Pseudotrillium
Encyclopedia
Pseudotrillium is a proposed monotypic genus of flowering plants containing the single species Pseudotrillium rivale, which is known by the common name brook wakerobin. The genus was proposed in 2002 on the basis of morphology
and molecular evidence
that suggest the plant should no longer be included in genus Trillium
.
This species is endemic to the Siskiyou Mountains
of southern Oregon
and northern California
, usually on soils of ultramafic origin, such as serpentine
.
Pseudotrillium is a rhizomatous
perennial growing up to 20 centimeters in height. The three bract
s have generally lance-shaped blades up to 11 centimeters long borne on petioles
. The blades are glossy blue-green with silvery venations. Atop the whorl of bracts is a single nodding non-fragrant flower with green sepal
s and pink-blushed white petals up to 3 centimeters long by 2 wide.
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
and molecular evidence
Genetic analysis
Genetic analysis can be used generally to describe methods both used in and resulting from the sciences of genetics and molecular biology, or to applications resulting from this research....
that suggest the plant should no longer be included in genus Trillium
Trillium
Trillium is a genus of about 40–50 species of spring ephemeral perennials, native to temperate regions of North America and Asia....
.
This species is endemic to the Siskiyou Mountains
Siskiyou Mountains
The Siskiyou Mountains are a coastal mountain range in the northern Klamath Mountains in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon in the United States. They extend in an arc for approximately from east of Crescent City, California northeast along the north side of the Klamath River into...
of southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, usually on soils of ultramafic origin, such as serpentine
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
.
Pseudotrillium is a rhizomatous
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
perennial growing up to 20 centimeters in height. The three bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s have generally lance-shaped blades up to 11 centimeters long borne on petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. The blades are glossy blue-green with silvery venations. Atop the whorl of bracts is a single nodding non-fragrant flower with green sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s and pink-blushed white petals up to 3 centimeters long by 2 wide.