Trillium sessile

T. sessile is one of our earliest-flowering Trillium species locally.  This genus is named for its three leaves, and this particular species gets its specific epithet (the second part of its binomial) from the fact that the flower is sessile (isn't borne on the stalk--called a "peduncle"--that you see in other Trillium species).  Be careful not to disturb local populations of Trillium--these beautiful flowers are often poached for home gardens or retail nurseries, so our populations can be quite stressed.