Toxicoscordion venenosum
| Toxicoscordion venenosum Death Camas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| in Kingston Prairie Preserve, near Stayton, Oregon | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Melanthiaceae |
| Genus: | Toxicoscordion |
| Species: | T. venenosum |
| Binomial name | |
| Toxicoscordion venenosum (S.Watson) Rydb.[1] | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
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.
The plant is called alapíšaš in Sahaptin,[2] and nupqasaquǂ ("nup-ka-sa-qush") in Ktunaxa).[2]
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.[3]
The flowers are cream coloured or white and grow in pointed clusters, flowering between April and July.
Varieties
Varieties include:[1]
- Toxicoscordion venenosum var. gramineum (Rydb.) Brasher
- Toxicoscordion venenosum var. venenosum — a variety or the solo current species classification[4] [5]
Distribution
The plant is widespread across much of Western Canada, the Western United States, and northern Baja California (México).[1][6][7][8][9] They tend to grow in dry meadows and on dry hillsides as well as sagebrush slopes and montane forests.[6][10][11]
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. [12] [10] Along with other alkaloids, zygacine and other toxic esters of zygadenine are the primary neurotoxic alkaloids contributing to the plant's toxicity. [13]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Toxicoscordion venenosum", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2012-04-22
- 1 2 "FirstVoices- Ktunaxa words.". Retrieved 2012-07-07.
- ↑ Montana Plant Life: Meadow Death-camas Zigadenus venenosus
- ↑ Calflora Database: Toxicoscordion venenosum var. venenosum (variety of species)
- ↑ Jepson: Toxicoscordion venenosum var. venenosum (current species classification)
- 1 2 "Zigadenus venenosus". Flora of North America. efloras.org. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
- ↑ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- ↑ Tropicos, specimen listing for Zigadenus venenosus S. Watson
- ↑ Caflora taxon report, University of California, Toxicoscordion venenosum (S. Watson) Rydb. Meadow deathcamas
- 1 2 "Meadow Death-camas". Montana Plant Life. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy J. (1997). Food Plants of Interior First Peoples. Victoria, British Columbia: University of British Columbia Press. ISBN 0774806060.
- ↑ Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System: Zigadenus venenosus
- ↑ Majak, Walter. "Soil moisture influences low larkspur and death camas alkaloid levels". Journal of Range Management Archives. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
External links
- Calflora Database: Toxicoscordion venenosum (Meadow deathcamas)
- Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Toxicoscordion venenosum var. venenosum
- USDA Plants Profile for Zigadenus venenosus var. venenosus (meadow deathcamas)
- Lady Bird Johnson Wild Flower Center: Zigadenus venenosus (Meadow death camas, death camas)
- Turner Photographics, Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest: Zigadenus venenosus (Meadow death camas)
- UC Photos gallery — Toxicoscordion venenosum
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