Death camas
Click for greater clarity.
Believe the name: death camas can kill you if you eat it. This was one of at least a dozen plants of Zigadenus nuttallii that I found in an undeveloped lot in northwest Austin on March 6. If you see a resemblance between an individual flower here and one in the recently featured crow poison—which may or may not actually be poisonous—it’s because both plants are in the lily family.
© 2012 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Forget it! I ain’t putting it in my salad! 🙂
Great shot Steve!
avian101
March 23, 2012 at 7:49 AM
I think we agree: yes to the shot, no to the salad.
Steve Schwartzman
March 23, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Good information.
georgettesullins
March 23, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Definitely a species to be cautious about, in spite of its attractiveness.
Steve Schwartzman
March 23, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Not a plant for my yard then! My geese try everything I plant once to see if it is good, and I am certain they would try these, at least once….
~ Lynda
(Roses are a delicacy even with their thorns! 😦 )
pixilated2
March 25, 2012 at 6:53 AM
Some things that are poisonous to people are not poisonous to animals, but you probably wouldn’t want to take a chance with this one.
Steve Schwartzman
March 25, 2012 at 8:42 AM
This is quite beautiful despite its reputation. Super photo Steve!!!
dhphotosite
March 26, 2012 at 9:29 AM
Yes, it is a beautiful wildflower. In this case the name really is justified; I’ve read accounts of the suffering of people who’ve ingested it.
Steve Schwartzman
March 26, 2012 at 9:42 AM
[…] pages have recently shown you two white-flowered members of the lily family, crow poison and death camas. Another local member of the family is wild garlic, Allium drummondii, whose flowers can be white […]
Wild garlic « Portraits of Wildflowers
March 28, 2012 at 5:44 AM
Thanks for pointing my way to this photo: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a photo of death camas, in spite of reading about it and writing about it.
mrsdaffodil
December 27, 2013 at 12:07 PM
You’re welcome. Now you know what to be wary of.
Steve Schwartzman
December 27, 2013 at 1:26 PM