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Trillium erectum L.

Red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassLiliopsidaMonocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
SubclassLiliidaeIncludes lilies, orchids, and many others
OrderLilialesIncludes lilies, tulips, trilliums, greenbriars, and others
FamilyMelanthiaceaeTrillium family
GenusTrillium“Three-petaled lily”
SpecieserectumUpright

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.

Online References:

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

in Paghat's Garden

2bnTheWild.com

EFloras

Wikimedia Commons

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

8/14/2021 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Area, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9 cm)

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

5/11/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

5/11/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

5/11/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

4/15/1979 · Memphis, Ten­nes­see · By Tim Chandler

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

5/11/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Trillium erectum L. var. album Pursh

Trillium erectum L. var. flavum Torr.

 

Trillium erectum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Aug 2021.

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Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

5/11/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

5/11/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

4/30/2013 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (16 × 23 cm)

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

5/11/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

6/18/1979 · Maine

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

5/11/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

4/30/2013 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (29 × 19 cm)

Trillium erectum (red trillium, purple trillium, stinking Benjamin)

5/11/2020 · Maquoit Bay Conservation Land, Brunswick, Maine

Range:

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