Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 61 



Genus (Trillium). 



Trilliums derive their generic name from the fact 

 that all their parts are arranged in threes; three 

 leaves, three petals, three sepals and a three-part- 

 ed stigma. The common name of Wake Robin was 

 probably early given because these flowers appear at 

 an early date. As a matter of fact they do not bloom 

 until weeks after the Robins have returned to the 

 Northern States. All the purple trilliums have an un- 

 pleasant odor resembling that of putrid meat; as they 

 are largely dependent for fertilization upon certain 

 carrion flies, it is very probable that their peculiar 

 color is for the purpose of an added lure for these 

 insects. The Sessile Flowered Trillium has the parts 

 of the stigma so recurved that they are very close 

 to the anthers and it is very probable that self-ferti- 

 lization takes place. After the flowering season an 

 oval reddish berry is seen rising from, or seated 

 among, the three green leaves. 



PURPLE TRILLIUM; BIRTHROOT; ILL-SCENT- 

 ED WAKE ROBIN (Trillium erectum) has three pur- 

 plish-brown petals (sometimes these are pink or even 

 white in color) and three sepals; six stamens exceed- 

 ing in length the stout spreading stigma. Flower sol- 

 itary, raising on a short pedicel above the whorl of 

 broad, ovate, pointed and short petioled leaves. This 

 trillium ranges in height from 6 to 15 inches. It flow- 

 ers in April and May, in rich woods from Quebec to 

 Ont. and southwards. 



STEMLESS PURPLE TRILLIUM (Trillium ses- 

 sile) is very similar, but the flower is seated directly 

 among the leaves with no stem, and the petals do not 

 spread as much. It is found from Pa. to Minn, and 

 southwards. 



Trillium viride has both the leaves and flowers ses- 

 sile. The petals of this species are greenish and nar- 

 row. Found from Kas. and Mo. southwards. 



