A spring wildflower with three leaves, three sepals, and a large three-petaled white flower. Among the most-loved spring ephemerals of eastern forests. State wildflower of Ohio and Ontario.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Trillium grandiflorum, the white trillium, large-flowered trillium, great white trillium, white wake-robin or in French: trille blanc, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. A monocotyledonous, herbaceous perennial, the plant is native to eastern North America, from northern Quebec to the southern parts of the United States through the Appalachian Mountains into northernmost Georgia and west to Minnesota. There are also several isolated populations in Nova Scotia, Maine, southern Illinois, and Iowa.
Source: Wikipedia — Trillium grandiflorum Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Three leaves, three sepals, three petals (white).
Similar species. Other Trillium species (different colors/ranges).
Voice. N/A
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Spring ephemeral. Distinctive three-leaved, three-petaled flower.
§ Range
Eastern North America from Quebec to Georgia
§ Habitat
Rich moist mature deciduous forests
§ Threats
Deer overbrowsing (heavily preferred forage), forest fragmentation, illegal collection, garlic mustard invasion.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the great white trillium is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support mature forest protection. Manage deer populations. Don't dig from wild — buy only nursery-propagated.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Trillium grandiflorum
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Trillium grandiflorum
- iNaturalist · taxon 75878
- IUCN Red List — search for Trillium grandiflorum
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Trillium grandiflorum
§ Sources cited
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- USDA Plants Database
