''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 from New Mexico to Saskatchewan and west to the Pacific Ocean.
The plant is called alapíšaš in
Sahaptin,
[ and nupqasaquⱡ ("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. The flower clusters are a raceme (each cluster branches once along the main stalk), unlike its close relative '' Toxicoscordion paniculatum'', in which the flowers are born in a panicle (doubly branched flower stalks). The flowers have three sepals and three petals.
Varieties
Varieties include:[
* ''Toxicoscordion venenosum'' var. ''gramineum'' (Rydb.) Brasher
* ''Toxicoscordion venenosum'' var. ''venenosum''a variety or the solo current species classification
]
Distribution
The plant is widespread across much of Western Canada, the Western United States, and northern Baja California (México).
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.alkaloids
Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar st ...
, zygacine
Zygacine is a steroidal alkaloid of the genera ''Toxicoscordion'', ''Zigadenus'', ''Stenanthium'' and ''Anticlea'' of the family Melanthiaceae. These plants are commonly known and generally referred to as death camas. Death camas is prevalent t ...
and other toxic esters of zygadenine are the primary neurotoxic alkaloids
Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar st ...
contributing to the plant's toxicity.[
]
The plant is visited by a specialist mining bee, ''Andrena astragali
''Andrena astragali'', the death camas miner bee or death camas bee, is a species of miner bee in the family Andrenidae. It is found in North America. It specializes in feeding on the highly poisonous ''Toxicoscordion venenosum'', the meadow de ...
'', which is possibly the only bee that can tolerate its toxins.William O. Douglas Wilderness
The William O. Douglas Wilderness is a Wilderness Act, designated wilderness in Central Washington. It includes located between the U.S. Route 12 (Washington), U.S. Route 12 and State Route 410 (Washington), State Route 410 and is jointly admini ...
File:Zigadenus_venenosus_5869.JPG, Washington Park (Anacortes)
References
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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venenosum
Flora of the Western United States
Flora of the Northwestern United States
Flora of Alberta
Flora of Baja California
Flora of California
Flora of British Columbia
Flora of Nebraska
Flora of Nevada
Flora of New Mexico
Flora of North Dakota
Flora of Saskatchewan
Flora of South Dakota
Flora of Utah
Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States)
Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
Plants described in 1879
Flora without expected TNC conservation status