital and largest city is Changchun. Jilin borders North Korea (Rasŏn, North Hamgyong, R ...

), ''T. govanianum'' (

Tibet Autonomous Region The Tibet Autonomous Region or Xizang Autonomous Region, often shortened to Tibet or Xizang, is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China in Southwest China. It was overlayed on the traditional Tibetan regions ...

Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the ...

), ''T. taiwanense'' (E

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the no ...

), ''T. tschonoskii'' (

Anhui Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze Riv ...

Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its ...

Gansu Gansu (, ; alternately romanized as Kansu) is a province in Northwest China. Its capital and largest city is Lanzhou, in the southeast part of the province. The seventh-largest administrative district by area at , Gansu lies between the Tibe ...

Hubei Hubei (; ; alternately Hupeh) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, and is part of the Central China region. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Dongting Lake. The p ...

Shaanxi Shaanxi (alternatively Shensi, see § Name) is a landlocked province of China. Officially part of Northwest China, it borders the province-level divisions of Shanxi (NE, E), Henan (E), Hubei (SE), Chongqing (S), Sichuan (SW), Gansu (W), N ...

Sichuan Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of t ...

, Tibet Autonomous Region, Yunnan,

Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Ji ...

) *

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

: ''T. govanianum'' (

Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh (; ; "Snow-laden Mountain Province") is a state in the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the thirteen mountain states and is characterized by an extreme landscape featuring several pea ...

Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to: * Kashmir, the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent * Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory * Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered ...

Sikkim Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Sil ...

Uttarakhand Uttarakhand ( , or ; , ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; the official name until 2007), is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the "Devbhumi" (literally 'Land of the Gods') due to its religious significance and ...

), ''T. tschonoskii'' (Sikkim) *

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...

: ''T. apetalon'', ''T. camschatcense'', ''T. channellii'' (

Hokkaido is Japan, Japan's Japanese archipelago, second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost Prefectures of Japan, prefecture, making up its own List of regions of Japan, region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; th ...

), , , , ''T. smallii'', ''T. tschonoskii'', *

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic ...

: ''T. camschatcense'', ''T. tschonoskii'' *

Kuril Islands The Kuril Islands or Kurile Islands (; rus, Кури́льские острова́, r=Kuril'skiye ostrova, p=kʊˈrʲilʲskʲɪjə ɐstrɐˈva; Japanese language, Japanese: or ) are a volcanic archipelago currently administered as part of Sakh ...

: ''T. apetalon'', ''T. camschatcense'', ''T. tschonoskii'' *

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...

: ''T. tschonoskii'' *

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...

: ''T. govanianum'' *

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

: ''T. govanianum'' *

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...

: ''T. apetalon'' (

Sakhalin Sakhalin ( rus, Сахали́н, r=Sakhalín, p=səxɐˈlʲin; ja, 樺太 ''Karafuto''; zh, c=, p=Kùyèdǎo, s=库页岛, t=庫頁島; Manchu: ᠰᠠᡥᠠᠯᡳᠶᠠᠨ, ''Sahaliyan''; Orok: Бугата на̄, ''Bugata nā''; Nivkh ...

), ''T. camschatcense'' (

Primorsky Krai Primorsky Krai (russian: Приморский край, r=Primorsky kray, p=prʲɪˈmorskʲɪj kraj), informally known as Primorye (, ), is a federal subject (a krai) of Russia, located in the Far East region of the country and is a part of t ...

Khabarovsk Krai Khabarovsk Krai ( rus, Хабаровский край, r=Khabarovsky kray, p=xɐˈbarəfskʲɪj kraj) is a federal subject (a krai) of Russia. It is geographically located in the Russian Far East and is a part of the Far Eastern Federal Distr ...

Kamchatka Peninsula The Kamchatka Peninsula (russian: полуостров Камчатка, Poluostrov Kamchatka, ) is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of about . The Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk make up the peninsula's eastern and w ...

, Sakhalin), (Sakhalin), (Primorsky Krai), ''T. smallii'' (Sakhalin), ''T. tschonoskii'' (Sakhalin) *

: ''T. taiwanense'', ''T. tschonoskii''

Identification

A fully general dichotomous key requires a mature, flowering plant. The first step is to determine whether or not the flower sits on a pedicel, which determines the subgenus. (Any mature plant may be identified to this extent, even if it is not in bloom.) Identification proceeds based on flower parts, leaves, and other characteristics. A combination of characteristics is usually required to identify the plant. Identification of a non-flowering, non-fruiting plant with bare leaves may be difficult. Although some species of ''Trillium'' have petioles (leaf stalks) and/or distinctive leaf shapes, these features are seldom sufficient to identify the plant down to the species level. In eastern North America, jack-in-the-pulpit (''

Arisaema triphyllum ''Arisaema triphyllum'', the jack-in-the-pulpit, bog onion, brown dragon or Indian turnip, is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a corm. It is a highly variable species typically growing in height with three-part leaves and flowers cont ...

'') is often mistaken for bare-leaved ''Trillium''. Both species are about the same height with

trifoliate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...

leaves but the former lacks 3-way rotational symmetry and has leaf veins unlike those of ''Trillium''.

Ecology

Trilliums are myrmecochorous, that is, ants act as agents of

seed dispersal In Spermatophyte plants, seed dispersal is the movement, spread or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Plants have limited mobility and rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their seeds, including both abiotic vector ...

. Each seed of a ripe fruit has a white fleshy appendage called an elaiosome. Ants are attracted to the elaiosome, so much so they often bore holes into the fruit instead of waiting for it to drop off on its own. The ants carry the seeds back to their nest where they eat the elaiosomes and discard the seeds. Here the seeds eventually germinate, an average of about 1 meter away from the parent plant. For example, the seeds of '' Trillium camschatcense'' and '' T. tschonoskii'' are collected by ant species '' Aphaenogaster smythiesi'' and ''

Myrmica ruginodis ''Myrmica ruginodis'' is a species of ant that lives in northern parts of Europe and Asia. It is very similar to '' M. rubra'', but has a more northerly and higher-altitude distribution. Overwintering larvae may become either workers or queen an ...

''. Sometimes

beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

s interfere with the dispersal process by eating the elaiosomes, which makes the seeds less attractive to ants. Yellow jackets (''

Vespula ''Vespula'' is a small genus of social wasps, widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Along with members of their sister genus ''Dolichovespula'', they are collectively known by the common name yellowjackets (or yellow jackets) in North ...

'' spp.) and other wasps are similarly attracted to elaiosomes. The wasps carry off the seeds and feed on the elaiosomes an average of about 1.4 meters away from the parent plant. Yellow jackets are documented seed dispersers for at least three species of ''Trillium'' (''T. catesbaei'', ''T. cuneatum'', ''T. undulatum'').

Hybrids

recognizes five named hybrids, four in Asia and one in North America. Three of the Asian hybrids, , , and , are well studied, but little is known about the Asian hybrid . One of its parents is ''T. camschatcense'' but the other parent is unknown. The only named hybrid in North America is . As originally described, its parents are ''Trillium ovatum'' and ''Trillium rivale'', but the latter species is now a member of genus '' Pseudotrillium'', and so has become an intergeneric hybrid. In 1982, Haga and Channell crossed the Asiatic species ''Trillium camschatcense'' with several North American species. Of those, the crosses with ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', and ''T. vaseyi'' produced solid, seemingly viable seed. Seeds of the cross between ''T. camschatcense'' and ''T. erectum'' flowered in 9 to 10 years.

Disease

Trillium_grandiflorum_at_the_North_Walker_Woods1

Various ''Trillium'' species are susceptible to a greening disorder caused by bacterial organisms called phytoplasmas that alter the morphology of infected plants. Symptoms of phytoplasma infection include abnormal green markings on the petals (floral virescence), extra leaves ( phyllody), and other abnormal characteristics. Infected populations occur throughout the species range but are prevalent in Ontario, Michigan, and New York. For many years, this condition was thought to originate from mutation, and so many of these forms were given taxonomic names now known to be invalid. In 1971, Hooper, Case, and Meyers used

electron microscopy An electron microscope is a microscope that uses a beam of accelerated electrons as a source of illumination. As the wavelength of an electron can be up to 100,000 times shorter than that of visible light photons, electron microscopes have a hi ...

to detect the presence of mycoplasma-like organisms (i.e., phytoplasmas) in ''T. grandiflorum'' with virescent petals. The means of transmission was not established but

leafhopper A leafhopper is the common name for any species from the family Cicadellidae. These minute insects, colloquially known as hoppers, are plant feeders that suck plant sap from grass, shrubs, or trees. Their hind legs are modified for jumping, and ...

s were suspected. , the insect vector for ''Trillium'' greening disorder is unknown. Phytoplasmas were positively identified in ''T. grandiflorum'' and ''T. erectum'' in Ontario in 2016. Phylogenetic analysis supported the grouping of the phytoplasmas isolated from infected plants as a related strain of ' ''Candidatus'' Phytoplasma pruni' (subgroup 16SrIII-F) with 99% sequence identity. This subgroup of phytoplasmas is associated with various other diseases, including milkweed yellows, ''Vaccinium'' witches' broom, and potato purple top.

Conservation

Picking parts off a trillium plant can kill it even if the rhizome is left undisturbed. Some species of trillium are listed as threatened or endangered and collecting these species may be illegal. Laws in some jurisdictions may restrict the commercial exploitation of trilliums and prohibit collection without the landowner's permission. In the US states of

and

it is illegal to pick trilliums. In

it is illegal to pick the red trillium. In 2009, a Private Members Bill was proposed in the

legislature that would have made it illegal to in any way injure the common ''Trillium grandiflorum'' (white trillium) in the province (with some exceptions), however the bill was never passed. The rare '' Trillium flexipes'' (drooping trillium) is also protected by law in Ontario, because of its decreasing Canadian population. High

white-tailed deer The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced t ...

population density has been shown to decrease or eliminate trillium in an area, particularly white trillium. Some species are harvested from the wild to an unsustainable degree. This is particularly dire in the case of ''T. govanianum'', whose high selling price as a folk medicine has motivated harvesters to destroy swathes of ecologically sensitive Himalayan forests, causing mudslides.

Medicinal uses

Several species contain

sapogenin Sapogenins are the aglycones, or non-saccharide, portions of the family of natural products known as saponins. Sapogenins contain steroid or other triterpene frameworks as their key organic feature. For example, steroidal sapogenins such as tigge ...

s. They have been used traditionally as uterine stimulants, the inspiration for the common name birthwort. In a 1918 publication, Joseph E. Meyer called it "beth root", probably a corruption of "birthroot". He claimed that an astringent tonic derived from the root was useful in controlling bleeding and diarrhea.

Culture

The white trillium (''

'') serves as the official flower and emblem of the

Canadian province Within the geographical areas of Canada, the ten provinces and three territories are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British Nor ...

. It is an official symbol of the

Government of Ontario The government of Ontario (french: Gouvernement de l'Ontario) is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Ontario. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown—represented in the province by the lieutenant governor� ...

. The large white trillium is the official wildflower of Ohio. In light of their shared connection to the flower, the

Major League Soccer Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Cana ...

teams in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

and

Columbus Columbus is a Latinized version of the Italian surname "''Colombo''". It most commonly refers to: * Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the Italian explorer * Columbus, Ohio, capital of the U.S. state of Ohio Columbus may also refer to: Places ...

compete with each other for the

Trillium Cup The Trillium Cup is an annual rivalry between the Columbus Crew and Toronto FC. The Trillium Cup is named after the trillium, which is both the official flower of the Canadian province of Ontario, and the official wildflower of the U.S. state of ...

. Citizen scientists regularly report observations of ''Trillium'' species from around the world. ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. erectum'', and ''T. ovatum'' (in that order) are the most often observed ''Trillium'' species. ''Trillium'' is the

literary magazine A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry, and essays, along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and lett ...

of Ramapo College of New Jersey, which features poetry, fiction, photography, and other visual arts created by Ramapo students. In Mexican LGBT culture, the trillium is included as a symbol on their version of the bisexual pride flag.

Gallery

File:Nodding trillium flower -SC woodlot- 3.JPG, Nodding trillium ('' Trillium cernuum'') File:Trillium petiolatum- Washington.jpg, Idaho trillium ('' Trillium petiolatum'') File:Trillium with the leaves.jpg, White trillium (''

'') File:Red trillium (42136561721).jpg, Red trillium ('' Trillium erectum'') File:Trillium ovatum 1290.JPG, Pacific trillium ('' Trillium ovatum'') File:TrilliumRecurvatum.jpg, Prairie trillium (''

'') File:Trillium reliquum.jpg, Relict trillium ('' Trillium reliquum)'' an

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...

File:Painted Trillium.jpg, Painted trillium ('' Trillium undulatum'')

Bibliography

* * * * * *

References

External links

Interactive Identification Key
(

Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mo ...

)
Utah Agricultural Experiment Station — Fact Sheets
* McKelvie, D

Ontario Woodlot Association.
Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON) occurrence data and maps for ''Trillium''
* * * * * * * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q475629 Melanthiaceae genera Flora of Canada Flora of the United States