Sunday, May 1, 2011

My Date with the Red Trillium

In my previous post on the wonderful Trillium genus I discussed the eight species native to Ohio.  I was able to present five of the eight species with photographs and a bit of I.D. characteristics and other nuggets of information but sadly had to leave one of my favorites off the list.  I'd only seen the Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) once before several years ago but didn't have the capacity to think much of it at the time nor take any photographs.  That has preyed on my thoughts the past couple years and it was beginning to bother me to the point where I absolutely needed to find this plant again.  As luck would have it my friend and fellow blogger Mike Whittemore over at Flora and Fauna of Appalachia stumbled across some while on a hike at Cantwell Cliffs in the Hocking Hills area.  This gave me the perfect opportunity and chance to finally add a sixth species of Trillium to my plant photograph catalog.  Now to go see the endangered Painted Trillium (T. undulatum) in Ashtabula County someday!  But for now let's focus on the prized beauty of Trillium erectum.

Trillium erectum
Trillium erectum var. album



















Scattered within the deep ravines and lower slopes, pockets of Red Trillium were still in peak bloom but a large majority seemed to be on their way out.  The ones that were still in prime condition sure put on a show though!  As seen from my prior post about Trillium's ability to vary in color/size/form, especially in the cases of T. flexipes, Red Trillium has two color forms to its flowers.  Above on the left is the normal T. erectum which can attest to how they get their common name of Red Trillium.  On the right is the white variation known as T. erectum var. album.

Trillium erectum var. album
Trillium erectum var. album



















As I made my way through several different ravines and gorges I quickly noticed that the white form was much, much more dominant than that of its customary red flowered plant.  Taking a closer look at the inner workings of the white flower showed just how much more the distinctive red ovary sticks out, as well as the slightly off-yellow anthers.  There had to have been hundreds of white flowered forms for every one red form which seemed to be playing 'Where's Waldo?".  Whenever I did find a red flower it was far past prime, drooping heavily and about ready to call it a year.  Fortunately I was able to find a few great examples to photograph with some patient searching and scanning of the hillsides.

Red and White forms for comparison
Trillium erectum var. album



















I've always been a collector of something, it's just my personality.  So when I dove headfirst into the enlightening but maddening world of botany I was quickly right at home.  Whether putting a check mark next to a species I see each and every year or one next to a 'life plant' that I've been chasing for years it's always a moment of personal success and gratitude to be have one more plant behind me and infinity more to go!

As I mentioned at the end of the earlier post, I attended Flora-Quest this weekend and it did not disappoint in the slightest!  I have many great wildflower photo's and stories to share in the coming days so be sure to check back often for some new postings!

7 comments:

  1. Again,awesome shots, I can't thank you enough for doing this even though I know you are doing it for the love of it( I just can't leave my local woods right now)..those are probably(along with M.W's) the best examples of pure strain T.erectum ive seen and getting the chance to compare that red to the maroon red of the specimen we talked about really helps me feel mine are hybrids. Rare, yet hybrids!Great work man!

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  2. oh i forgot, the one at the bottom left, with the pink rather than dark maroon ovary makes me wonder if a white var- red var cross can yeild that pink ovary and throw a little more confusion into the crazy Trillium world.

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  3. I think most likely it's just a T. erectum var. album with a slightly lighter ovary. If I wanted to get a little outside the box I may suggest it is a T. flexipes x erectum cross due to the ovary seeming to be a bit larger than the normal T. erectum ovary. T. erectum x flexipes both exist in the same Trillium complex and are known hybrids so who knows.

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  4. Nice shots Andrew! Glad you got a chance to catch em' before it was too late. Looking forward to doing some much needed botanizing with you before I head out!

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  5. I so wanted to attend Flora Quest this year but just couldn't make it work for me. Maybe next years. I want to see those trilliums!!!
    nellie

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  6. A friend asked me how i know all my plants so well. I replied it was because I visit them each year and listen to their song.The white must be a bit later in blooming also.

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  7. Exciting, gorgeous shots and post! I'm so happy to find a flora fan like myself. When I first started Blogging I couldn't find anyone into wildflowers vs garden flowers. Hooray!

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