This photo of Toxicoscordion venenosum (syn. Zigadenus venenosus) was taken at the Mt. Zhuhalem Ecological Reserve on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Toxicoscordion venenosum is native to many parts of western North America (distribution map).This highly toxic species is commonly known as meadow death-camas, and it is a member of the Melanthiaceae (not to be confused with the Melianthaceae). Melanthiaceae consists of perennial flowering herbs found in North America. Until recently, a few genera of Melanthiaceae, including Toxicoscordion, were classified as members of Liliaceae. However recent genetic studies have provided evidence that caused the genera: Amianthium, Anticlea, Schoenocaulon, Stenanthium, Toxicoscordion, Veratrum, and Zigadenus to be re-classified under the Melanthiaceae (see: Zomlefer, W. et al. 2001. Generic circumscriptions and relationships in the tribe Melanthieae (Liliales, Melanthiaceae), with emphasis on Zigadenus: Evidence from ITS and TRNL-F sequence data. Am. J. Bot. 88(9): 1657-1669).
This specimen is seen growing through the young foliage of Quercus garryana in a Garry oak woodland ecosystem. This species commonly grows in association with large numbers of Camassia quamash (common camas), another bulbous plant that was formerly a major food source for many First Nations.
This overlap of habitat for these species has unfortunately resulted in severe, often lethal, poisoning. Toxicoscordion venenosum is considered to be among the most poisonous plants in North America. Its primary toxin, zygacine, is similar to the toxin that is found in green-skinned potatoes. All parts of the plant are considered poisonous and any contact should be avoided–even the nectar and pollen have been shown to poison honeybees and other pollinators! Livestock poisonings often occur in the springtime as these shoots usually appear before other forage is available (it is recorded as causing more death in sheep in its range than any other plant species), whereas human poisonings often occur when people mistake the bulbs for wild onions or other edible bulbs when these plants are no longer in flower. First Nations often weeded Toxicoscordion venenosum out of beds of Camassia quamash in order to reduce risk when harvesting the edible common camas.
Reported uses for meadow death-camas by First Nations include making a poultice of mashed bulbs to produce poison-tipped arrows for hunting or making a similar poultice for external use on bruises, boils, sprains and rheumatism.
with a name like that it’s not tempting to put some in a salad (except maybe for my mother in law….oh, I didn’t say that!)
I like to practice my decades-old seventh-grade Latin on my email notifications, and when I saw this name I thought, “double death”? Gosh, I was pretty close. I can’t believe this plant hasn’t shown up in a few murder mysteries.
It’s getting harder and harder to keep up with these changes. Trilliums are also now Melanthiaceae. I see that our Ontario Zigadenus elegans ssp. glaucus is now Anticlea elegans, not a Toxicoscordion.
It’s getting really confusing and difficult for amateur botanists like myself to stay on top of all the new taxonomy. Ironically, I find myself depending on the common names more and more–trilliums, asters, goldenrods, and now camas. I sound like an old fogey, but it is a challenge to stay current. So thanks for the heads up on this one.
Please tell us how the toxin works.
If it poisons honeybees et al., what does pollinate it?
I have been growing Melanthium (now Veratrum, it turns out) virginicum, which led me to follow the links in the entry and discover several interesting facts. Thank you!
What a sinister truth about such an innocent and beautiful little bloom. Thank you for such an interesting entry. Your site is a real gem and a delight to open each time.
In defence of this plant, it is the favoured habitat of the Goldenrod
crab spider. It is a treat to see a yellow or white spider hiding in the flowers for a bee or other large insect to trap with its legs, then kill them.
The old Latin names are still valid. The new name merely becomes the current official name, and the old ones are relegated, but still apply. All Latin names should have the name of the nominator and the date, in brackets. So this is still Zygadenus venenosus (S.Wats.)
Death camas is toxic, but I believe that, as with many toxic plants, sources differ on the potency. I think the CIPC would say that invasive plants like Tansy are far more of a problem than Death camas.
Thanks for this service. It is a daily delight.
It sure is pretty. I especially like the 2nd photo. The light is so good it looks like 3-D.
..now…now..now..Pierre-Charles Crozat…this is a family site..(er nightshade and castor bean extract work well…so i have heard)..
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” — William Shakespeare
Since Honeybees are newcomers to the new world. Most likely one of the native bees pollinates this
Beautiful photos and thanks for the plethera of info!
Something pollinates them as mine seed themselves all over the place. I can see why the tribes pulled them up and marked the spot. I thought you had to ingest the plant somehow – that it’s not a contact toxin.
Charles Adams, the cartoonist who invented the Adams family included it in a list of plants doing well in the garden when Morticia Adams was writing a letter to Gomez.
Autumn,
The study I came across, which noted the mortality in honeybees after they ingested nectar, did also mention that native bees were less susceptible to the toxin. Pretty cool!
my i guess we now know what may have happened
to our ancestors when they arrived in the western lands
i have often wondered why did they die so young
i think we entered the twilight zone with this one
i wonder if edward gorey had this one in his gardens
Couldn’t “they” have come up with a more distinctive family name? Melianthaceae – Melanthiaceae now that’s confusing!