Zygadenus elegans : Death camass

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
  • Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
  • Angiospermae (enclosed seeds)

Class: Monocoteldonae (one seed-leaf)

Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Genera: Zygadensus

(Grk.zygon=yolk+aden=gland, refering to the paired, yolked glands.)

Species: elegans

(Lat. for elegant)

English Name(s):

Death Camass

Gwich'in Name:

Structure:

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

Leaves:

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

Reproductive Parts:

• Flower clusters terminal racemes or ocasionally panicles.
• Flowers ussually perfect (both male and female parts), sometimes only male or female 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.

Seed:

• in capsules about 15mm long 3 cavitied, splitting open down the centre of each cavity

Not to Be Confused With:

Physiology:

• Herbacious (not woody)
• All parts contain the poisonous alkaloid zygadine
• Regions most poisonous plant. Do Not Eat.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

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

Animal Uses:

• Has been reported the the Blue Grouse can eat the bulbs but it will make thier meat poisonous

Habitat:

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

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

• One of the regions 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 acheing legs, adhering without a bandage.

Food: