The flower is nodding and lily like in its general character; formed of 6 long taper-pointed petal-like calyx-parts. A ridge runs down the middle of each of the 3 inner parts. The flower is yellow; dark reddish on the outside of the outer divisions, and spotted with minute reddish dots on the inside of the inner divisions. The 6 stamens are large and yellow, and the pale greenish-yellow pistil is club-shaped, with 3 grooves. The flower-stem is round, smooth, and pale; it grows from between the two leaves.
In the sun the flower opens wide, its three outer divisions rolling back, and exhales a fragrant smell like that of new lilac shoots; the markings on the leaves are richer in color when the plant grows in more shaded places. It is a communistic plant, and exceeding capricious in withholding its bloom when transplanted.
ADDER’S-TONGUE: Erythronium Americanum.
| Red Trillium. | Trillium erectum. |
| Purple Trillium. | |
| Red Benjamin. | |
| Bumble-bee-root. | |
| Squaw-root. | |
| Wake Robin. |
Found in the shade of damp woods, in May.
The simple stalk, varying from 6 to 12 inches in height, bears a whorl of leaves on its summit (from which springs the flower); it is large, round, juicy and smooth, and a deep or purplish-red color at the foot, but light green near the top.
The large and handsome leaf is a diamond shape, of about equal width and length, pointed at both ends; its ribs and veins form a stout and important framework, the margin is entire, texture loose, and the surface is shining underneath though not above; the color is a full green, tinged with pink at the base. Three leaves are set in a whorl.
The flower also is rather large; its 3 long oval petals are thin and close in texture, and colored a rich deep maroon-red, the underside inclining to purple, with parallel veins marked with a darker color. The calyx is 3-parted, the divisions shorter and more pointed than the petals; of a green color, edged and veined with red. The petals and calyx-parts spread alternately around the base of the prominent, 3-parted, conical, dark crimson pistil, and the 6 erect stamens, with their pale yellow or white tips. The single flower, on a square or round stem, springs from the whorl of leaves.
Though not strong in odor, its quality is rather rank. The flower-stem usually inclines to one side. When the plant first rises from the ground the leaves are close folded about the sharply-conical flower bud. White or greenish flowers are sometimes found instead of deep red.