Death Camass: Zygadenus sp

Other names: Black snakeroot, Crow poison

Death Camass is a lily and very deadly. Its important to be able to recognize this plant on any lily harvesting trip. The plant has flat leaves while other lilies like wild chives, are hollow. Secondly, the plant has no smell, while other closely related species are strongly aromatic. Finally, the flowers of this plant, which are white and green are probably the most distinctive feature. I sometimes have a problem distinguishing this plant from “single delight”, an unrelated but superficially similar plant.

Medicinal Uses: Blackfoot Indians used to use a ground concoction of this plant to dress bruised ankles and sprains.

Food use: Don’t eat this plant. It contains the alkaloid zygadenine, which causes salivation, vomiting and muscle weakness … resulting usually in death. All parts of the plant are reportedly deadly.