noun
trillium
TRIL-ee-um/ˈtrɪliəm/
A woodland plant with three leaves and three-petaled flowers.
A white trillium blooms beside the shaded woodland trail.
Etymology
The Latin plant name was formed from tri-, “three,” for its numerical symmetry. The name points to the repeated pattern of three leaves and flower parts arranged in threes.
In context
the trillium is the provincial flower of ontario
More examples
- Trilliums grow beneath the trees in our shade garden.
- Each trillium flower has three petals.
- We spotted a red trillium during our spring hike.
Forms
trillium · trilliums
Similar words
- wake-robin
- A common name for trillium, especially red-flowered kinds.