Trillium undulatum

Willd.

Painted trillium

Melanthiaceae Edible: Leaves 21,667 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Trillium undulatum, commonly called painted trillium, painted lady (not to be confused with the painted lady butterfly), or trille ondulé in French, is a species of flowering plant in the bunchflower family Melanthiaceae. It is also known as smiling wake robin or striped wake-robin. The specific epithet undulatum means "wavy", which refers to the wavy edges of the flower petals. The plant is found from Ontario in the north to northern Georgia in the south and from Michigan in the west to Nova Scotia in the east.

Description

A bulb plant. It grows 40 cm high. The leaves are 10 cm long. The petals have wavy edges.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The young unfolding leaves are best cooked and make a good potherb.

Traditional Uses

The young unfolded leaves are used as a potherb. They are boiled in salt water for 10 minutes then served with butter and vinegar. They can be added to vegetable soups.

Medicinal Uses

The flowers, sepals, and leaves have been eaten to accelerate the delivery of a child.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Canada, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Prefers a deep well-drained woodland or humus-rich soil in a somewhat shady position that remains moist in the summer. Prefers a neutral to slightly acid soil. This species is often found in quite acid soils, seldom in alkaline soils. Grows well in open woodland. Succeeds in deep shade. Succeeds in a sunny position if the soil does not dry out. Any transplanting is best done whilst the plants are in flower. Plants can flower in two years from seed. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits, though slugs are very fond of the leaves.

Propagation

Seed is best sown in a shaded cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed should be sown in late winter or early spring. Germination typically occurs within 1–3 months at 15°c, though one account notes that seeds produce a root after the first cold stratification but no shoot until after a second winter, and another reports germination can take up to 3 years. Seedlings are prone to damping off and must be watered carefully with plenty of fresh air. Overwinter young plants in a cold frame for their first year, then plant out in late spring. Pots must not become too dry or too wet. Divide carefully when plants die down after flowering. Larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions; smaller divisions are best potted up and grown on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until well established, then planted out the following spring.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Notes

There are about 46 Trillium species. Also put in the family Trilliaceae.

References (5)

Crowhurst,
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 242
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 878
Morley, B. & Everard, B., 1970, Wild Flowers of the World. Ebury press. Plate 167
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/