red trillium n 1: trillium of northeastern United States with sessile leaves and red or purple flowers having a pungent odor [syn: {toadshade}, {sessile trillium}, {Trillium sessile}] 2: trillium of eastern North America having malodorous pink to purple flowers and an astringent root used in fold medicine especially to ease childbirth [syn: {purple trillium}, {birthroot}, {Trillium erectum}]