Biologists delight in finding relocated Trillium in bloom

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On April 13, GAES biologists Meg Hedeen and Laci Pattavina participated in a monitoring effort for Trillium reliquum that were relocated in Oconee National Forest to protect them from a road widening project. 

Two people wearing orange vests and working in the forest soil
Biologists Laci Pattavina (USFWS) and Morgan Bettcher (GA DNR) planting Trillium rhizomes. | Image Details

After being safeguarded by Heather Alley at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia for a year a half, nearly 1,000 rhizomes of Trillium reliquum and cuneatum were planted in 100 meter transects (one rhizome each meter) in December 2021.

Potted plants sitting in the trunk of a vehicle
Nearly 1,000 rhizomes of Trillium reliquum and cuneatum were safeguarded by Heather Alley at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and then planted at the National Forest. | Image Details

April’s monitoring effort showed that we crossed the first hurdle of relocation successfully as most of the planted trillium were up and a number of reliquum (about 1/3 of the planted trillium in total) were in full flower. We will continue to monitor this population for 6 more springs. 

We are very grateful for our partnership, including: Jimmy Rickard, U.S. Forest Service; Heather Alley, State Botanical Garden of Georgia; Bradley Daugherty & Hannah Held, Georgia Department of Transportation; Morgan Bettcher & Gemma Milly, Georgia Department of Natural Resources

A small plant with three broad leave and flower on a forest floor
Relict Trillium (Trillium reliquum) in flower! | Image Details

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