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Large-flowered trillium's single flower sits on a 1-3" long flower stalk; the flower is 3-4" across and leans to one side (but doesn't droop). The flower consists of three green, lance-shaped sepals with rounded bases, three white (pinkish in older flowers) petals with wavy edges, six stamens with golden yellow anthers, a central white ovary, and three styles fused basally but with separated, dull-yellow stigmas. The fruit is a six-angled, globose capsule, about 1/2" long, that is initially green but darkens as it matures; it splits open to release the seeds. The seeds carry an attached oily, fleshy food reward (an elaiosome) and are dispersed by ants which inadvertently deposit the seeds in their nests to take advantage of the reward. Large-flowered trillium prefers shady environments like woodlands and is slow to mature — it can take several years for a sprout to produce flowers.

Trillium

Trillium grandiflorum

large-flowered trillium [Blooms: Apr-May]

The apical flowers of prairie trillium have three green sepals that are reflexed so they point down, three maroon petals, six maroon stamens with dark purple anthers incurved toward the center of the flower, and three purple styles with divergent stigmas hidden from view by the stamens. The fruit is a green, six-angled, ovoid berry 1" long; the seeds have an oily food appendage (an elaiosome) that encourages ants to carry them away. Despite the name, prairie trillium does not occur on prairies; it is a shade-loving, woodland plant like the other local trillium, large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum). Prairie trillium is superficially similar to toadshade (Trillium sessile), but in toadshade the sepals are spread (perpendicular to the stalk), not recurved (parallel to the stalk, pointed down). In addition, the leaves of toadshade are sessile (no petiole) and rarely have the troutlily-like mottling on the leaves that is seen on prairie trillium. The stamens of toadshade are yellow, not maroon. Toadshade does occur in Illinois, but it is less common, and I have yet to see it in Jackson Park.

Trillium

Trillium recurvatum

prairie trillium [Blooms: Apr-May]