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Taxon  Report  
Toxicoscordion fremontii  (Torr.) Rydb.
Fremont's star lily,   Fremont's death camas
Toxicoscordion fremontii is a perennial herb that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in western North America.
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
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Bloom Period
Genus: Toxicoscordion
Family: Melanthiaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
Jepson eFlora section: monocot

Toxicity: Do not eat any part of this plant.

Habitat: slopes

Communities: Alkali Sink, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Chaparral, Valley Grassland

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF

Alternate Names:
JEFZigadenus fremontii var. inezianus
JEFZigadenus fremontii var. minor
JEFZigadenus fremontii var. salsus
JEFZigadenus fremontii
Information about  Toxicoscordion fremontii from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
This plant is available commercially.
Jepson eFlora

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

Poison Garlic: Some members of the genus are known by the intriguing epithet: death camas. As you might have presumed, these plants are indeed toxic. The plant parts contain alkaloids that are toxic to both humans and livestock. All fresh plant parts (leaves, bulbs and flowers) are toxic; dried plant parts, especially the seeds and capsules are even more toxic. Consuming 2-6% of body weight is a fatal dose. The scientific name of the genus is derived from the Greek for 'poison garlic.' The term 'camas' comes from the Shoshone name for the edible camas root or blue camas flower (Camassia spp.), a closely related (and edible) genus in the Agavaceae.

Learn more about Toxicoscordion fremontii: Toxicoscordion fremontii Jepson video: (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 12/01/2024).