Toxicoscordion fontanum
(Eastw.) Zomlefer & Judd
Marsh zigadenus
Toxicoscordion fontanum is a perennial herb that is native to California, and endemic (limited) to California.
California Rare Plant Rank:
4.2 (limited distribution)
Bloom Period
one or more occurrenceswithin a 7.5-minute quadrangle
The blue points on the map indicate observations in Calflora.
Click on the map to view observations within a specific county.
Click on the map to view observations within a specific county.
Jepson eFlora section:
monocot
USDA PLANTS group:
Do not eat any part of this plant.
Occurs in wetlands
3.8 - broad endemic / strong indicator
Mixed Evergreen Forest, Chaparral
[Wikipedia] Habitat, Range, Toxicity: Toxicoscordion fontanum, common name small-flower death camas, is a rare plant species known only from serpentine marshes in California. It is found primarily in the Coast Ranges from Mendocino County to San Luis Obispo County, with an additional report of an isolated population in the Sierra Nevada foothills in Kern County east of Bakersfield.[3][4] As with many other species formerly included in Zigadenus, this species is highly toxic and potentially lethal to humans and to livestock.[9] Some people have eaten it confusing it with wild onion, Allium spp. Zigadenus, despite Toxicoscordion not having the characteristic onion scent associated with Allium spp.[10][11] (link added by Mary Ann Machi)
