HPIPM:Death camas

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Lilianae
Order	Liliales
Family	Melanthiaceae
Genus	Zigadenus
Species	Zigadenus venenosus

Scientific Name

Zigadenus venenosus var. gramineus

Common Name

grassy deathcamas

Death camas (Zigadenus venenosus or Zigadenus elegans )

Compiled by Jane Mangold, Montana State University

and Marjolein Schat, Montana State University from the following sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ZIVE

http://montana.plant-life.org/species/zigaden_vene.htm

http://www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/eco/yourforest/wildflowers/dcamas.html

http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=ZIGELEsGLA

http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/plantsci/classes/range/zygadenus.html

Identification and Life Cycle

Death Camas (Zigadensis venenosus or Z. elegans) is an erect perennial in the Lily family (Liliaceae). Stems emerge from oval bulbs and reach 8 to 20 inches in height. Leaves are mainly basal and grass like, 4 to 8 inches long and 0.1 to 0.3 inch wide. Stem leaves are few and strongly reduced. There are many flowers in a simple, terminal, spike-like cluster, but sometimes the cluster branches at the base, rarely over 6 inches long in fruit. Flower stalks strongly ascending, 0.25 to 0.8 inch long. The 6 petals are white to cream-colored and unequal. The outer petals are 0.2 to 0.25 inch long, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, blunt to pointed, with the claw almost lacking to as much as 0.4 inches long. The inner petals are about 0.02 inch longer and with a narrower claw 0.03-0.05 inch long, the gland yellowish-green, oval, usually broader than long. Stamens are from about equal in length to the petals to 0.04 inches longer and attached at the base of the ovary. Styles are 0.08 to 0.12 inch long. Fruit are 3-lobed capsules 0.3 to 0.6 inch long. Seeds are light brown and 0.25 inch long.

Habitats

Dry meadows to grassy hillsides, sagebrush slopes, and montane forest in exposed places.

Impacts

All parts of this plant contain the poisonous alkaloid zygadenine. This plant causes fatalities among livestock. The lethal dose is estimated at 2-6% of animal body weight. Symptoms of poisoning are similar for all species of animals, and include excessive salivation, froth around the nose and mouth, nausea, vomiting, muscular weakness, ataxia, possible coma, and death. Deaths among cattle and horses are usually low because the animals do not select the plant if other forages are available; however, sheep will graze the plant and losses can be significant.

Biology and Ecology

Death camas is a native cool season herb. Death camas grows rapidly in early spring from root reserves when temperatures are cool and soils are moist. This forb flowers in the spring and matures in late May to mid-June. Seeds ripen in July and August and are dispersed by mid-August. Seeds germinate in the spring and a bulb is formed in the first year. Death camas reproduces vegetatively from bulb fragments and sexually with sexual maturity taking up to 3 years.

Biological Control

There are no biological control agents available for death camas.

Mechanical and Cultural Control

Death camas increases with overgrazing, and proper grazing management and stocking rates may eventually reduce populations. Death camas survives burning and regenerates from roots. Early spring burning does not affect death camas, but repeated burning in summer or fall can reduce plant vigor. It may take up to three years until the plant is fully recovered after summer or fall burning.

Chemical Control

Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the sponsors of this web site assume no liability for the suggested use of any chemicals noted in the management section. Contact your local pest management personnel for current information on labeled pesticides that can be used for the intended plant disease, insect pest or weed.

References

For more information and images please visit IPM Bugwood. http://www.ipmimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=Zigadenus%20venenosus