CDC Logo

BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary


Trillium ovatum var. ovatum
western trillium

 
Scientific Name: Trillium ovatum var. ovatum
English Name: western trillium
 
Classification / Taxonomy
Scientific Name - Concept Reference: NatureServe. Unpublished. Concept reference for taxa for which no reference which describes the circumscription has been recorded; to be used as a placeholder until such a citation is identified.
Classification Level: Variety
Taxonomy Comments: This circumscription is used in this strict sense of var. ovatum following a publication that is underway by E. Schilling and A. Floden (pers. comm. Floden 2019). This research is underpinned by molecular evidence that separates former concepts of T. ovatum used by Kartesz 1999, Flora North America (2002), and Case and Case (1997) into several taxa resulting in: T. scouleri, T. crassifolium, and T. oettingeri. T. scouleri and T. crassifolium are resurrections from earlier treatments.
Species Group: Vascular Plant
Species Code: TRILOVA3
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Plantae Anthophyta Monocotyledoneae Liliales Melanthiaceae
   
Conservation Status / Legal Designation
Global Status: G5T5 (Nov 2019)
Provincial Status: S5 (Apr 2019)
BC List: Yellow
Provincial FRPA list:   
Provincial Wildlife Act:
COSEWIC Status:
SARA Schedule:
General Status Canada:
   
Ecology & Life History
General Description:
Technical Description:
Similar Species:
Global Reproduction Comments: Trillium seeds have an elaiosome, an oily, lipid-rich attachment that is highly attractive to ants. The ants carry the seeds to their nest, eat the attachment, and leave the seeds in tunnels in their nests (FNA 2002a, Leege et al. 2010). The seeds later germinate en masse (Case and Case 1997). Yellow jackets (Vespula spp.) and other wasps are similarly attracted to the elaiosome. Yellow jackets are documented seed dispersers for three species (T. catesbaei, T. cuneatum, T. undulatum) (Zettler et al. 2001). Ants carry the seeds an average of about 1m whereas yellow jackets disperse seeds an average of 1.4m (Chafin 2010, Zettler et al. 2001). Long distance dispersers include mammals, such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and woodchucks (Marmota monax) (Chafin 2010, Vellend et al. 2006). Similarly, it is suspected that elk (Cervus canadensis) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) of the western U.S.A. are capable of dispersing seeds over long distances (Bartuszevige and Endress 2008).

All Trillium have rhizomes but the frequency of asexually reproduction varies (Chauhan et al. 2019, FNA 2002a, Ohara 1989).

Trillium seeds exhibit a somewhat unique kind of dormancy called deep simple double morphophysiological dormancy, meaning they require two winters and one summer to complete dormancy break. After dispersal, roots (radicles) emerge in the first spring and leaves (epicotyls) begin growing in the second spring. The result is that Trillium seeds are generally about 1.5-2 years before they are non-dormant. If root emergence does not occur during the first spring, the next opportunity for root emergence would be the third spring and epicotyl emergence would occur during the fourth spring after dispersal (Walck et al. 2005). Age to maturity, or flowering, is variable and has been recorded from 4 to 20 years depending on growing conditions (Case and Case 1997).
Habitats:
(Type / Subtype / Dependence)
Provincial Phenology:
(1st half of month/
2nd half of month)
Elevation (m) (min / max): Provincial: 
Known Pests:
Pollen Vector: BIOTIC
Pollinator:
Dispersal: BIOTIC
Insects/inverts
Mammals
   
 
Provincial Inventory
Inventory Priority:
Ownership of occurrences (Known locations):
Inventory Need:
 
Economic Attributes
Global Economic Use: Cosmetics/personal hygiene
Cultivated ornamental
MEDICINE/DRUG
OTHER USES/PRODUCTS
Revegetation
Global Economic Comments: The large showy flowers, interesting leaf mottling and arrangement, shade tolerance, and good winter and summer hardiness make most Trillium species popular among gardening enthusiasts. While some wild collection may occur, its effects are not well documented. Methods for propagating various Trillium species are available but may be difficult to supply a large demand (Case and Case 1997; Klest 2002). Not only is the species admired in the garden, it is a highlight of many spring wildflower trails and sites.

Trillium erectum and other Trillium species including Trillium grandiflorum, are used medicinally in various ways. For example, the whole plant is used in a poultice or the root in tea to treat a wide variety of ailments. Trillium is used as an ingredient in mixed herbal supplements. Native Americans used a root tea to facilitate child birth, regulate menstrual cycles, and to alleviate other menstrual problems, imparting its name Birth Root or Beth Root (Lewis and Elvin-Lewis 1977). While T. erectum, or T. grandiflorum are commonly targeted, it appears any Trillium species could be harvested from the wild for medicinal use.

More than 40 secondary metabolites have been identified in Trillium that may have pharmacological applications for treating disease and inflammation, which may lead to future therapeutic and drug use (Chauhan et al. 2019, Rahman et al. 2017). Phytochemicals present in the genus include steroids and steroidal saponins. Some research indicates there may be cytotoxicity in T. erectum effective against cancer cell lines. Other compounds showed anti-fungal properties (T. grandiflorum), antioxidants and COX-2 inhibitors (Rahman et al. 2017).

The leaves of Trillium species have been used as a pot herb. In Franklin County, Maine, the greens were called 'Much-Hunger', possibly suggesting eating Trillium leaves was a last resort (Fernald and Kinsey 1943).
 
Distribution
Endemic: N
Global Range Comment: Trillium ovatum var. ovatum occurs from Vancouver, British Columbia south to California (A. Floden, pers. comm., 2019).
Disjunct, more common elsewhere:
Peripheral, major distribution elsewhere:
 
Authors / Contributors
Global Information Author:
Last Updated:
Provincial Information Author:
Last Updated:
Last Literature Search:
   
References and Related Literature
Bartuszevige, A.M., and B.A. Endress. 2008. Do ungulates facilitate native and exotic plant spread? Seed dispersal by cattle, elk and deer in northeastern Oregon. Journal of Arid Environments 72: 904-913.
Chafin, L. G. 2010d. Species account for Trillium persistens for Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Online. Available: georgiawildlife.com/sites/default/files/uploads/wildlife/nongame/pdf/accounts/plants/trillium_persistens.pdf.
Chauhan, H., A. Bisht, I. Bhatt, A. Bhatt, and D. Gallacher. 2019. Trillium - toward sustainable utilization of a biologically distinct genus valued for traditional medicine. The Botanical Review 85(3): 252-272.
Fernald, M.L., and A.C. Kinsey. 1943. Edible Wild Plants of Eastern North America. Idlewild Press, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY. xiv+452 pp.
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 26. Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvi + 723 pp.
Klest, S.M. 2002. Propagation Protocol for Western Trilliums. Native Plants Journal 3(1):22-23.
Leege, L. M., J. S. Thompson, D.J. Parris. 2010. The Responses of Rare and Common Trilliums (Trillium reliquum, T. cuneatum, and T. maculatum) to Deer Herbivory and Invasive Honeysuckle Removal. Castanea 75(4): 433-443.
Lewis, Walter H., and Memory P.F. Elvin-Lewis. 1977. Medical Botany: Plants Affecting Man's Health. John Wiley and Sons, New York, New York. 515 p.
Ohara, M. 1989. Life history evolution in the genus Trillium. Plant Species Biology 4:1-28.
Rahman, S., M. Ismail, M. Khurram, I. Ullah, F. Rabbi, and M. Iriti. 2017. Bioactive steroids and saponins of the genus Trillium. Molecules 22(12): 2156.
Trillium workshop group. 2019. , L. L. Gaddy, A. Floden, A. Frances, A. Highland, D. Leaman, T. Littlefield, C. Meredith, S. O'Bryan, L. Oliver, E. Schilling, A. Schotz, A. Walker, K. Wayman. Status assessment workshop at Mt. Cuba Center, Oct. 21-23, 2019.
Vellend, M., J. Myers, S. Gardescu, and P. Marks. 2003. Dispersal of Trillium seeds by deer: Implications for long-distance migration of forest herbs. Ecology 84(4):1067-1072.
Walck, J.L., J.M. Baskin, C.C. Baskin, and S.N. Hidayati. Defining transient and persistent seed banks in species with pronounced seasonal dormancy and germination patterns. Seed Science Research 15: 189-196. DOI: 10.1079/SSR2005209
Zettler, J. A., T. P. Spira, and A. A. Craig. 2001. Yellow Jackets (Vespula spp.) Disperse Trillium (spp.) Seeds in Eastern North America. American Midland Naturalist 146(2):444-446.
 

Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.

Suggested Citation:

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. Species Summary: Trillium ovatum var. ovatum. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jul 5, 2024).