Genus Toxicoscordion Higher classification Toxicoscordion Order Liliales Family Melanthiaceae | Scientific name Zigadenus venenosus Rank Species Kingdom Plantae | |
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Similar Zigadenus, Toxicoscordion, Mountain deathcamas, Toxicoscordion paniculatum, Camassia quamash | ||
Toxicoscordion venenosum, with the common names death camas and meadow death camas, is a species of flowering plants in the genus Toxicoscordion, of the Melanthiaceae family. It is native to western North America.
Contents
The plant is called alapíšaš in Sahaptin, and nupqasaquǂ ("nup-ka-sa-qush") in Ktunaxa).
Description
Toxicoscordion venenosum 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 edible onions of the genus Allium.
The flowers are cream coloured or white and grow in pointed clusters, flowering between April and July.
Varieties
Varieties include:
Distribution
The plant is widespread across much of Western Canada, the Western United States, and northern Baja California (México). They tend to grow in dry meadows and on dry hillsides as well as sagebrush slopes and montane forests.
Toxicity
All parts of the plant are poisonous. It is dangerous for humans as well as livestock. Consumption of 2 to 6% of the body weight of the animal is likely to be fatal. Along with other alkaloids, zygacine and other toxic esters of zygadenine are the primary neurotoxic alkaloids contributing to the plant's toxicity.
