The delicate purple trillium is often called Wake-robin, or Stinking Benjamin. It looks pretty but the flowers have the smell of rotting meat, as they are pollenated by flies. Clever!
Thursday 1 May 2008
Trillium
Now that the snow has gone, one of the first spring wildflowers to bloom in the woodlands is the Trillium. White flowers are the most common. A white trillium is the Provincial Flower of Ontario.
The delicate purple trillium is often called Wake-robin, or Stinking Benjamin. It looks pretty but the flowers have the smell of rotting meat, as they are pollenated by flies. Clever!
The delicate purple trillium is often called Wake-robin, or Stinking Benjamin. It looks pretty but the flowers have the smell of rotting meat, as they are pollenated by flies. Clever!
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How pretty....they don't appear in our desert:)
ReplyDeleteLovely shot, ex-S!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourites!
ReplyDeleteHow pretty, but I guess it's best not to get too close!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen these before, I would probably remember considering thier fragrance! But they are really pretty nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteI know a place where these grow, we usually see lots of the white ones, these not as often.
ReplyDeletePretty shade aren't they?
xx
Well, I have my first dandelion so there.
ReplyDeletePhew..that doesn't sound inviting....really pretty flower though.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I saw Trillium in your blog I had to look them up but none of the pictures were as beautiful as yours. How could somethings so beautiful stink? Nature does have a sense of humor!
ReplyDeletevery beautiful capture. thanks for your visit and kind comment
ReplyDeleteOh this is a Beautiful flower! The only ones I have seen here in Virginia are the white ones, which you've seen me post.
ReplyDeleteI haven't noticed any particular "stinkiness" with them, though.
Happy Friday!