Photographed in the Honeymoon Bay Ecological Reserve ten days ago, this trillium was one of many which dotted the area. Rarely growing in clumps, the plants were instead often growing as individual plants here and there - perhaps a result of the way their seeds are dispersed.
According to the authors of Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, seeds of the western trillium are dispersed by ants. Oil-rich appendages on the seeds are attractive as a food source, so the seeds are taken back to the colony and the appendages are eaten by the adult ants or fed to the larvae. The seeds are then tossed in the ant colony's rubbish pile, which may result in the seed being “planted” a considerable distance away from the parent.
There are (more or less) 43 species of Trillium recognized by scientists - 38 of these occur in North America.
And
I thought that trillium was Ontario's emblem plant or flower.
Ants? we have every spring here in Goulais Bay an infestation of flying or winged ants which are huge but harmless as they wont bite. So now I'll expect a good crop of Trilliums.
I saw a four-leaved Trillium parviflorum in Pierce County, WA, last week. A freakish treat!