Hybrid Trilliums 2023

Above: Hybrid trillium sulcatum in Campbell Co. TN

 Hybrid Trilliums 2023

Dana Koogler 

Hybrid Trillium Gallery Here 

  My original plan was to visit multiple hybrid trillium locations with various persons.  I wanted to hit up Gobey and Primroy with my girlfriends and with Kenny.   I wanted to visit Holston Mountain with Larry Jarrett and Betsy Lee.  I wanted to get up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to check a couple spots on a family camping trip to Brevard.   I realized after awhile that despite my wishes and plans very few if any of those things was going to happen.  I was going to have to settle for what I could get done this year.   I went ahead with the Gobey/Primroy trip since that was paid for in advance.    I had modified the trip significantly by shortening it and adding in days where the kids were with me both out there and at home. 

       I am tempted not to write up anything since I do not feel I came up with much material, but I will go ahead.  I did learn some new things this year. Not a lot, but some.  I saw some glorious colored hybrids totally new to me.  The up side is I have wonderful friends who are so understanding of life and my circumstances.  The other silver lining is having numerous good experiences to look forward to next Spring.    

        I decided since I wasn't going to get a lot of areas covered I would delve deeply into the ones I did visit.   I am not including every single photo I took.  I made no less than four visits to the patch at Gobey.  Lots of the photos were of a research nature.  Details that needed additional study.   Larger scale photos to take measurements and averages of patches.  How many red parents. How many white parents. How many hybrid offspring?   That sort of stuff doesn't interest most folks.      

     I will say that what I learned this year confirmed observations and lessons of past years!

I also learned from reviewing guidebooks as well as reminders from friends tools to identify species.  I was reminded that the same type trillium may exhibit regional differences!

         

    One interesting thing I observed at Gobey as well as Frozen Head was examples of hybrid sessile trilliums.  The ones that are "sessile" have the bloom attached directly to the stalk of the plant.   I read about this in  Trilliums by Fred and Roberta Case.   They cited specific examples of sweet betsy trillium hybridization and what to look for!  I found a couple examples of this.  
I also found examples of a new form never seen before by me.   It is a lovely hybrid shade I named Gobey Gold.   They truly are golden looking!  

Below: Gobey Gold Sweet Betsy hybrid trillium.  If you look closely (especially in full size photo) you can see the edges of the petals are rimmed in maroon.   Thus the parents of it are the typical maroon Sweet Betsy and the yellow trillium luteum.   This one was spotted at Gobey I believe it was in the forest across from where I camped. 

Below: another example of Gobey Gold hybrid found at Frozen Head in the higher elevations. It is not quite as lustrous.  It doesn't have the maroon edging.  I would say this is probably a cross between Trillium luteum and maroon, but it may also be a bronze Sweet Betsy parent.  

Below: Same trillium as above, but I have circled an area of damage I just noticed. Something has eaten a hole in the base of the bloom! 

Below: typical yellow Trillium luteum parent

Below: Typical maroon Sweet Betsy parent

Another example of hybrid sessile trillium is this one shown below.  

It is the offspring of a maroon parent and probably a green trillium.  

Below: a similar though paler hybrid of this type. Both of these were observed near one another at Gobey. 

Below: Green trillium parent as an example.  See above photo for maroon trillium parent. 

Below: hybrid sweet betsy trillium at Devonia.  You can see all the trash and old tires that were found lying about.  Though this resembles "Gobey Gold" I am unsure if it is actually the same.  It has a much more orange tint.  

   Sessile varieties of trillium are a bit less likely to hybridize. I had only seen it a couple times before this year.  I think finding four examples in one bloom season is pretty good!

      

    During the four deep dives I took into the Gobey hybrid trillium patch I found evidence that leads me to believe that they are primarily Trillium sulcatum. They are hybrids formed between various colors of Trillium sulcatum parents.  Yet some of these look like Trillium flexatum. A cross between Trillium flexipes and Trillium sulcatum. The sepals are bent forward, but not canoe shaped.    Below is an example of Trillium flexatum.  These show the white form of the flexipes parent, the forward bending bloom and the non canoe shaped sepals.   Yet the petals on them both.. one slightly more than the other... are recurved!   The one on the left really makes it easy to see the Candle Snuffer shape of the flexipes parent. 

  Below is an example of a non hybrid Southern Red Trillium sulcatum parent. 

Note the recurved petals, canoe shaped sepals and the bloom is not bent forward on its pedicle. Another name for this trillium variety is Furrowed wake robin because a closer look at the petals shows the deep grooves of veins running through them. 

Below is a non hybrid Trillium sulcatum parent.  The white form 

Below is an example of a true Trillium sulcatum hybrid. It has a red and a white T. sulcatum parent. It is a pink intermediate.  

   A study done in Florida on hybridization of flowering plants put forth the hypothesis that a hybridization between two flowering parents like for example a red and a white trillium pair.. you would expect the offspring to be an intermediate between the two.  Like the pink flower shown below.   

Exhibiting some of the characteristics of both parent plants.  Yet this is not what they found! It does happen, but the initial hybridization between two different parents and the formation of the F1 hybrid causes "transcriptomic shock".  It more or less resets the master switch on the messenger RNA.  It flips all the switches for gene expression to the ON position.   You never know what you'll get in F2.. the next generation of hybrids.  It can take as long as eighty years to stabilize the forms of these hybrids. 

  I  also learned about the mechanisms in the DNA and reproduction that prevent "reverse gene flow" meaning a hybrid offspring trillium cannot reproduce with its parent species.  It can only reproduce with others of its kind.   So when you see a swarm of hybrids forming at least two of them were the originals and then they begin making more of their own kind.   This way you get a slightly better chance of having a reliable color pattern.   The mechanisms in nature to help prevent hybrid offspring from reproducing with parent plants or others of that species include minute changes in the bloom time, scent, shape of the bloom, height of the plant.  This means that if the new flower blooms at a different time than others of its parent species it won't cross pollinate back.  The new hybrid may smell different thus attracting another sort of pollinator.   The shape of the bloom and the configuration of the reproductive parts might lend itself to being pollinated by a hummingbird or a butterfly or where only ants can reach it.   All these features can be exhibited, but over time natural selection will keep those which are found to be advantageous and eliminate those features that serve no purpose.  Even something like color pattern can attract different pollinators.  

Below is a photo of a grouping at Primroy from that hybrid patch.  I took a close look at this image blown up.  I count 9 white pure Trillium sulcatum parents. I count six pink hybrid trillium sulcatum offspring.  The  pinks are likely reproducing more of their kind.  If I understand correctly once the hybridization takes place the new babies cannot reproduce with the parent plants via cross pollination.  Two of these pinks are the original hybrid offspring making more of their own kind!

Here the results seem to show the hypothesis of the intermediate forms between red/white parents giving you a pink new hybrid.  

Below is one of the all time prettiest hybrid Trillium sulcatum I have ever seen.  It seems to be an example of the Transcriptomic shock idea.   I saw two of these in total.  They are probably the first two of their kind. I sincerely hope they make more of their own variety as it is stunning!   It could be a cross between the cream or yellow form I saw on this slope mixed with the red parent or a pink hybrid.    This must surely be an example of all the gene expression switches being flipped to ON. 

Below is another pretty example of transcriptomic shock.  Lavender hybrid trillium sulcatum at Primroy.  

Below is a grouping I found fascinating.  These exhibit characteristics of both T. grandiflorum and T. sulcatum . I did not see any T. grandiflorum in the immediate area, but about a mile away as the crow flies is a nice population of them.   They could have cross pollinated these forming the hybrids you see. I wouldn't know what to call them.   It may also be an extreme example of transcriptomic shock.  I have never seen this upright, vase position of the bloom before in a hybrid.  

Below are two photos of a pink and a white Trillium grandiflorum that demonstrate the vase/upright form of the bloom that make me think the above trilliums could be hybridized with T.grandiflorum and T. sulcatum The two shown below are from the population exactly 1 mile away at Anderson Road.  

      

Different Pollinator Possibilities Shown Below

Above:  I saw ants pollinating these flowers.  This is one photo as an example. 

Below:   This is some sort of fly pollinator

Below: I saw spider webs on this grouping making me wonder if spiders could be the pollinator for them? 

Below: This flower was being pollinated by a small beetle.

 

Damaged Trilliums

  Other interesting finds I spotted during this trip were examples of  various kinds of damage.

Here are some examples. 

Below is an example of mechanical damage. No doubt this was grazed upon by an animal. Likely a deer.   This is a Trillium grandiflorum from the huge patch I saw on Gobey Mtn. 

Below is a Trillium luteum with thermal damage.  The cold snaps have burnt the leaves on it.  

Here is another type of weirdness in the trillium world.  

I spotted these two at Gobey near Anderson Road.    

If you look closely both trilliums are T. grandiflorum, but each has a little extra genetic material. They each have additional petals though they are very small.  If you weren't paying close attention you'd probably overlook it. 

Below are two more beauties I spotted on a second round check at Anderson Road. 

The white trillium at the top is Trillium grandiflorum cv. Snow Bunting. It is a man made or cultivated trillium and can be purchased in nurseries. It originated in New York.  I am not sure how it came to be here in Tennessee.  

Below:  This is Trillium grandiflorum cv. Snow bunting that has aged to pink. It is the first time I've run across this.  

Below is a trillium that has mycoplasma infection giving one of the petals a green stripe.   It is Trillium sulcatum. Cream form. 

Below is another example of extra genetic material or possibly mycoplasma infection of a trillium.  It has four leaves and NO flowering parts!  

Below: Another trillim near that one has five leaves and no flowering parts. All these were in close proximity so I believe they are all examples of mycoplasma infection damage. 

Below is a final example of mycoplasma infection of a Trillium sulcatum. It  has one of the sepals turned into a petal.  

Other Interesting Finds and Facts! 

Primroy 2022 Hybrids

Above are shown a trio of Trillum sulcatum with the center one having a fourth petal.

Below is the same group of trilliums 2023 with surprisingly the middle one having the normal three petals once more!  The height of them is a little different this bloom season, but it is indeed the same group.  This was a shock to me.  It was a lesson learned that backs up natural selection keeping forms that are beneficial while eliminating those serving no reproductive advantage. Apparently the energy expended to have a fourth petal and be taller was not advantageous! 

Fun Fact About Human Genetics and Advantages

  Scientists recently learned that on the human genome we have a gene that if switched on would permit people to regrow organs or body parts the same way lizards or lower creatures do.  The metabolic cost of it would be so high if switched on it would take decades off the human life span! 

It is worth mentioning that sometimes what you DON'T find is as important as what you do find.

I had ample time to locate the group of trilliums where I spotted a candy striped Trillium sulcatum hybrid in the past.   It was there, but it no longer produces the candy stripe pattern of pink and green.  It has been two or three years of checking and that is another example of "Well, let's not do this again because it wasn't worth it!" 

Photo of that trillium shown below.  Looking more closely it has spider web on it!  

Running the Numbers 

     I have run some figures on the percentages of parentage at Gobey and Primroy, but I am not going to bore everyone with that.      I will come back and add the averages for each place when I am finished. It is going to take a more methodical approach than I am willing to get into this minute.   I will edit this report when I am done and include the figures. At least then they will be present for my own use. 

         Misfit of Science and the Magpie 

  Part of why I do this is that I am a geeky scientist type.  Another reason is that I am like a magpie and am attracted by colorful, pretty, shiny things.   Most folks are not going to get the whole Misfit of Science theme, but almost everyone appreciates beauty and variety.  Instead of geeking out on the science and numbers and boring everyone to tears I will conclude this year's report with a few of my favorite finds from this year.

Above: a hybrid Trillium sulcatum which is cream with green furrows! The pistil and stamens are mauve. 

Above: You have to check the backs of the bloom carefully to notice some types of hybridization. I am thinking this is one of natures experiments to see if this is an effective or advantageous flower pattern. 

The back reveals it is a hybrid between the red and white forms of  T. sulcatum, but below a look at the front of the flower it looks totally normal and typical in coloration!  It is worth mentioning I saw many of these at Gobey. None anywhere else! 

Below: Lavender form of T.sulcatum at Gobey

Below: T sulcatum hybrid at Gobey. Both the lavender above and the red/white below have an eye spot pattern! Purple ovary/pistil and cream stamens above while the lower one has a red ovary white pistil and the stamens are white tipped with purple! 

Spoon Man Trilliums 

Above and below are a pair of hybrid Trillium sulcatum. They are siblings.  They are a pairing of red and white parents.  Hybridization has given each of them spoon shaped petals, but if you look closely at the shape they are each a bit different.  The one above is more curly and tighter and more narrow at the base of each petal.   Each one is beautiful.   I have seen spooning in the petals of hybrids elsewhere. I remember the first time noticing it was along the Cherohala Skyway. 

Above: This is a Trillium sulcatum non hybrid. They do come in yellow now and then!  I saw yellow both at Gobey and in Primroy.  

Above: This is a hybrid trillium sulcatum in gray. I saw this at Gobey and Primroy.  

 Lastly a photo of a trio of Trillium sulcatum parents.   This kind of states what it is all about.  Nature and its reproductive methods create many, varied, and beautiful offspring.   They should be appreciated and cherished.    There is a debated theory in the botany world of sympatric speciation. It is not proven to exist according to some experts.   It is where an ancestral species splits into two different forms usually caused by geographic isolation of some sort, but in this case it happens without the geographic isolation.   I am thinking  someone smarter than me should give a close look at the Gobey and Primroy hybrid trilliums for they may prove it does exist! 

Edited to Add: Final numbers on Primroy Trillium population

170 Trilliums with a break down of 35% hybrids,   20% reds, 36% whites, 2% yellow and 4% cream

Final numbers on Gobey Trillium population

271 trilliums surveyed with a breakdown of  15% white, 55% red, 23% hybrids, 4% cream, and 

1% yellow.