Trillium tennesseense, the Tennessee trillium,[3] is a
species of
flowering plant in the
familyMelanthiaceae. It is found exclusively within two counties in northeastern
Tennessee.[4] Due to its limited range, it is designated as a critically imperiled species.
Description
Trillium tennesseense most resembles
T. oostingii but the two species differ with respect to several features. In particular, T. tennesseense has filaments nearly equal in length to its ovary (vs. less than half the length), a shorter ovary (2–4 mm vs. 6–16 mm), and stigma lobes distinctly longer than the ovary (vs. equal to the ovary length).[5] When the plant is in full bloom, the flower emits a smell reminiscent of old-fashioned shoe polish.[6]
Taxonomy
Trillium tennesseense was first described and named by Edward E. Schilling and Aaron J. Floden in 2013.[2] As of March 2023[update], some authorities recognize the name Trillium tennesseenseE.E.Schill. & Floden,[1][7][8] but others regard it as a synonym for Trillium lancifoliumRaf..[9][10] Both species are members of the sessile-flowered trilliums (
Trillium subgen. Sessilia), a group of species typified by Trillium sessile.[11]
Conservation
The global conservation status of Trillium tennesseense is Critically Imperiled (G1).[1] The State of Tennessee lists the species as endangered.[7]
The IUCN Red List considers Trillium tennesseense to be a synonym of Trillium lancifolium.[12] However,
based on IUCN criteria, Trillium tennesseense is Critically Endangered (CR).[13]
^"Trillium tennesseense". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
^USDA, NRCS (n.d.).
"Trillium lancifolium". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
Meredith, Clayton; Frances, Anne; Highland, Amy; Oliver, Leah; Floden, Aaron; Gaddy, L.L.; Knapp, Wesley; Leaman, Danna; Leopold, Susan; Littlefield, Tara; Raguso, Robert; Schilling, Edward; Schotz, Alfred; Walker, Anna; Wayman, Kjirsten (2022).
The Conservation Status of Trillium in North America. Hockessin, DE and Albuquerque, NM: Mt. Cuba Center, and New Mexico BioPark Society.
ISBN979-8-9850471-0-3. Retrieved 19 March 2023.