Hunting up a Dwarf

Dwarf Trillium

Todays adventure takes us to the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland where I am on the hunt for one of the areas prettiest wildflowers, the Dwarf Trillium (Trillium pusillum Michaux var. virginianum Fernald).

Trilliums are among wildflower enthusiasts’ favorite plants. These strikingly beautiful plants are quite diversite with approximately 50 species worldwide. Trilliums are found in the eastern United States, western United States and eastern China. If you took a trip south into the southern Appalachian Mountains you’d head into the center of diversity of the genus where more than 20 species can be found.  These plants are so unique they are sometimes placed in their own family of plants, the Trillium Family (Trilliaceae).

Here in Maryland we get 9 native species of Trillium. Of these 9 species, only one is found exclusively on the Coastal Plain physiographic province, the Dwarf Trillium. Where I’m located, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, our forests aren’t very “rich”. Rich is a short hand term for nutrient richness. Often the richer the site, the more diverse the plants. Here on the Eastern Shore our forests are generally acidic and relatively nutrient poor. Because of this we don’t get as many beautiful spring wildflower displays as you find from the Piedmont physiographic province west. I say ‘as many beautiful spring wildflower displays’ because we do get some small pockets of wildflowers here on the coast. These are unusual habitats on the coast are referred to as “Rich Woods”. The only other species of Trillium found on the Eastern Shore of Maryland is the White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum (Michaux) Salisb.). This is found at a single Rich Woods in Cecil County, MD. 

The Dwarf Trillium is a protected species in Maryland with fewer than 25 populations known, all of which are in Worcester County.  The rarity of the Dwarf Trillium in the United States is under investigation. Research suggests the plants that are found here on the Delmarva and in tidewater Virginia are a distinct species from what is being called var. pussilium. If this is true, the Dwarf Trillium is a much rarer plant globally that is currently believed. So rare in fact that it may qualify for Federal Listing.

The plants I photographed and inventoried today were in great display. The population consisted of hundreds of plants over a small few acre area. Though there were hundreds of plants I only saw about 20 in flower. The flowers are about 2-3 inches wide and range from white to pink/purple.

The life history of these plants is quite fascinating. Spotting a Dwarf Trillium in flower is pretty easy given the showy the flower. Most of the time however these plants don’t flower and are only detectable by their leaves. Young Dwarf Trilliums put up a single round leaf. Older individuals, who presumable have accumulated more energy over their lives, put up plants with three elliptic leaves. Only individuals who have stored enough energy produce a single small flower will do so. In the picture to the right you can see a single flowered plant, three leaved flowerless plants, and three leaved flowering plants.

This is among the earliest wildflowers you will find on the Eastern Shore. I saw the plants I photographed here in mid-April. By late April they are done flowering and are producing fruits. By late June the plants have died back and there is no evidence of them whatsoever.