trailing trillium, Trillium decumbens

Tired trillium? This trillium's stem lays flat on the ground. The leaves end up resting on the ground. Lazy trillium? Could be. The point of the root stock that forms the bud for next year always goes downhill. The species tends to grow in large patches - quite the sight! Like yesterday's forget-me-not, these flowers change color when they open. This time from yellow to deep red. Logging, strip mining and collecting are serious challenges for trailing trillium, but the state with the most of them, Alabama, has no program to protect species. This trails in northern AL, into adjacent GA and TN(E). Garden of Roberta and Fred Case, 5/8/81.