Zigadenus venenosus
| Death Camas | |
|---|---|
| File:Zigadenus venenosus 0116.JPG | |
| 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. | |
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.[1][2] The bulbs are oval and look like onions but do not smell like onions.[3] The flowers are cream coloured or white and grow in pointed clusters[3], flowering between April and July.[4] Death camas occurs in some parts of western North America[1] and can be easily confused with edible onions of genus Allium[3]. They tend to grow in dry meadows and on dry hillsides as well as sagebrush slopes and montane forests. [3][4] Called alapíšaš in Sahaptin.
All parts of the plant are poisonous. It is dangerous for humans as well as livestock, though some poisoned by it have been treated.[4] 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.[3] The Meadow Deathcamas Toxicoscordion venenosum (called ałtsíniitsoh, literally "big mariposa lily") was used by the Navajo for treatment of coyote bites.
Meadow Death-camas, Deadly Zigadenus (pop)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Zigadenus venenosus in Flora of North America @ efloras.org
- ↑ Meadow Death-camas - Zigadenus venenosus
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Turner, Nancy J. Food Plants of Interior First Peoples (Victoria: UBC Press, 1997) ISBN 0-7748-0606-0
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Meadow Death-camas - Zigadenus venenosus
External links
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