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Mycoplasma bacterium!

But, but, but... they're so pretty! Sorry, but trilliums with green stripes have been infected with mycoplasma bacterium. A mycoplasma is a form of bacteria that lacks a cell wall. As the infection spreads in successive years the stripe widens until the whole petal may be green. This infection eventually impairs the reproductive ability of the infected plant and prevents successful seed production. Darn!

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Uploaded on May 19, 2015
Taken on September 22, 2014