Meadow death camas

Toxicoscordion venenosum

"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, and nupqasaquǂ in Ktunaxa.
grassy death camas  Geotagged,Spring,Toxicoscordion venenosum,United States

Appearance

"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.
Meadow Death-camas, a Habitat Photo. Far from being a meadow these camas are growing not five meters from the high tide line.                        Canada,Geotagged,Meadow death camas,Spring,Toxicoscordion venenosum

Distribution

The plant is widespread across much of Western Canada, the Western United States, and northern Baja California. They tend to grow in dry meadows and on dry hillsides as well as sagebrush slopes and montane forests.
Meadow Death-Camus surrounded by Seablush. This plant at one time was named by the species name Zygadenus. It’s toxicity remains the same! Canada,Geotagged,Spring,Toxicoscordian venenosum,Toxicoscordion venenosum

Defense

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.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassMonocots
OrderLiliales
FamilyMelanthiaceae
GenusToxicoscordion
SpeciesT. venenosum