Zigadenus is a genus once considered to belong to Liliaceae and now being proposed for the Melanthiaceae? family. It is a plant of North America with about 18 species of both bulbous and rhizomatous plants. There is one species from Asia. It is sometimes called "Death Camas" because it has highly toxic alkaloids which can cause serious problems if ingested. About six species occur in the northwestern United States and some of those also occur at higher elevations in the southwest along with a few species found only there.
Zigadenus fremontii is a plant that is found in California and Oregon. It is very variable in height with white showy flowers in open panicles. Photos from Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller giving you an idea of how floriferous it can be and a close-up of the flowers. The third photo shows the bulb on a grid of 1 cm. squares.
This picture shows a plant growing near the Pacific Ocean in Salt Point State Park on the Mendocino Sonoma Coast. Photo by Mary Sue Ittner.
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.
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