''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 n ...

of about fifty

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. They include all forbs (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of ...

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), 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 ...

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 ...

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

, 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 primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

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 wide ...

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 rhizomes. There are three large leaf-like bracts 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 formed ...

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 coined ...

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 filam ...

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

elaiosome Elaiosomes ( grc, ἔλαιον ''élaion'' "oil" + ''sóma'' "body") are fleshy structures that are attached to the seeds of many plant species. The elaiosome is rich in lipids and proteins, and may be variously shaped. Many plants have elaio ...

s. Occasionally individuals have four-fold symmetry, with four bracts (leaves), four sepals, and four petals in the blossom.. The

tetramerous Merosity (from the greek "méros," which means "having parts") refers to the number of component parts in a distinct whorl of a plant structure. The term is most commonly used in the context of a flower where it refers to the number of sepals in a w ...

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 the ...

''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 f ...

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

Trilliaceae Trilliaceae was a family of flowering plants. The family has been recognised as distinct since 1846 when it was recognized; this tablfor a summarizes the placement of these taxa. The family has been recognized by taxonomists such as Takhtajan, ...

. 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 dis ...

, 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. ...

'' and ''

Pseudotrillium ''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 p ...

'', 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 Segregation may refer to: Separation of people * Geographical segregation, rates of two or more populations which are not homogenous throughout a defined space * School segregation * Housing segregation * Racial segregation, separation of humans ...

''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 The International Plant Names Index (IPNI) describes itself as "a database of the names and associated basic bibliographical details of seed plants, ferns and lycophytes." Coverage of plant names is best at the rank of species and genus. It inc ...

. ,

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 ...

(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 North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and a ...

, 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 betwee ...

, ''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 ...

sessile Sessility, or sessile, may refer to: * Sessility (motility), organisms which are not able to move about * Sessility (botany), flowers or leaves that grow directly from the stem or peduncle of a plant * Sessility (medicine), tumors and polyps that ...

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 (general), taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's most recent common ancestor, last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few Monophyly, monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be pa ...

. In 1830,

Rafinesque Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz (; October 22, 1783September 18, 1840) was a French 19th-century polymath born near Constantinople in the Ottoman Empire and self-educated in France. He traveled as a young man in the United States, ultimat ...

placed ''

Trillium catesbaei ''Trillium catesbaei'', also known as bashful trillium, Catesby's trillium, or bashful wakerobin, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is found in the southeastern United States where its northern limit includes the Gre ...

'' into subgenus ''Delostylium''. Since then ''

Trillium persistens ''Trillium persistens'', the persistent trillium, is a North American species of flowering plants in the genus ''Trillium'' of family Melanthiaceae (formerly Trilliaceae). The plant is also called the persistent wakerobin. Persistent trillium ...

'' and all members of the ''

Trillium pusillum ''Trillium pusillum'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae known by the common names dwarf trillium, least trillium and dwarf wakerobin. It is native to the southeastern and south-central United States from Oklahoma to M ...

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 ''Trillium'' (trillium, wakerobin, toadshade, tri flower, birthroot, birthwort, and sometimes "wood lily") is a genus of about fifty flowering plant species in the family Melanthiaceae. ''Trillium'' species are native to temperate regions o ...

'' and ''

Trillium texanum ''Trillium texanum'', the Texas trillium or Texas wakerobin, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is found in east Texas, extreme southwestern Arkansas, and extreme northwestern Louisiana. Due to its limited range, it i ...

'') 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 In biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that pro ...

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 ''Trillium'' (trillium, wakerobin, toadshade, tri flower, birthroot, birthwort, and sometimes "wood lily") is a genus of about fifty flowering plant species in the family Melanthiaceae. ''Trillium'' species are native to temperate regions o ...

'' – Japan, Kuril Islands, E Russia (Sakhalin) * ''

Trillium camschatcense ''Trillium camschatcense'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is found in the moist forests of East Asia, in Japan (Hokkaido and northern Honshu), Korea, China (Jilin Province), and eastern Russia (Kamchatka, Kuril ...

'' – NE China (Jilin), Japan, Korea, Kuril Islands, E Russia (Primorsky Krai, Khabarovsk Krai, Kamchatka Peninsula, Sakhalin) * ''

Trillium cernuum ''Trillium cernuum'' is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. The specific epithet ''cernuum'' means "drooping, curving forwards, facing downwards", a distinctive habit of its flower. It is commonly called noddi ...

'' – 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 ''Trillium channellii'' is a plant species endemic to the island of 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 ...

'' – Japan (E Hokkaido) * ''

Trillium erectum ''Trillium erectum'', the red trillium, also known as wake robin, purple trillium, bethroot, or stinking benjamin, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. The plant takes its common name "wake robin" by analogy with the Europ ...

'' – 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 ''Trillium flexipes'', known as the nodding wakerobin, bent trillium, or drooping trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is found from Minnesota to Ohio, south to Tennessee, with isolated (and sometimes rare) po ...

'' – 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 ''Trillium hibbersonii'' is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. The specific epithet ''hibbersonii'' honors the English Canadian surveyor John Arthur Hibberson (1881–1955) who first collected this plant in 193 ...

'' – British Columbia * ''Trillium'' × ''komarovii'' (''Trillium camschatcense'' × unknown) – Japan, E Russia (Primorsky Krai) * ''Trillium'' × ''miyabeanum'' (''Trillium apetalon'' × ''Trillium tschonoskii'') – Japan * ''

Trillium rugelii ''Trillium rugelii'', also known as the southern nodding trillium or illscented wakerobin, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is native to parts of the southeastern United States. It is found in the Great Smoky Mounta ...

'' – Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee * ''

Trillium simile ''Trillium simile'', the jeweled wakerobin, is a spring-flowering perennial plant which is native to southern parts of the Appalachian Mountains in southeastern United States ( Tennessee, Georgia, North and South Carolina). It is also known ...

'' – Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee * '' Trillium smallii'' – Japan, E Russia (S Sakhalin) * ''

Trillium sulcatum ''Trillium sulcatum'', the furrowed wakerobin, southern red trillium or Barksdale trillium, is a perennial wildflower that blooms in April and May. It is native to the southern Appalachian Mountains and nearby areas from West Virginia to Alabama. ...

'' – Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia * ''

Trillium taiwanense ''Trillium'' (trillium, wakerobin, toadshade, tri flower, birthroot, birthwort, and sometimes "wood lily") is a genus of about fifty flowering plant species in the family Melanthiaceae. ''Trillium'' species are native to temperate regions of N ...

'' – E Taiwan * ''

Trillium tschonoskii ''Trillium'' (trillium, wakerobin, toadshade, tri flower, birthroot, birthwort, and sometimes "wood lily") is a genus of about fifty flowering plant species in the family Melanthiaceae. ''Trillium'' species are native to temperate regions o ...

'' – 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 ''Trillium vaseyi'', the sweet wakerobin or sweet beth, is a spring flowering perennial plant which is found only in the southeastern United States, primarily in the southern part of the Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often ...

'' – 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 ''Trillium crassifolium'', the Wenatchee Mountains trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. It was previously thought to be endemic to the Wenatchee Mountains in Washington but recent findings suggest i ...

'' – 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, the ...

'' – 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 ''Trillium nivale'', the snow trillium or dwarf white trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is native to parts of the east and midwest United States, primarily the Great Lakes States, the Ohio Valley, and the ...

'' – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin * ''

Trillium ovatum ''Trillium ovatum'', the Pacific trillium, also known as the western wakerobin, western white trillium, or western trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is found in western North America, from southern British ...

'' – Alberta, British Columbia; California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming * ''

Trillium scouleri ''Trillium scouleri'' is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. Description In both habit and flower structure, ''Trillium scouleri'' closely resembles ''Trillium ovatum''. To distinguish the two species, the only ...

'' – 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. * ''

'' – Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee * ''

'' – Georgia * ''

'' – Georgia, South Carolina * ''

'' – 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 ''Trillium albidum'' is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. It is the only trillium characterized by a stalkless white flower. The species is endemic to the western United States, ranging from central Cali ...

'' – California, Oregon, Washington * ''

Trillium angustipetalum ''Trillium angustipetalum'', with the common name is narrowpetal wakerobin, is a species of ''Trillium'', plants which may be included within the Liliaceae (lily family) or the newer family Melanthiaceae. Description ''Trillium angustipetalum'' ...

'' – California * ''

Trillium chloropetalum ''Trillium chloropetalum'', also known as giant trillium, giant wakerobin, or common trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is endemic to the western U.S. state of California, being especially frequent in ...

'' – California * ''

Trillium cuneatum ''Trillium cuneatum'', the little sweet betsy, also known as whip-poor-will flower, large toadshade, purple toadshade, and bloody butcher, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is a member of the ''Trillium cuneatum'' co ...

'' – Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee * ''

Trillium decipiens ''Trillium decipiens'', also known as Chattahoochee River wakerobin or deceiving trillium, is a spring-flowering perennial plant. It occurs mostly near the Chattahoochee River in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.Trillium decumbens ''Trillium decumbens'', also known as the decumbent trillium or trailing wakerobin, is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family (Melanthiaceae). It is native to the southeastern United States, specifically Tennessee, Georgia, and Al ...

'' – Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee * ''

Trillium delicatum ''Trillium decumbens'', also known as the decumbent trillium or trailing wakerobin, is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family ( Melanthiaceae). It is native to the southeastern United States, specifically Tennessee, Georgia, and ...

'' – Georgia * ''

Trillium discolor ''Trillium discolor'', the mottled wakerobin, pale yellow trillium, or small yellow toadshade, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is native to areas of the Savannah River drainage system of Georgia, North Caroli ...

'' – Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina * ''

Trillium foetidissimum ''Trillium foetidissimum'', also known as the Mississippi River wakerobin, stinking trillium, or fetid trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is found along the Louisiana–Mississippi border in a variety of hab ...

'' – Louisiana, Mississippi * ''

Trillium gracile ''Trillium gracile'', commonly known as the Sabine River wakerobin, slender trillium, or graceful trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is native to the region along the Sabine River in western Louisiana and e ...

'' – Louisiana, Texas * ''

Trillium kurabayashii ''Trillium kurabayashii'' is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. The species is endemic to the western United States, occurring in extreme southwestern Oregon, northwestern California, and the Sierra Neva ...

'' – California, Oregon * ''

Trillium lancifolium ''Trillium lancifolium'', the lanceleaf wakerobin, lance-leaved trillium, or narrow-leaved trillium, is a species of plants native to the southeastern United States. It is known to occur in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, ...

'' – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee * ''

Trillium ludovicianum ''Trillium ludovicianum'', the Louisiana wakerobin or Louisiana trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is found only in the south-central United States, in Louisiana, Mississippi, and eastern Texas. Description ...

'' – Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas * ''

Trillium luteum ''Trillium luteum'', the yellow trillium or yellow wakerobin, is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. It is a member of the ''Trillium cuneatum'' complex, a closely related group of sessile-flowered trilliums. T ...

'' – District of Columbia, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee * ''

Trillium maculatum ''Trillium maculatum'', the spotted wakerobin or spotted trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is found only in the eastern United States (Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and northern Florida) ...

'' – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina * ''

Trillium oostingii ''Trillium oostingii'', commonly known as Wateree trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is endemic to the central part of the US State of South Carolina. Wateree trillium grows under a canopy of deciduous tre ...

'' – South Carolina * ''

Trillium petiolatum ''Trillium petiolatum'', the Idaho trillium, also known as the long-petioled trillium or round-leaved trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is native to the northwestern United States, in Idaho, Oregon, and Was ...

'' – 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 Iow ...

'' – Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin * ''

Trillium reliquum ''Trillium reliquum'', the relict trillium, Confederate wakerobin, or Confederate trillium, is a monocotyledon species of the genus '' Trillium'', a perennial, flowering, herbaceous plant of the family Liliaceae. It is found only in the southeast ...

'' – Georgia, South Carolina * ''

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

'' – 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 ''Trillium stamineum'', the twisted trillium, also known as the Blue Ridge wakerobin, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States, in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. Its natural ...

'' – Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee * ''

Trillium underwoodii ''Trillium underwoodii'', the longbract wakerobin, is a plant species found only in the southeastern United States (Alabama, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, and northern Florida). ''Trillium underwoodii'' is a perennial herb up to 20 cm tal ...

'' – Alabama, Florida, Georgia * ''

Trillium viride ''Trillium viride'', commonly called the wood wakerobin, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is found in the central United States, in certain parts of Missouri and Illinois. The specific epithet ''viride'' means "yout ...

'' – Illinois, Missouri * ''

Trillium viridescens ''Trillium viridescens'', also known as the Ozark trillium or tapertip wakerobin, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is found in parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Louisiana. It usually grows in ...

'' – 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 ''Trillium govanianum'' (Hindi name: ''nag chhatri'') is a high-value medicinal herb belonging to the family Melanthiaceae and is mainly distributed from Pakistan to Bhutan between the altitudinal ranges of 2500–4000 metres above sea level ...

'' – NE Afghanistan, Bhutan, China (Tibet Autonomous Region, Yunnan), N + NE India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Uttarakhand), Nepal, N Pakistan * ''

Trillium undulatum ''Trillium undulatum'', commonly called painted trillium, painted lady (not to be confused with the painted lady butterfly), or trille ondulé in French, is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. It is also known as ...

'' – 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 In biology, a hybrid is the offspring resulting from combining the qualities of two organisms of different breeds, varieties, species or genera through sexual reproduction. Hybrids are not always intermediates between their parents (such as in ...

: * ''Trillium'' × ''crockerianum'' (''Trillium ovatum'' × ''Pseudotrillium rivale'') – California

Other taxa

does not accept these taxa: * ''

'' , also known as ''Trillium pusillum'' var. ''texanum'' , are considered by some authorities to be synonyms for ''Trillium pusillum'' var. ''pusillum''. * ''

Trillium tennesseense ''Trillium tennesseense'', the Tennessee trillium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is found exclusively within two counties in northeastern Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a ...

'' 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 "unispec ...

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 tota ...

, 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 Ter ...

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

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

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

Manitoba , image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg , map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada , Label_map = yes , coordinates = , capital = Win ...

: ''T. cernuum'' *

New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic Canad ...

: ''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 En ...

: ''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 C ...

: ''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 Government of Canada, 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 ...

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

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a province in 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 the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North ...

: ''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 Ha ...

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 Wes ...

, 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 ...

. In the

eastern United States The Eastern United States, commonly referred to as the American East, Eastern America, or simply the East, is the region of the United States to the east of the Mississippi River. In some cases the term may refer to a smaller area or the East C ...

, species range from Maine to northern Florida, west to the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it ...

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 region of the United States. It is located broadly on the eastern portion of the southern United States and the southern po ...

, 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.S ...

: none *

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States. It is the list of U.S. states and territories by area, 6th largest and the list of U.S. states and territories by population, 14 ...

: 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 ...

: ''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 ...

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

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain states, 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 wes ...

: ''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 to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...

: ''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 adjacen ...

: ''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, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...

: ''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, a ...

: ''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 t ...

: ''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 ...

: none *

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a 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 Montana and W ...

: ''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 Roc ...

: ''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 state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to ...

: ''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 Virgini ...

: ''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 U.S. state, state in the Deep South and South Central United States, South Central regions of the United States. It is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 20th-smal ...

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

Maine Maine () is a U.S. state, state in the New England and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and territories of Canad ...

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

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), 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; ...

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

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

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

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

: ''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 List of U.S. states and territories by population, 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minne ...

: ''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. Mis ...

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

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

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

Montana Montana () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West List of regions of the United States#Census Bureau-designated regions and divisions, division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North ...

: ''T. ovatum'', ''T. scouleri'' * Nebraska: ''T. nivale'' * Nevada: none * New Hampshire: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' * New Jersey: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' * New Mexico: none * New York (state), New York: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. undulatum'' * North Carolina: ''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: ''T. cernuum'' * Ohio: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. undulatum'' * Oklahoma: ''T. pusillum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. viridescens'' * Oregon: ''T. albidum'', ''T. kurabayashii'', ''T. ovatum'', ''T. petiolatum'' * Pennsylvania: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. undulatum'' * Rhode Island: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. undulatum'' * South Carolina: ''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: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. nivale'' * Tennessee: ''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: ''T. gracile'', ''T. ludovicianum'', ''T. pusillum'' (syn: ''T. texanum''), ''T. recurvatum'', ''T. viridescens'' * Utah: none * Vermont: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. undulatum'' * Virginia: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. sulcatum'', ''T. undulatum'' * Washington (state), Washington: ''T. albidum'', ''T. ovatum'', ''T. petiolatum'', ''T. scouleri'' * West Virginia: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. erectum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. pusillum'', ''T. sessile'', ''T. sulcatum'', ''T. undulatum'' * Wisconsin: ''T. cernuum'', ''T. flexipes'', ''T. grandiflorum'', ''T. nivale'', ''T. recurvatum'' * Wyoming: ''T. ovatum'', ''T. scouleri''

Other

* Saint Pierre and Miquelon: ''T. cernuum''

Asia

In Asia, the range of ''Trillium'' species extends from the Himalayas 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: ''T. govanianum'' * Bhutan: ''T. govanianum'', ''T. tschonoskii'' * China: ''T. camschatcense'' (Jilin), ''T. govanianum'' (Tibet Autonomous Region, Yunnan), ''T. taiwanense'' (E Taiwan), ''T. tschonoskii'' (Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet Autonomous Region, Yunnan, Zhejiang) * India: ''T. govanianum'' (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir (state), Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Uttarakhand), ''T. tschonoskii'' (Sikkim) * Japan: ''T. apetalon'', ''T. camschatcense'', ''T. channellii'' (Hokkaido), , , , ''T. smallii'', ''T. tschonoskii'', * Korea: ''T. camschatcense'', ''T. tschonoskii'' * Kuril Islands: ''T. apetalon'', ''T. camschatcense'', ''T. tschonoskii'' * Myanmar: ''T. tschonoskii'' * Nepal: ''T. govanianum'' * Pakistan: ''T. govanianum'' * Russia: ''T. apetalon'' (Sakhalin), ''T. camschatcense'' (Primorsky Krai, Khabarovsk Krai, Kamchatka Peninsula, Sakhalin), (Sakhalin), (Primorsky Krai), ''T. smallii'' (Sakhalin), ''T. tschonoskii'' (Sakhalin) * Taiwan: ''T. taiwanense'', ''T. tschonoskii''

Identification

A fully general Single-access key, dichotomous key requires a mature, flowering plant. The first step is to determine whether or not the flower sits on a Pedicel (botany), 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 Petiole (botany), 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'') is often mistaken for bare-leaved ''Trillium''. Both species are about the same height with Glossary of leaf morphology#trifoliate, trifoliate leaves but the former lacks 3-way rotational symmetry and has leaf veins unlike those of ''Trillium''.

Ecology

Trilliums are myrmecochory, myrmecochorous, that is, ants act as agents of seed dispersal. Each seed of a ripe fruit has a white fleshy appendage called an

. 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 ''

'' and ''Trillium tschonoskii, T. tschonoskii'' are collected by ant species ''Aphaenogaster smythiesi'' and ''Myrmica ruginodis''. Sometimes beetles interfere with the dispersal process by eating the elaiosomes, which makes the seeds less attractive to ants. Yellow jackets (''Vespula'' 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 ''

'', and so has become an

. 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 microscope, electron microscopy 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 leafhoppers were suspected. , the insect Disease vector, vector for ''Trillium'' greening disorder is unknown. Phytoplasmas were positively identified in ''T. grandiflorum'' and ''T. erectum'' in Ontario in 2016. Phylogenetics, Phylogenetic analysis supported the grouping of the phytoplasmas isolated from infected plants as a related strain of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni, ''Candidatus'' Phytoplasma pruni' (subgroup 16SrIII-F) with 99% sequence identity. This subgroup of phytoplasmas is associated with various other diseases, including Milkweed yellows phytoplasma#Milkweed yellows, 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 New York (state), New York it is illegal to pick the Trillium erectum, 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 ''

'' (drooping trillium) is also protected by law in Ontario, because of its decreasing Canadian population. High white-tailed deer 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 sapogenins. They have been used traditionally as Uterotonic, 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 List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols, official flower and emblem of the Canadian province of

. It is an official symbol of the Government of Ontario. The large white trillium is the official wildflower of Ohio. In light of their shared connection to the flower, the Major League Soccer teams in Toronto FC, Toronto and Columbus Crew SC, Columbus compete with each other for the Trillium Cup. Citizen science, Citizen scientists regularly report observations of ''Trillium'' species from around the world. ''T. grandiflorum'', Trillium erectum, ''T. erectum'', and Trillium ovatum, ''T. ovatum'' (in that order) are the most often observed ''Trillium'' species. ''Trillium'' is the literary magazine of Ramapo College, Ramapo College of New Jersey, which features poetry, fiction, photography, and other visual arts created by Ramapo students. In LGBT culture in Mexico, 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 (''

'') File:Trillium petiolatum- Washington.jpg, Idaho trillium (''

'') File:Trillium with the leaves.jpg, White trillium (''

'') File:Red trillium (42136561721).jpg, Red trillium (''

'') File:Trillium ovatum 1290.JPG, Pacific trillium (''

'') File:TrilliumRecurvatum.jpg, Prairie trillium (''

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

)'' an endangered species File:Painted Trillium.jpg, Painted trillium (''

'')

Bibliography

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References

External links

Interactive Identification Key
(Java (programming language), Java)
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 Trillium, Melanthiaceae genera Flora of Canada Flora of the United States