11 



PAINTED TRILLIUM. 



The trilliums derive their name 

 from the fact that all their parts are 

 arranged in threes— three leaves, 

 three petals, three sepals and a three- 

 parted stigma. The Painted Tril- 

 lium, which is the handsomest spe- 

 cies has its waxy-white, wavy-edged 

 flower standing erect above the whorl 

 of three leaves. It is quite abundant 

 in certain moist woodland and often 

 grows in large beds. 



Two other white species are quite 

 abundant, the large-flowered White 

 Trillium which has blossoms two or 

 three inches across and the Nodding 

 Trillium, which has smaller white 



flowers suspended, inverted, below the whorl of leaves. 

 Neither of these species have the crimson mark that adds 

 so much to the beauty of the Painted variety. 



Beautiful as they are, all the trilliums have a slight dis- 

 agreeable odor while that of the Purple Trillium or Wake 

 Robin is very unpleasant, strongly resembling the odor of 

 decomposing flesh. Presumably, this odor is for the pur- 

 pose of alluring certain carrion flies to the flowers, which 

 insects are the chief fertilizing agents. In the case of the 

 Purple Trillium, the color too is one that would attract 

 flies that were in the habit of seeking out putrid substances. 

 This species flowers in April and May, which early flower- 

 ing is one of the reasons for the name of Wake Robin, 

 although, as a matter of fact, they do not bloom until weeks 

 after robins have arrived in abundance. 



After the flowering season a single, oval berry is seated 

 above and close to the whorled leaves. 



