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"You Are Infected!"

This very attractive Trillium is infected with a plant disease.

 

I was excited to see this White-flowered Trillium (Large-flowered Trillium) in Northport, Michigan. I thought it was different species, or variety. Janet (jlst2i) thought it was bacterial disease. Janet was correct.

 

Phytoplasm (aka Mycoplasma-like bacteria) infects Trillium, and the result is the green stripes in the petals. This is an early symptom. Trillium being a perennial flower, the disease progresses each year until the petals are nearly totally green.

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Uploaded on May 30, 2022
Taken on May 17, 2022