unsustainable degree. This is particularly dire in the case of T. govanianum, whose high selling price as a folk medicine has motivated harvesters to destroy swathes of ecologically sensitive Himalayan forests, causing mudslides. Medicinal uses Several species contain sapogenins. They have been used traditionally as uterine stimulants, the inspiration for the common name birthwort. In a 1918 publication, Joseph E. Meyer called it "beth root", probably a corruption of "birthroot". He claimed that an astringent tonic derived from the root was useful in controlling bleeding and diarrhea. Culture The white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) serves as the official flower and emblem of the Canadian province of Ontario. It is an official symbol of the Government of Ontario. The large white trillium is the official wildflower of Ohio. In light of their shared connection to the flower, the Major League Soccer teams in Toronto and Columbus compete with each other for the Trillium Cup. Citizen scientists regularly report observations of Trillium species from around the world. T. grandiflorum, T. erectum, and T. ovatum (in that order) are the most often observed Trillium species. Trillium is the literary magazine of Ramapo College of New Jersey, which features poetry, fiction, photography, and other visual arts created by Ramapo students. In Mexican LGBT culture, the trillium is included as a symbol on their version of the bisexual pride flag. Gallery Bibliography References External links Interactive Identification Key (Java) Utah Agricultural Experiment Station — Fact Sheets McKelvie, D. Woodland Plants: The Trillium. Ontario Woodlot Association. Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON) occurrence data and maps for Trillium Melanthiaceae genera Flora of Canada Flora of the United States