Trillium. 



SMILACEiE. 



295 



2. TRILLIUM. Mill. ; Endl. gen. 1177. three-leaved nightshade. 



[From the Latin trilix, triple ; most parts of the plant being in threes.] 



Calyx of 3 spreading sepals. Petals 3. Stamens 6 : anthers elongated, linear, introrse. 

 Ovary 3-celled, with several anatropous ovules in a double series : styles 3, usually dis- 

 tinct, or rarely united at the base, spreading or recurved, stigmatose on the inside. Berry 

 ovoid and somewhat 3-sided, 3-celled. Seeds several in each cell, obovoid or roundish ; 

 the raphe tumid. Embryo minute, in fleshy dense albumen. — Perennial smooth herbs, 

 with a tuberous abrupt rhizoma abounding in starch, and numerous thick fibrous roots. 

 Stem simple, with 3 reticulately veined leaves in a whorl at its summit, from the centre of 

 which arises a large solitary pedunculate (or rarely sessile) flower. 



1. Trillium erytiirocarpum, Michx. Red-berried Three-leaved Nightshade. 



Leaves ovate, acuminate, obtuse at the base, abruptly contracted into a short petiole ; 

 peduncle somewhat erect ; petals varying from ovate to ovate-lanceolate, undulate on the 

 margin, acute, recurved, nearly twice as long as the lanceolate sepals. — Michx. fl. 1. p. 216 ; 

 EU. sk. 1. p. 428 ; Nutt. gen. 1. p. 239 ; Torr. jl. 1. p. 375 ; Bot. mag. t. 3002 ; Beck, 

 bot. p. 360; Hook. jl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 180. T. pictum, Pursh, jl. I. p. 244; Bigel. Jl. 

 Bost. p. 142. T. undulatum, Willd. hort. Berol. 1. p. 55. 



Stem 8-12 inches high. Leaves 3-5 inches long, rounded at the base ; the petiole from 

 one-third to half an inch in length, 3-nerved, with numerous reticulated veins. Peduncle 1-2 

 inches long, inclined to one side. Sepals rather acute. Petals white, with purplish veins 

 toward the base. Berry ovoid, obtusely triangular, scarlet ; the cells many-seeded. Seeds 

 globose-ovoid, reddish brown, striate ; the raphe prominent and fleshy. 



Shady woods and swamps : not rare in the northern and western counties. Fl. May. Fr. 

 August. 



2. Trillium cernuum, Linn. Nodding Three-leaved Nightshade. 



Leaves dilated, rhomboid, acuminate, nearly sessile ; peduncle short, recurved, the flower 

 pendulous ; petals ovate, acuminate, flat, a little longer than the ovate-lanceolate acuminate 

 sepals. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 339; Bot. mag. t. 945; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 245; Nutt. gen. 1. 

 p. 239 ; Bart. Jl. N. Am. 2. t. 40 ; Ton: Jl. I. p. 376 ; Bigel. Jl. Bost. p. 141 ; Beck, bot. 

 p. 361. T. pendulum, Muhl. in Willd. hort. Berol. 1. t. 35 ; Torr. Jl. I. c. ; Beck, I. c. ; 

 Darlingt. jl. Cest. p. 235. 



Stem 9-15 inches high. Leaves 2\ - 4 inches long, the breadth often equal to the length, 

 with a short acuminalion ; the base abruptly contracted into a very short petiole. Peduncle 

 6-8 lines long, recurved so that the flower is partly concealed by the leaves. Sepals three- 

 fourths of an inch long. Petals white. Stamens shorter than the styles : anthers about the 



