Trillium: A Plant of Many Names
Happy Phenology Friday! Enjoy May sunshine by observing trilliums. Our project focuses on two species of this showy group- the painted and red trilliums.
Trillium contains the Latin word “tri”, which means three, reflecting this group’s characteristic three leaves and flower petals. Trilliums, however, have some revealing common names.
Trilliums are also known as Birthroot or Birthwort because Indigenous peoples used their roots to aid in childbirth. Even some names have phenological underpinnings, such as the name Wakerobins, which originates because the trillium bloom coincides with the emergence of robins in early spring.
Above: Painted trillium (photo by @mnld828) and red trillium (photo by: Robyn Rumney, @robynhmr)
Red trilliums (Trillium erectum)are even called Stinking Benjamins due to their foul smell that attracts fly and beetle pollinators for pollination purposes!
Sources:
https://wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-wildflowers-painted-trillium-trillium-undulatum.html
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/trillium-erectum/common-name/stinking-benjamins
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