Trillium erectum (Red trillium)

FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay

Trillium erectum L.

Red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Liliidae	Includes lilies, orchids, and many others
Order	Liliales	Includes lilies, tulips, trilliums, greenbriars, and others
Family	Melanthiaceae	Trillium family
Genus	Trillium	“Three-petaled lily”
Species	erectum	Upright

About plant names...

Red trillium is native to North America.

Identification: Plants have one to two round stems, are 1-2′ (30-60 cm) high, and are found on forest floors. A whorl of three leaves forms atop each stem, each leaf facing straight upward, with a single flower emerging from the center. Leaves are oval or diamond-shaped in shape, wider at the base, tapering to pointed tips, and with even edges. Flowers are usually maroon, but may also be a brighter red, white, or greenish yellow. They have three true petals and three petal-like bracts, arranged to look like a six-petaled flower. These flowers are sometimes called stinking benjamin or stinking willie because they smell like a wet dog. The odor attracts flies that pollinate the plants. Fruits are dark maroon in color, smelling faintly of fruit, rounded to slightly pyramid-shaped, ⅜-½″ (1-1.5 cm) around.

See also this Trillium comparison table.

Edibility: Poisonous Skull & Crossbones The leaves contain needle-like calcium oxalate crystals called raphides, part of the plant's defense.