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fringe cups

Tellima grandiflora

Fringe cups are lovely little plants with unique, cup-shaped flowers. They often grow in shady spots and can add a splash of color to the forest floor.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The fringe cups has a basal rosette of soft, hairy, lobed green leaves. Its tall, slender stems display delicate bell-shaped flowers with greenish-white petals that become pinkish-red, distinctly fringed at the edges like tiny lace.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderSaxifragalesFamilySaxifragaceaeGenusTellima
fringe cups
flowering trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgespring_blooming trait badgecolorful trait badge
fringe cups

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Indigenous peoples of its range sometimes used the leaves as a poultice for minor wounds.

Its scientific name 'Tellima' is an anagram of 'Mitella', a closely related flower!

Look closely at the petals – they look like delicate, frilly eyelashes or tiny lace!

The tiny bell-shaped flowers actually change color from green-white to pink as they get older!

Special abilities

Ability

Shade Dweller

Fringe cups can thrive in deep forest shade, having adapted to grow with limited sunlight.

Ability

Frilly Flower Power

Fringe cups has uniquely fringed petals that attract specific small insect pollinators to its nectar.

Ability

Spreading Root System

Fringe cups can spread using underground stems called rhizomes, helping it form colonies.

Measurements & details

Height
30-70 cm
Spread
20-40 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Spring to early summer
Edible
No
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

honey bee

Apis mellifera

visits flowers for nectar and pollen

pollinates

western bumble bee

Bombus mixtus

helps spread pollen between plants

eaten by

mule deer

Odocoileus hemionus

may browse on its leaves and stems

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless an adult says it's okay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is fringe cups?

30-70 cm

How wide does fringe cups spread?

20-40 cm

How big are the flowers on fringe cups?

0.5-1 cm

When does fringe cups bloom?

Spring to early summer

Is fringe cups edible?

No

Is fringe cups toxic?

None

What is fringe cups's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is fringe cups pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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