Zygadenus elegans
characteristics
A perennial growing from onion-like bulbs. Gray to green grass-like leaves with spikes of broad, star-shaped, greenish-white flowers.
Also known as white camas and mountain deathcamas. Also called Anticlea elegans outside of North America. Member of the lily family. This plant is a glacial relic which remained after the Pleistocene ice sheets retreated.
Some sources report this species to be highly toxic while others maintain mild toxicity.
Starts from seed.
| T | SSN | H | W | sun | soil | H2O | fire | N2 | pH | summer | fall | flower (seed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | CW | 0.8 | 0.3 | S/PS | F-M-C | M-W | - | - | - | green-pale | grey | white-green |
habitat
Ditches, meadows and well drained slopes.
uses
North American aboriginals call this plant quamash; IE: plants that bear bulbs used for food.
Although not used as a nectar source, the Dakota Skipper flight period coincides with the flowering of smooth camus.
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