as an aid in childbirth, hence the common name birthwort or birthroot (which is sometimes corrupted to bethroot). Root tea was used for menstrual disorders, to induce childbirth, and to aid in labor. The Cherokee peoples used a poultice of the whole plant to treat tumors, inflammation, and ulcers. The leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals and crystal raphide, and should not be consumed by humans. Trillium erectum is cultivated as a flowering ornamental plant. Although not as showy as T. grandiflorum, the flowers of some forms of T. erectum can be quite striking, especially since it tends to form large clumps. It has received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Bibliography References External links Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON) occurrence data and maps for Trillium erectum erectum Flora of Eastern Canada Flora of the Northeastern United States Flora of the Southeastern United States Flora of the Appalachian Mountains Ephemeral plants Flora of Ontario Least concern flora of the United States Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Garden plants of North America