Toxicoscordion venenosum

Toxicoscordion venenosum
Toxicoscordion venenosum flowering in the Black Hills, South Dakota

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Melanthiaceae
Genus: Toxicoscordion
Species:
T. venenosum
Binomial name
Toxicoscordion venenosum
Varieties
  • Toxicoscordion venenosum var. gramineum (Rydb.) Brasher
  • Toxicoscordion venenosum var. venenosum
Synonyms
List
    • Toxicoscordion acutum (Rydb.) Rydb.
    • Toxicoscordion arenicola A.Heller
    • Toxicoscordion falcatum (Rydb.) Rydb.
    • Toxicoscordion gramineum (Rydb.) Rydb.
    • Toxicoscordion intermedium (Rydb.) Rydb.
    • Toxicoscordion salinum (A.Nelson) R.R.Gates
    • Zigadenus acutus Rydb.
    • Zigadenus falcatus Rydb.
    • Zigadenus gramineus Rydb.
    • Zigadenus intermedius Rydb.
    • Zigadenus diegoensis Davidson
    • Zigadenus salinus A.Nelson
    • Zigadenus venenosus S.Watson

Toxicoscordion venenosum, with the common names death camas and meadow death camas, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. It is named for its well known toxic qualities, with both its common names and its scientific name referencing this. Because its nectar is also poisonous, it is mainly pollinated by the death camas miner bee, which specializes in collecting the toxic pollen for its young. It is native to western North America from New Mexico to Saskatchewan and west to the Pacific Ocean.