Toxicoscordion is a bulbous genus once considered in the Liliaceae family and now included in the Melanthiaceae family with species formerly included in Zigadenus. That genus has been broken into four additional genera including this one. Plants are sometimes called "Death Camas" because of the highly toxic alkaloids which can cause serious problems if ingested. Another common name is Star Lily. Species in this genus are found in the midwestern United States and in western North America. Kew lists nine species. The distinguishing characteristic of this genus from the other former Zigadenus species is that species have tepals with claws and one conspicuous rounded gland.
Toxicoscordion fremontii syn. Zigadenus fremontii is found from Oregon south to Baja California. It grows in variable habitats, both coastal and inland, in grassland chaparral and mixed evergreen forests. It flowers from February to June. It is very variable in height with white showy flowers in open panicles. The first two photos from Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller give you an idea of how floriferous it can be and show a close-up of the flowers. The third photo shows the bulb on a grid of 1 cm. squares. The last two photos from Mary Sue Ittner are habitat shots taken in northern California. Photo number four shows a plant growing near the Pacific Ocean in Salt Point State Park on the Mendocino Sonoma Coast and the last was taken in Mendocino County where they grow on the ridge in mixed evergreen forests.
Toxicoscordion venenosum syn. Zigadenus venenosus is a species with the common name "Death Camas". It is found in Pacific States and Canada growing in moist grassy places and has white flowers in a loose spike and a rounded yellowish gland on each petal. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner taken in Kern County at a relatively high elevation in April 2005.
