Toadshade Trillium is a distinctive spring ephemeral with dark reddish-maroon flowers that sit directly on mottled, unstemmed leaves. Found in rich deciduous woodlands from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic, it is one of the most common sessile (stemless) trilliums. The flowers emit a musty odor to attract flies and beetles as pollinators. The beautifully mottled leaves — marbled in shades of green, silver, and dark green — are attractive even out of bloom.
Habitat
Found in rich, moist bottomland and upland deciduous forests in the central and eastern United States.
Diet
Pollinated by carrion flies and beetles; seeds dispersed by ants.
How common
Common
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