Zigadenus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- zih-gah-DAY-nus
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Zigadenus is a genus of flowering plants now containing only one species, Zigadenus glaberrimus, the sandbog death camas, is found growing in pine bogs, savannas and sandy pinelands in the US states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Death camas has several steroidal alkaloids similar to those found in Veratrum (false hellebore). The bulb and mature leaves are most toxic. The alkaloids have potent hypotensive activity. All parts of the Mountain Death Camas plant are poisonous from alkaloids more toxic than strychnine and can sicken livestock. Plants over-winter as a bulb that is very similar to the wild onion
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Zigadenus
- Family:
- Melanthiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- Meadow deathcamas is adapted to sandy to rocky soils in areas receiving 12 to 20 inches annual precipitation
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Oval
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- basal, slender and grass-like
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Excessive salivation, vomiting. Muscular weakness, tremors, ataxia and prostration occur. Convulsions, coma and death.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Alkaloids such as zygacine
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
