Zigadenus venenosus

Deathcamas

Liliaceae

The Basics

Taxonomy: Kingdom - Plantae (plants). Subkingdom - Tracheobionta (vascular plants). Superdivision - Spermatophyta (seed plants). Division - Magnoliophyta ( Flowering plants). Class - Liliopsida. Order - Liliales. Family - Liliaceae (Lily family). Genus -Zigadenus Michx Mill. Species - Zigadenus venenosus S. Watson

Ecology: Pacific silver fir commonly occurs in late seral or climax mixed-conifer stands. Throughout its range the most commonly associated conifer is western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). Pacific silver fir also reportedly grows in extensive pure stands in parts of the southern Washington Cascade Range. The climate throughout the range of Pacific silver fir is maritime to submaritime. Pacific silver fir is usually submontane to subalpine. It thrives in areas that receive a great deal of precipitation.

Identification

Meadow deathcamas (Zigadenus venenosus), Plants 2–7 dm, from bulbs; bulbs not clumped, tunicate, ovoid, 10–30 × 8–20 mm. Leaves: proximal blades 12–50 cm × 2–10 mm. Inflorescences racemose or paniculate with 1 or 2 basal branches, 10–50-flowered, terminal raceme pyramidal in anthesis, 2–20 × 2–5 cm, branches (if any) 1/10–1/3 length of entire inflorescence, diverging from main axis at 10°–60° when in fruit. Flowers: perianth hy-pogynous, campanulate, 5–10 mm diam.; tepals persistent in fruit, cream colored, 2–5 × 1–3 mm, outer often clawed, apex usually acute; gland 1, obovate, distal margins evident to obscure, irregular; filaments straight, usually equaling tepals, occasionally longer, thickened proximally; pedicel usually ascending in fruit, occasionally perpendicular to stem, 3–25 mm, bracts usually green, sometimes white, 5–25 mm. Capsules 8–20 × 4–7 mm. 2n = 22.

Threats

Meadow deathcamas is top-killed by fire. The bulbs survive fire...Meadow deathcamas is described as a fire "endurer". It regenerates via seeds, sprouting from bulbs, and from bulb offsets.Both varieties of meadow deathcamas are extremely toxic. This is due to the presence of zygacine, a neurotoxic steroidal alkaloid. Dried meadow deathcamas remains toxic for at least 20 years...Meadow deathcamas bulbs can cause severe illness in humans. Symptoms include gastrointestinal irritation and vasomotor collapse.[In livestock] symptoms of meadow deathcamas poisoning begin with excessive salivation, soon followed by nausea and vomiting. This is followed by muscular weakness, trembling, and eventual prostration. Pulse becomes fast and weak and heart action is weakened. Heart weakening is accompanied by a struggle for breath and frequent convulsions. If animals are severely poisoned, a comatose state may precede eventual death. The comatose state varies from several hours to 2 or more days. The preceding symptoms generally apply to domestic sheep, cattle, and horses.

Reproduction

Flowering and Fruiting - The typical variety and grassy meadow deathcamas are primarily differentiated by a raceme or panicle inflorescence...Meadow deathcamas has perfect flowers...The typical variety commonly bears several to many flowers on a 5-20 cm long terminal raceme. Grassy meadow deathcamas usually has a terminal panicle. Meadow deathcamas seeds are small, developing in a 3-cavitied capsule. Vegetative Reproduction - Meadow deathcamas reproduces vegetatively via sprouting from mature bulbs and bulb offsets...The bulbs are 1-4 cm in diameter and occur 5-20 cm underground.

Species Distribution

Citation

Silvics of North America
Burns, R.M., and B.H. Honkala. 1990. Silvics of North America (Volume 1: Conifers, Volume 2: Hardwoods). USDA Forest Service Agricultural Handbook 654.

USDA Plants Database
USDA, NRCS. 2016. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

USFS Plant Database
Habeck, R. J. 1992. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.

Flora of North America
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 19+ vols. New York and Oxford.

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Burke Museum. 2016. Abies amabilis [Online]. University of Washington.