Foreword

The transfixing beauty of Trillium belies their structural simplicity. These ephemeral woodland wildflowers, composed of three petals and three bracts, possess unique charm that has beguiled naturalists, collectors, and gardeners for generations. Encountered in the wild, Trillium catch the eye and imbue their habitat with an air of specialness, as if you have stumbled into a magical forest. Trillium also possess medicinal value, as an astringent and uterine stimulant, giving rise to the common name ‘birthwort.’ Under pressure from habitat loss, White-tailed Deer browse, climate change, and plundering, many Trillium are becoming less prevalent in the wild.

And so it is with many plants of medicinal value. The Medicinal Plant Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission estimates that there are around 2,000 plant species native to North America that are used medicinally. The Medicinal Plant Specialist Group is charged with filling information gaps to accurately assess the conservation status of these species, identify habitats critical to their survival, and recommend management strategies to improve their prospects for the long-term.

Convened under the auspices of the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group and the North American Plant Red List Authority of IUCN, this project brought together the botanical expertise of many of North America’s foremost Trillium researchers. Partner organizations including the New Mexico BioPark Society, NatureServe, and Mt. Cuba Center, made this collaboration possible. Clay Meredith, Species Survival Officer for Plants, at New Mexico BioPark Society organized the conservation status assessments, the results of which inform this overall assessment of Trillium. A weeklong workshop at Mt. Cuba Center leveraged the field knowledge and analytical proficiency of fifteen North American plant scientists to review the findings and bring this assessment to fruition.

Given the uncertain and evolving conservation status of several Trillium species, this assessment is critical and timely. The results provide up-to-date information to guide the efforts of ecologists and restoration professionals, and to better understand the gaps in our understanding that remain to be investigated. This survey highlights the importance of ongoing fieldwork on North American medicinal plants and reaffirms the urgency of efforts to ensure their safe keeping. Thanks to all those who helped in this important effort.

Jeff Downing Executive Director Mt. Cuba Center