Mountain Deathcamas

Left image
Close up of white Mountain Deathcamas flowers.

Right image
Cluster of white Mountain Deathcamas flowers.

Mountain Deathcamas - Zigadenus elegans

Mountain Deathcamas is a member of the Lily family and has the typical narrow, linear leaves and flower parts in threes common to it. Like many lilies, this species grows from a starchy, underground bulb.

This is an extremely poisonous plant as the common name indicates. Native Americans used many native bulbs as food and had to be extremely careful to distinguish edible bulbs from this species.

The specific epithet (second part of the scientific name) means “elegant” and refers to the fact that this species has larger, more attractive flowers than other related members of the genus.