Toadshade

Appearance

The three maroon petals, maintain a "closed" posture throughout its presence, the petals are occasionally pale green. The leaves are sometimes, but not always mottled with shades of light and dark green. Its species name comes from the Latin word "sessilis" which means low sitting, and refers to its stalkless flower.

Habitat

"T. sessile" is most common in rich moist woods but also can be found in rich forests, limestone woods, flood plains, along fence rows. It is persistent under light pasturing. The foul smelling flowers attract its primary pollinators, flies and beetles. The flowers are present from April-June. This plant is clump forming from a thick rhizome. The above ground parts of the plant die back by mid-summer, but may persist longer in areas that do not completely dry out.

Toadshade is listed as state threatened in Michigan and state endangered in New York; both states are on the northern edge of its range.

Uses

Though some accounts indicate that the cooked greens of this plant may be edible as an emergency food, however the entire plant, and especially the root is known to induce vomiting. The fruits are considered a suspected poison. This plant has been used medicinally to treat tumors. "T. sessile" is sometimes cited as having been used as a poultice for boils and as a panacea-like decoction, but this is doubtful as it is attributed to Native American tribes of California, where this plant is not known to occur.

This plant is sometimes used in woodland wildflower gardens. Like many trilliums, "T. sessile" often does not transplant successfully from the wild.