Nodding Trillium Fruit - Trillium cernuum
When a trillium flower is successfully pollinated, a fruit will develop later in the season. The fruit splits open when ripe, making its seeds available for dispersal. Each seed has an elaiosome (contains lipids and proteins) attached, whose chemical content mimics that of an insect. This is important because the elaiosome attracts ants that specifically require insect protein as part of their diets. The ants collect the seeds, eat the elaiosome, and toss the rest of the seed on their compost heap, thus effectively planting the seed in a fertile, protected location. This process is called myrmecochory (the dispersal of seeds by ants).
Habitat: Mesic, mixed forest
''Trillium cernuum'' is a species of ''Trillium'' native to northeastern North America, from Newfoundland west to southern Saskatchewan, and south to northern Virginia and Iowa. It occurs on rich, moist soils in both broadleaf and coniferous woodland.
