E-M:/ 2003 Painted Trillium Tour

Third Annual 2003 Michigan

Painted Trillium Tour

Trillium undulatum - a Michigan Endangered woodland wildflower of Kimball and Clyde Townships in Saint Clair County

May 17 & 18

Saturday & Sunday

10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Kimball Township Park

Saint Clair County, Michigan

Guided excursions to the Port Huron State Game Area to see Michigan Endangered Painted Trillium and other woodland species, and displays highlighting some of the unique natural areas of Saint Clair County.

Directions:

I-69 to Wadhams Road (Exit 196), south 1 mile to Griswold Road, east 1 mile to Allen Road, and north ½+ mile to park entrance on west side of Allen Road

I-94 to Range Road (Exit 269), north 1 mile to Griswold Road, west 1 mile to Allen Road, and north ½+ mile to park entrance on west side of Allen Road

According to State records, Painted Trillium now occurs at just six remaining locations in all of Michigan, and all six locations are in Saint Clair County, which is located along the western edge of the Painted Trillium range in North America. Some references indicate the next closest location as Vermont. The distribution of the species is extremely limited by unique habitat requirements, and by habitat destruction resulting from development. In Saint Clair County, Painted Trillium grows only in cool, acidic sands in mature second-growth forests of Red Maple, Paper Birch, Eastern Hemlock, and Eastern White Pine. Typical plant associates in the County are Bracken Fern, Wintergreen, Bunchberry, Bristly Dewberry, Fringed Polygala, Partridgeberry, Goldthread, Canada Mayflower, Indian Cucumber-root, Clintonia, Wild Sarsaparilla, Starflower, and Lycopodium, giving the forest a distinct northern quality for southeastern Michigan. It seems that Painted Trillium and its northern forest habitat are remnant of a cooler post-glacial period in the Port Huron area. Many have mistaken other trillium species for Painted Trillium; White Trillium with its aging pinkish petals or green stripes from a common mycoplasma infection, and Red Trillium with its color variations. But Painted Trillium is a distinct and uncommon species.

PLEASE JOIN US ON MAY 17 & 18 AT THE KIMBALL TOWNSHIP PARK TO SHARE A UNIQUE NATURAL HERITAGE OF SAINT CLAIR COUNTY.

For more information contact:

Bill & Cheryl Collins

Huron Ecologic, LLC
3335 Crooks Road
Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309 USA
phone & fax: 248-852-4682
e-mail: huronecologic@netzero.net

Huron Ecologic provides wetland delineations, wetland permitting, wetland mitigation design & monitoring, tree inventories, botanical & ecological surveys, natural area protection, nature education, and technical training.