Native Talk Tuesday #6

The plant featured in today's Native Talk Tuesday is Trillium ovatum, commonly known as Western Trillium. This flower is easily identified due to the three uniquely-shaped leaves (sometimes there are up to five leaves). In Spring, the flower's three petals start out white and change to a pinkish purple before withering away.

This Western Trillium was found in Silver Falls State Park on 4/27/2013.

The Western Trillium is often found in moist environments such as streambanks and the temperate rainforest of Oregon, Washington, and southern Vancouver Island. Occurring at low to middle elevations, it is quite common in the Willamette Valley in moist, shaded areas such as state parks. Depending on elevation, sunlight, temperature, and latitude (how far north you are), the Western Trillium blooms from March to May. Nicknamed the 'Wake-robin' due to the fact it blooms at the same time the Robin appear or 'wake up' from Winter.

These two white-flowered Western Trillium were also found at Silver Falls State Park on 4/27/2013.

The Western Trillium below were found at Mary S. Young State Park on 4/24/2013; I think they might have been planted there.