[pbs] more on trilliums
Antennaria at aol.com
Antennaria at aol.com
Wed May 31 00:07:11 EDT 2006
The many southeastern USA Trillium continue to bloom well and provide lots of
interest here. For information on the species I mention here, there is no
better reference than the on-line eFlora; the Flora of North America, authored
by none other than Trillium expert Fred Case. The keys, descriptions, and
level of detail in the text is all very good.
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=133668
The two forms of Trillium reliquum I grow came from Georgia. It has
gorgeous, intensely mottled foliage. Similar to T. decumbens, the foliage sits close
to the ground, but unlike that nearly stemless species, T. reliquum has a stem
of about 1" to 1-1/2" tall, among other differences. The upright flowers are
a deep maroon red, the 3 flat-lying sepals similarly colored, if not a little
paler. The flowers are said to smell putrid, but in my specimens they smell
like clay, or like "stale yeasty bread"... mildly unpleasant but certainly not
putrid. This is a stunning Trillium.
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_reliquum_2006b.jpg
(just to the upper left, can be seen the drying foliage of T. nivale, with a
seed capsule)
Trillium stamineum, the twisted trillium, is named for the twisted dark
maroon petals, an unmistakable characteristic. Subtle leaf mottling, and flowering
stems of just 3"-8" tall. Said to be unscented, but I detect a faint,
peculiar scent to the flowers. My plants came from Alabama.
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_stamineum_2006a.jpg
Trillium lancifolium is a most distinctive small species, one that I like
very much. My plants came from Tennessee, and grow to 6"-12" in flower. The
foliage faces downwards giving the plant a narrow dog's-ear appearance, showing
off the erect blooms with very narrow red petals that tend to incurve, overlap,
and twist slightly. The incurved stamens are dark maroon. There is no
detectable floral scent. In the first photo link below, the flowers are striking
when backlit with late afternoon sun, with the equally bright flowers on
stemless T. decumbens in the background.
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_lancifolium_2006a.jpg
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_lancifolium_2006c.jpg
Trillium rugelii is fantastic. Known as the Southern Nodding Trillium, it is
distinct and far superior to the familar nodding Trillium (T. cernuum) of
eastern USA and Canada. My plant is robust, growing 15-18" tall, with very large
reflexed nodding flowers like a giant dodecatheon. The most striking aspect
of this species is the oversized, prominent ovary of a bright red-purple color,
flanked by bluish-purple anthers. The strongly recurved flowers are nearly
4" across if stretched out, emitting a mild fruity aroma. The flowers last a
very long time. The foliage is straight green and prominently veined.
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_rugelii_2006a.jpg
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_rugelii_2006b.jpg
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_rugelii_2006c.jpg
Trillium catesbaei, the "bashful trillium". I have several dozen of these
planted out, and it wins a place in my heart for several reasons. This is a
delicate species, up to a foot tall, with refined smallish undulate foliage and
delightful nodding blooms that display great diversity in flower color and
form. Because the foliage is not very large as in some species, the flowers can
clearly be seen, even though they are nodding below the foliage. Flower color
ranges from pure white, many shades of pink, to vibrant cherry colors, with
bold yellow anthers. A few specimens have white flowers strongly mottled and
streaked with pink. The petals are elegantly undulate along the margins, and are
moderately to strongly recurved. The sepals are typically a gray-green color
that beautifully frames the flowers, or sometimes reddish to purplish color.
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_catesbaei_2006a.jpg
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_catesbaei_2006b.jpg
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_catesbaei_2006c.jpg
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_catesbaei_2006d.jpg
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_catesbaei_2006g.jpg
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_catesbaei_2006h.jpg
A nursery friend of mine purchased a number of plants of the common Trillium
erectum, and what she got instead (in her favor) was was Trillium vaseyi, a
superior southeastern species sometimes called the Sweet Trillium for the sweet
scent of the blooms. Averaging about 18" tall, the striking blooms are an
intense maroon red color, the petals heavily veined and netted. What's most
striking about this species, is how the petals tightly recurve, folding backwards
over the green sepals, forming a perfectly triangular shaped bloom. The large
anthers eventually turn white, contrasting beautifully with the intense dark
flower color, although in my two photos, I took the photos before the the
anthers matured to white. The flowers are VERY large and bold, compared to the
rather squinty, inferior flowers of most Trillium erectum forms one encounters.
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_vaseyi_2006a.jpg
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_vaseyi_2006b.jpg
Lastly, is Trillium grandiflorum 'Multiplex'. I'm not often a fan of double
flowers, but this is without doubt one of the most exquisitely formed flowers
among double-flowered plants. The elegant ruffled flowers are pristine white,
lasting for nearly a month, eventually fading to pink. I know of one nursery
(Asiatica) that sells a single plant for $78 each (ouch!). In a couple
years, my plant increased to 4 blooming stalks, and two youngsters.
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_grandi_Multiplex_2006a.jpg
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_grandi_Multiplex_2006b.jpg
http://www.plantbuzz.com/rockgard/woodland/Trillium_grandi_Multiplex_agepink.j
pg
Mark McDonough Pepperell, Massachusetts, United States
antennaria at aol.com "New England" USDA Zone 5
==============================================
>> web site under construction - http://www.PlantBuzz.com <
More information about the pbs
mailing list