Family:     Melanthiaceae

Duration:  Perennial

Height:     20 - 40 cm (0.5-1.25 ft)

Blooming: April-May

 

Prairie Trillium

Trillium recurvatum L.C. Beck

Flowers: large, single headed flower erect above the leaves.  It has six tepals on an upright flower stalk.  The three white petals can turn pink with age.

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Leaves: what appears to be leaves are actually bracts.  Trillium do not have true, above-ground leaves.  Yet, their job is the same as leaves in that they photosynthesize.  The bracts are sessile to subsessile and can be up to 20 cm (8 in) long and 15 cm (6 in) wide. 

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Sun: Part sun to full shade

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Ideal Conditions: moist woodland.

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SOURCES & FURTHER RESOURCES:

Bonap map - Trillium

Michigan Flora - Trillium recurvatum

Consortuim of Midwest Herbaria - Trillium recurvatum

Comments: The plant should not be picked. The most common trillium found in Northwest Indiana. Once in a while, you may find a four leaved trillium.  Count such a find as good luck!

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Etymology: The genus, Trillium, comes from the Greek word trilix meaning "triple" referring to the consistent threes on the plant's parts. The epithet, recurvatum, means "recurved or reflexed".

all photos by Nathanael Pilla