Tennessee trillium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tennessee trillium |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Trillium
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| Species: |
tennesseense
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The Tennessee trillium (Trillium tennesseense) is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the Melanthiaceae family. This plant is very rare. You can only find it in two counties in northeastern Tennessee.
Because it grows in such a small area, the Tennessee trillium is considered a critically imperiled species. This means it is in great danger of disappearing forever. The state of Tennessee officially lists it as an endangered plant.
What Makes the Tennessee Trillium Special?
The Tennessee trillium is part of a group called T. subg. Sessilium. These are trilliums where the flower sits directly on the leaves without a stalk.
How It Looks and Smells
This plant looks a lot like another trillium called the T. oostingii. However, there are some key differences. For example, the Tennessee trillium has parts inside its flower called filaments that are almost as long as its ovary. In the Wateree trillium, these filaments are much shorter.
The Tennessee trillium's ovary is also smaller, usually 2 to 4 millimeters long. Its stigma lobes, which are part of the flower that collects pollen, are longer than the ovary.
When the Tennessee trillium is fully blooming, its flower gives off a unique smell. People say it smells a bit like old-fashioned shoe polish!
Its Name
The scientific name for this plant is Trillium tennesseense. It was named by E.E.Schill. & Floden in 2013. Some scientists think that Trillium tennesseense might actually be the same plant as Trillium lancifolium.
