Blessed with a warm, partially sunny day Saturday, fellow-father-in-law, Rich, and I took a short drive up the road to check on a patch of Large-Flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) which grows on a certain wooded hillside. Most years, the dense stand of luxuriant plants with their showy blooms spangles well over an acre—a sight that, coming upon them as you amble over the brow of the forested knoll, never fails to take your breath away. 
Unfortunately, this time around, the plants were sparse and undersize, nothing like the knee-high thousand-fold display of white and pink flowers from years past. I was disappointed, but only mildly so, for there were still trilliums about…and even a single Large-Flowered Trillium in bloom is still a thing of striking beauty. 
Trillium were so named by 18th-century botanist Carl Linnaeus because everything about the plant came in threes…three petals, three sepals, three leaves, three ovaries, and berries with three ribs. 
There are thirty-plus species of trilliums native to the U.S. Ohio has eight species, one of which is endangered, another listed as threatened, and a third which was collected just once, in 1879, and has not been found inside our borders since. Large-Flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), also called Large White Trillium, is the state's official wildflower.
All these photos are of Large-Flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum). You'll notice the flower at the head of the post is pink rather than white. This is not a pink variation—though pink variations of Trillium grandiflorum are occasionally found. Rather, this is simply part of the flower's aging process. The bloom starts out a showy white, but with time, gradually takes on a pale-pink hue which, a day or two before wilting, turns this very dark pink. The prominent yellow, pollen-dusted anthers are quite distinctive.
If you'd like to learn a bit more about Ohio's trillium, plus look at some excellent and lovely photos, here are several worthwhile links to recent pages by fellow Buckeye bloggers: (Kelly, here and here), (A.L. Gibson, here and here), (Mike, here), and (Michael, here.)
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18 comments:
...when I saw the title of your post, I hurried over, as I love trilliums and knew you would have something special to say about them (and of course, you did)! Beautiful post...
...then at the end, I saw my name. What a surprise! Thank you very much!! I'm going to add you to my trillium post too!
Kelly…
Frankly, I debated with myself over whether or not to even do a trillium post, given that so many good bloggers had already posted something…and yours being at the head of that list.
I've so enjoyed your recent series of wildflower posts and their outstanding close-up photos. You set the bar pretty high, and that's fine. I have no problem whatsoever recommending and adding a link to your blog—though I would hope and expect that most Riverdaze readers already know their way.
Thank you for your, as always, nice comments, and the link.
I'm on the road, can't stop to read the whole post but thank you for the Triliums!!! I have misses then for a long time since our time in Canada.
I'll be back when I'm back. Cheers . . . Arija
I've learned so much about my own property of woods and field from you, Kelly and the others you've mentioned. This past week the finding of Squawroot had me mystified, but not for long. The trilliums here weren't quite as showy this year either.
Arija…
I can understand how you'd miss the trilliums…they are, by any standards, extraordinarily beautiful blooms.
I'll miss you until you return. Have a safe and good trip.
Wanda…
I learn something almost every time I read a post from any number of bloggers. I don't necessarily read for information, but it's there—and I always enjoy learning. We may not realize, or just take it for granted, but there are a lot of real experts blogging, serving up a wealth of knowledge at the click of a mouse. What I appreciate most is their willing to share…a real gift.
Deer sometimes browse the trilliums quite heavily—but it don't think that's the case in the patch up the road. They're just sparse this year, for whatever reason—weather, most likely.
Thank you for your nice comments.
HI GRIZZ-
I learn SO much from you about nature and all its beauty and force. And the Trillium is no exception. Your photos are amazing and your words so detailed and true. I felt a bit sorry for the Trillium when I learned it had three ovaries! Two are more than enough to deal with! :-)
I am going to the doctor at 1:30 - hoping for some relief from this muscle pain in my upper arms, especially the right one, OUCH!!. sigh.
No trilliums in s.e. PA--they just don't occur naturally here. They are a major part of the spring ephemeral flora in s.w. PA, though. I lived in Pittsburgh for seven years and each spring I visited Trillium Trail famed for its trillium display in a ritzy suburb north of the city. Unfortunately, deer have decimated the trilliums there.
Griz: Lovely. I don't think I've seen the pink or violet version here on Roundtop. And even the white ones aren't up at all yet--but I'll keep looking!
Gail…
Thank you. I'd expect you live in pretty good trillium country. They really are lovely blooms. And hey, I hear and understand you—though only through second-hand experience!—on that additional ovary business. :-)
Hope the doc can do something for the pain. Though if it's raining there like it is here, you may have another month before you're missing much outside. Seriously, good luck!
Scott…
Now I'd have never thought you lack trilliums in your neck of the woods. Especially seeing as how they're such a spring centerpiece wildflower all down the Appalachians. Wouldn't seem like spring to me without trilliums.
That also means what I told Gail in my comment answer re. trilliums in her area is probably incorrect.
Well, huh!
Carolyn…
I've seen a few in southeastern Ohio , but I understand they're far more common in areas of Virginia. Many folks misidentify the aged white blooms as pink variations.
Unless I find another patch that's a bit later in the cycle, the trilliums will be pretty much winding down here in the next week or so—though I suppose I could drive 90 minutes north and give myself another week after that.
Grizzman, awesome pictures and awesome writing!As a FYI, i'm a rock flipper, a point man..if i'm not muddy..i'm not happy!my pictures are ok,more like see this..thats a..not artistic like you(i'm workin on it) my writing is terrible but hey..people might learn something or see something they like..an leave happy! Thats the bottom line right?Glad to know you!
Michael…
Hey, that's why I linked you to my post. I've flipped over a few rocks myself. And yeah, my photos are nice and the writing tight…but there's sizzle and then there's steak—and we know which fills you up when you're hungry. That discussion between you and A.L. on trillium crosses was about six feet over my head. So you keep working on your photos and writing, and I'll keep reading and learning from someone who knows a lot more about plants. It is good meeting ya.
Yes, we have some trilliums here too Grizz - lovely plants. This year in the UK all the flowering bushes and plants are doing exceptionally well.
Weaver…
I didn't realize they were native to the UK…or are they just an imported garden plant? Either way, of course, they're lovely.
Do you know the trillium is also Ontario's official flower-is it illegal to pick them here-love your pink ones.
AfromTO…
Actually, I did know that, but forgot to mention it in my post. It's illegal to pick them (or anything) in most of our parks, but not private land…and the shame of it is, a picked trillium soon wilts, and moreover, you set the parent plant back 4-6 years for its next bloom. Good for you folks on the law!
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