Saturday, May 7, 2011

Catesby’s Trillium (Trillium catesbaei)

Trillium catesbaei is known by several common names: Catesby's Trillium, Rosy Wake-robin, Bashful Trillium, Rose Trillium, Bashful Wakerobin. We found them by the trail along the creek at Rock and Shoals Outcrop Natural Area in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, in mid-April. The plants were on the uphill side of the trail not far from a tree with a large hollow at the base of its trunk.

Catesby’s Trillium flowers hang below the leaves in contrast to most Trillium sp. whose flowers stand above the leaves. This plant was growing in deep shade and was only 6 to 7 inches tall.

Young flowers are white.

This plant was growing in a more open area. It was about 12 to 15 inches tall.

A closer view

*****
Flowers turn pink as they age.

Trillium catesbaei
is native to the southeastern United States: North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and southeast Tennessee.

Click on an image to view a larger image


Distribution Map:

- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Trillium catesbaei (Bashful Wakerobin)

- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Trillium catesbaei


Identification resources:

- Southeastern Flora: Bashful Wakerobin (Trillium catesbaei)

- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Catesby's Trillium, Rosy Wake-robin, Bashful Trillium, Rose Trillium (Trillium catesbaei)


Related posts:

- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index

- Rock and Shoals Outcrop Natural Area; Part 1, Blue Trail

- Rock and Shoals Outcrop Natural Area: Mid-April Wildflowers

2 comments:

Sheri said...

Very pretty. Very dainty! Here in Ontario, the Trillium grandiflorum have just finished blooming. It's lovely to see them carpeting the woodlands. They're widely recognised as the provincial emblem and "Trillium" is an oft-used term for provincial organizations, everything from the Trillium Hunter Jumper Association to the Ontario Trillium Foundation

JSK said...

I envy you if the trilliums grow in carpets. In most places down here they occur in very small groups in moist areas along creeks. Otherwise it's too dry.