The story of Trillium ovatum

By Thembi Borras

Trillium ovatum is in bloom and the story of this species is worth sharing. Trillium ovatum can be found in moist coniferous forests and may be identified by an erect naked stem that supports 3 showy leaves in a single whorl subtending the equally showy 3 petal flower, the color of which begins white and ages to pink then purple. They are a long lived perennial, in fact you will not recognize them per this description until age 15.

In the first year the root radical develops, in the second year the cotyledon develops. One leaf emerges annually as the rhizome develops between ages 3 and 15. At age 15, 3 leaves emerge and the plant begins to flower. The rhizome of Trillium ovatum, also called a corm is a solid underground storage organ that accumulates annual scars that can be counted. Trillium ovatum as old as 72 years have been identified in our area, in the Eastern United States a closely related species of Trillium ovatum as old as 105 years has been identified.

The seed dispersal biology adds to this fascinating story. A mature plant produces seeds, to which a swollen oil rich body, called elaiosome, is attached, which attracts ants. Ants collect the seeds and transport it back to their underground nest, where they eat the elaiosome. The seed is ready to germinate having been cleaned and planted by the ants.

I was told this story in a presentation by Botanist Eric Jules during a Special Forest Products workshop in September of 1999. In the same presentation I also learned that after clearcutting, the survival of Trillium ovatum sharply declines, which it was suggested is, in part, due to the disruption of this cycle. It is thought the deer mice population increases. The deer mice eat the seed before the ants secure them.

A Proposal to Process Hardwoods at the Masonite Facility

During the course of researching the subject of converting tanoak to energy, the efforts of developer Chris Stone were brought to my attention. I asked Chris to convey his proposal.

Chris Stone writes, "My efforts are focused on saving the Masonite site in Ukiah from being converted to a big box shopping center. Masonite in Ukiah once processed up to 500,000 tons of wood fiber annually. Reactivation of the facility to produce a fabric fiber called Lyocell, brand name Tencel, principally from tanoak would be a County wide boon. Hardwoods are preferred because they have significantly higher cellulose content as compared to softwoods. Lyocell production utilizes an amine to dissolve cellulose in a closed loop process, which has received environmental recognition in Europe. Lyocell is currently being produced in Mobile Alabama, Grimsby UK, and in China. Total annual world production is about 200,000 tons and is utilized in high value apparel as well as nonwoven products, medical wipes and hospital gowns. The fabric industry forecasts a worldwide demand of 700,000 tons by 2020.

How can a decommissioned facility in Ukiah California stay globally competitive? One part of the answer is the abundance of tanoak in Northern California and the ability at Masonite to directly convert wood fiber to Lyocell. All other major Lyocell production facilities worldwide rely upon the pulp market for their supply line. Single site conversion of wood fiber to Lyocell, based upon $60.00 per ton delivered price, achieves a 33% supply line advantage over pulp market rates. Couple this with the capital cost advantage the Masonite facility represents and you have a positive answer to the question of competitiveness.

If production achieved 500,000 tons annual wood fiber processing then about 500 new jobs would be created. Additionally, the Masonite boiler feed water could be supplied from the Ukiah wastewater facility. This would represent approximately 950 acre feet of wastewater consumption, one third of the wastewater being discharged into the Russian River annually.

A new process that converts lignin, the other major component of wood fiber, which in pulp production is not much more than a waste stream, to biodegradable polystyrene will soon see commercial development. Scientists working in this field project that within ten years lignin will also be a source for polyester materials. In the face of oil scarcity, it only seems prudent to preserve and utilize facilities that possess the capacity to convert wood fiber into the products that will be lost when oil runs out."

I continue to be intrigued by Chris Stone's proposal for several reasons, the foremost of which is having an outlet to which small diameter tanoak could be sold at a reasonable price.

To communicate directly with Chris, his email is seastone@starband.net.