Zygadenus elegans : Death Camass

Taxonomy

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

Class: Monocoteldonae (one seed-leaf)

Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Genera: Zygadenus (Death-camass) (Grk. zygon = yolk + aden = gland, referring to the paired, yolked glands.)

Species: elegans (Lat. for elegant)

English Name(s):

Death Camass,

First Nation Names:


Description

Structure:

  • Plant from underground bulb.
  • Region's most poisonous plant. Do Not Eat.
  • Stem erect, 15-60cm high, often greyish with thin waxy coating.

Leaves:

  • Cluster of basal leaves, linear, 8-30cm long, slightly rigid lengthwise, reduced upwards.

Reproductive Parts:

  • Tepals (sepals + petals) 6, greenish or yellowish-white, 7-10mm long, with a large heart-shaped green-yellow gland just above the base.
  • Pistil (female part) single. Stamens (male parts) 3, separate.
  • Flower clusters terminal racemes, or occasionally panicles.
  • Flowers usually perfect (both male and female parts), sometimes only male or female parts.

Seed:

  • In capsules about 15mm long, 3 cavities, splitting open down the centre of each cavity.

Not to Be Confused With:


    Biology

    Physiology:

    • Herbaceous (not woody)
    • All parts contain the poisonous alkaloid zygadine.
    • Region's most poisonous plant. Do Not Eat.

    Life Cycle:

    Seasonal Cycle:

    • Most plants finished blooming by 3rd week in July.

    Ecology

    Animal Uses:

    • Has been reported that the Blue Grouse can eat the bulbs, but it will make their meat poisonous.

    Habitat:

    • Sunny slopes, open woods, river banks, gravelly places, to moist alpine and tundra.

    Uses

    Modern:

    Industrial:

    Medicinal:

      Food:

      • One of the region's most poisonous plants. All parts of the plant contain the poisonous alkaloid zygadine. Do Not Eat.

      Traditional Gwich'in:

      Folklore:

        Industrial:

          Medicinal:

            Food:

              Traditional Other:

              Folklore:

                Industrial:

                  Medicinal:

                  • Roots were mashed and applied to swollen knees or aching legs, adhering without a bandage.

                  Food:

                    Images

                    Basal leaves and blurry stem


                    Raceme of buds and flower


                    Full bloom with 6 stamens


                    Illustration from: Illustrated Flora of BC


                    Range Maps

                    World Range: North American, mostly in west, east to Lake Michigan.

                    Prov/State Abrev. List


                    In Yukon: Found throughout the territory.

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