Gordon Beningfield (1936 - 1998) "Large - Flowered Trillium" Original watercolor/gouache painting. Signed lower right. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 29c Large-flowered Trillium stamp issued July 24, 1992. One of the first spring wildflowers of eastern woodlands, large-flowered trillium often blankets forest floors with its snowy white blossoms. The flowers bloom from April to June, taking advantage of the extra sunlight before the overstory trees and shrubs leaf out. As the blossoms fade they often turn a delicate shade of pink. Large-flowered trillium grows in the rich soils of woods and thickets from the Northeast, south to the Appalachians, and west to Minnesota and Missouri. The genus name -- Trillium -- refers to the arrangement of the flowers and plant parts in combinations of threes, while the species name -- grandiflorum -- describes the large flowers. Another common name for trillium is wake robin, because the flowers usually bloom about the same time the first robins migrate back to the north in the spring. Native Americans used trilliums for both food and medicine. The young leaves were either eaten raw in salads or boiled for greens. Image Size: 7 x 6 in. Overall Size: 11 x 10.25 in. Unframed. (B12924)