![]() There are a number of green/white forms that represent various stages in the development of a mycoplasma infection. The species occurs in a range of habitats in rich deciduous or mixed coniferous-deciduous woods. Trillium grandiflorum flowers from late April to early June (dependant on latitude and elevation). Trillium grandiflorum has a short, thick rhizome from which a sheath (cataphyll) enclosed scape (stalk of the inflorescence) emerges from the ground to15 to 45 centimeters tall with a single, terminal flower on an erect pedicel, 2 to 10 centimeters long leaves (actually bracts) three, dark green, sessile to sub-sessile, round-ovate to sub-rhombic, acuminate, 10 to 30 centimeters long and 8 to 15 centimeters wide petals three, white (fading to pink) oblong, 4 to 7 centimeters long, recurved at the middle to form a very funnel-shaped corolla sepals three, green, dark green streaked with maroon, or occasionally dark maroon, acuminate, flat, spreading, 2.5 to 5 centimeters long fruit a berry, pale green, ovoid, six-angled, brown seeds. Great white trillium falls within the pedicellate group. In the sessile trilliums there is no pedicel and the flower appears to arise directly from the bracts. In the pedicellate trilliums, the flower sits upon a pedicel that extends from the whorl of bracts, either “erect” above the bracts, or “nodding” recurved under the bracts. Trilliums are generally divided into two major groups, pedicellate and sessile. Trillium grandiflorum ( Trillium – from the Latin tri referring to the flower parts occurring in threes, and llium from the Latin liliaceous referring to the funnel-shaped flower and grandiflorum – from the Latin grandis – great, large and Flora - goddess of flowers) referring to the large white flower. In the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Virginia along the Appalachian Trail there is a spectacular display of great white trilliums estimated at near ten million individuals.įred and Roberta Case, in their book Trilliums, describe the innate beauty of great white trilliums, “ This species, the most showy, best known, and loved of all the trilliums…” Great white trillium generally occurs in spectacular drifts of dozens, to hundreds, and to thousands of individuals. ![]() Great white trillium occurs from southern Quebec and Ontario and then Maine west to northeastern Minnesota through the central hardwoods to the Appalachian Mountains and thence south on the southern Appalachian Mountains to Georgia. This trillium occurs on well-drained, rich, mesic soils in deciduous or mixed deciduous/coniferous forests. The great white trillium is an herbaceous, long-lived, woodland, perennial wildflower with a broad distribution in eastern North America. Great White Trillium ( Trillium grandiflorum) This multi-petaled great white trillium is referred to as Trillium grandiflorum f. This mycoplasma is parasitic on great white trilliums. This great white trillium is infected with a mycoplasma that causes greening in the petals. Image with permission by Hugh & Carol Nourse. We can readily see why this native wildflower was given the genus name Trillium referringto the petals, sepals, and bracts (generally called leaves by most people) occurring in groupings of three. Image with permission by Charles Peirce.Ĭoming across a flowering Trillium grandiflorum in spring time is a real treat. In this image from Michigan the very uncommon Trillium grandiflorum forma roseum is present with a pair of the white-flowered Trillium grandiflorum.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |