Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Toxicoscordion venenosum, with the common names death camas and meadow death camas, is a species of flowering plants in the genus Toxicoscordion, of the Melanthiaceae family. It is native to western North America. The plant is called alapíšaš in Sahaptin, and nupqasaqui, ("nup-ka-sa-qush") in Ktunaxa). The plant is widespread across much of Western Canada, the Western United States, and northern Baja California (México). They tend to grow in dry meadows and on dry hillsides as well as sagebrush slopes and montane forests. Toxicity. All parts of the plant are poisonous. It is dangerous for humans as well as livestock. Consumption of 2 to 6% of the body weight of the animal is likely to be fatal. Along with other alkaloids, zygacine and other toxic esters of zygadenine are the primary neurotoxic alkaloids contributing to the plant's toxicity.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Water

Moderate, High

Plant communities

Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Foothill Woodland, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Northern Coastal Scrub, Red Fir Forest, Redwood Forest, Valley Grassland, Wetland-Riparian, Yellow Pine Forest