Zigadenus venenosus

Zigadenus venenosus
For other plants named deathcamas, see Zigadenus.
Death Camas
Zigadenus venenosus var. venenosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Melanthiaceae
Genus: Zigadenus
Species: Z. venenosus
Binomial name
Zigadenus venenosus
S.Wats.
Z. v. var. venenosus inflorescence
Meadow Death-camas, Deadly Zigadenus

Zigadenus venenosus, commonly called death camas or meadow deathcamas, is a flowering plant in the genus Zigadenus belonging to the Melanthiaceae. It grows up to 70 cm tall with long, basal, grass-like leaves. The bulbs are oval and look like onions but do not smell like onions. The flowers are cream coloured or white and grow in pointed clusters, flowering between April and July. Death camas occurs in some parts of western North America and can be easily confused with edible onions of genus Allium. They tend to grow in dry meadows and on dry hillsides as well as sagebrush slopes and montane forests.[1][2][3] Called alapíšaš in Sahaptin.[citation needed]

All parts of the plant are poisonous. It is dangerous for humans as well as livestock, though some poisoned by it have been treated. Alkaloids are responsible for the plants being poisonous and it's said eating rich fish or beef broth, grease, or butter may counteract the poison.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ "Zigadenus venenosus". Flora of North America. efloras.org. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102105. Retrieved 2011-06-12. 
  2. ^ a b "Meadow Death-camas". Montana Plant Life. http://montana.plant-life.org/species/zigaden_vene.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-12. 
  3. ^ a b Turner, Nancy J. (1997). Food Plants of Interior First Peoples. Victoria, British Columbia: University of British Columbia Press. ISBN 0774806060. 

External links

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