Tellima

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Tellima grandiflora, called bigflower tellima or fringecups, is a herbaceous perennial in the saxifrage family and the only species in its genus. It has rounded leaves that mostly grow from the base and a creeping rootstock, reaching about 30 cm tall. It is evergreen in mild winters.

In spring and early summer it flowers on spikes up to 60 cm high. The green calyx is 6–8 mm long; the five petals are greenish-white to purple, deeply fringed and divided. There are 10 stamens and 2 styles.

Tellima grandiflora is native to moist forests of western North America, from Alaska and British Columbia to northern California. It can escape gardens and become naturalized in other areas, such as Ireland and Great Britain. It is generally secure in its western range, but is listed as vulnerable in Idaho and Montana and critically imperiled in Alberta.

It is widely grown in gardens and has developed many varieties. It seeds itself freely in suitable climates.

Traditionally, the Skagit people used a crushed infusion of the plant to help with appetite loss. The plant contains ellagitannins with potential antiviral activity. One ellagitannin, tellimagrandin II, forms from pentagalloyl glucose and dimerizes to cornusiin E in Tellima grandiflora.