Reproduction
Trillium seeds have an elaiosome, an oily, lipid-rich attachment that is highly attractive to ants. The ants carry the seeds to their nest, eat the attachment, and leave the seeds in tunnels in their nests (FNA 2002a, Leege et al. 2010). The seeds later germinate en masse (Case and Case 1997). Yellow jackets (Vespula spp.) and other wasps are similarly attracted to the elaiosome. Yellow jackets are documented seed dispersers for three species (T. catesbaei, T. cuneatum, T. undulatum) (Zettler et al. 2001). Ants carry the seeds an average of about 1m whereas yellow jackets disperse seeds an average of 1.4m (Chafin 2010, Zettler et al. 2001). Long distance dispersers include mammals, such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and woodchucks (Marmota monax) (Chafin 2010, Vellend et al. 2006). Similarly, it is suspected that elk (Cervus canadensis) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) of the western U.S.A. are capable of dispersing seeds over long distances (Bartuszevige and Endress 2008).
All Trillium have rhizomes but the frequency of asexually reproduction varies (Chauhan et al. 2019, FNA 2002a, Ohara 1989).
Age to maturity, or flowering, is variable and has been recorded from 4 to 20 years depending on growing conditions (Case and Case 1997).