Trillium rugelii Rendle

Southern Nodding Trillium; Ill Scented Wakerobin

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Southern Nodding Trillium is a native herbaceous perennial in the Trillium family (Trilliaceae). It occurs primarily in eastern and northern Alabama. Southern Nodding Trillium grows in rich hardwood forests, along streams, and in rocky woods. It is a perennial from a short, thick rhizome. Each rhizome usually produces a single stem topped by three bracts (leaves). Stems are from 6-18 inches in height. The bracts are green, petiolate, rhombic in outline, glabrous, and entire. Each mature plant produces a single flower. Southern Nodding Trillium is a member of the pedicellate group of Trilliums. These Trilliums have flowers on a short stalk (the pedicel). The flowers of Southern Nodding Trillium are strongly nodding below the bracts. Each flower has three spreading green sepals, three recurved white (rarely rose or purple) petals, and six reddish or white stamens. The fruit is a pulpy maroon capsule with several seed. When mature the seed in brown in color with a white elaiosome. Southern Nodding Trillium is listed as an S2 species in Alabama (typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G3 species (imperiled globally because of rarity or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors). Southern Nodding Trillium is sometimes available from wildflower nurseries. Only purchase plants from nurseries who have grown them and not those selling wild collected plants. Southern Nodding Trillium prefers a moist to mesic organic rich soil in partial to full shade. Plants can be naturalized in a woodland or planted in beds under hardwoods.—A. Diamond

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Native S2? (State Rank) G3 (Global Rank)

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