''Trillium recurvatum'', the prairie trillium, toadshade, or bloody butcher, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Melanthiaceae. It is native to parts of central and eastern

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, where it is found from

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south to

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and east to

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and

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. It grows in

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forests and savannas, often in

calcareous Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines. In zoology ''Calcareous'' is used as an adje ...

soils. It is also known as bloody noses, red trillium, prairie wake-robin, purple trillium, and reflexed trillium, in reference to its reflexed sepals.

Description

''Trillium recurvatum'' grows up to tall with three ovate to lanceolate bracts, mottled green, long and across, petiolate at maturity. The flower has three brown to maroon petals that are long and across, with the petal tips arching over the stamens. The sepals are recurved, pointing downwards when the flower has fully opened. The anthers are also dark purple, up to long. The stigmas are recurved at the tips. It is distinguished from other sessile-flowered '' Trillium'' species, such as ''

Trillium sessile ''Trillium sessile'' is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. The specific epithet ''sessile'' means "attached without a distinct stalk", an apparent reference to its stalkless flower. It is commonly known as toads ...

'', by its reflexed sepals. The fruit is green, sometimes streaked with purple or white, with six well-developed ridges. The seeds have an oil-rich structure called an

elaiosome Elaiosomes ( grc, ἔλαιον ''élaion'' "oil" + ''sóma'' "body") are fleshy structures that are attached to the seeds of many plant species. The elaiosome is rich in lipids and proteins, and may be variously shaped. Many plants have elaio ...

, which promotes dispersal by ants and other foraging insects.

Conservation

''Trillium recurvatum'' is common throughout much of its range. It is not considered to be globally threatened, and its status is considered secure. However, it is monitored by conservation agencies in several states at the edge of its range, where it becomes rare. For example, in Wisconsin it is considered rare or uncommon (S3) and therefore a species of special concern. In Michigan, it is considered a state threatened species and is protected by law.

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q3009702 recurvatum Endemic flora of the United States Ephemeral plants Plants described in 1826