The habitat of Trillium pusillum in the coastal plain near Williamsburg, Virginia (James City County), and the higher elevation of Flagpole Knob, Augusta County, Virginia

Up to this point in time, sophisticated morphological studies of Trillium pusillum both locally, as well as over its southeastern U.S.A distribution, provide data that suggest that it is a highly variable species, and that these variations do not require varietal designation.  See the comments in the main text under the discussion of this taxon.

This coastal plain habitat is near Long Hill Swamp just outside Williamsburg in James City County. It consists of Ilex sp (holly), Liriodendron tulipfera (tulip poplar), Acer rubrum (red maple), Quercus phellos (willow oak), Liquidambar styraciflua (sweet gum), and other smaller woody plants. Associated herbaceous species I saw were Claytonia virginica (spring beauty); Caltha palustris (marsh marigold) and Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage).   T. pusillum would be found along the wet places formed by drainage, or along the edges of a swamp.  There was no "swamp" because of the drought in our East Coast USA over the past two years. When it is wet enough, the trillium would be found on the hummocks of the swamp.  A hummock is an elevated, well-drained parcel of soil rising above the wetness of the area.

This habitat near Flagpole Knob in Shenandoah Mountain, Augusta County, Virginia, is open with some shaded areas.  The trillium is barely visible in the lower center.  Associated species seen were:  Pinus pungens (table mountain pine, Pinus strobus (eastern white pine), Acer rubrum (red maple), Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock), Quercus prinus (chestnut oak), Pieris floribunda (mountain fetterbush), Prunus serotina (black cherry), and Kalma latifolia (mountain laurel).  All of these were scattered in the area.