View source for Zigadenus

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Melanthiaceae
|genus=Zigadenus
|common_name=Zigadenus, Death camas, Zygadene, Deathcamases, Star Lilies
|habit=bulbous
|Min ht metric=cm
|origin=N America, N Asia
|poisonous=highly
|lifespan=perennial
|Temp Metric=°F
|image=Upload.png
|image_width=240
}}
{{Inc|
Zygadenus (Greek, yoke and gland, some of the species having two glands in the base of the perianth). Liliaceae. Smooth and somewhat glaucous perennials with non-bulbous rhizomes or with tunicate bulbs; some of the species are grown in pots, others in the open; interesting plants of secondary importance horticulturally.

Leaves radical or gathered at the base of the st., long-linear, those of the st. small and few: raceme terminal, simple or paniculately branched: fls. perfect or polygamous, white, yellowish or greenish; perianth withering-persistent, spreading, the petal-like oblong or ovate sepals 1-2 glandular near the more or less narrowed but not clawed base; stamens 6, free: caps. 3-celled in fr., the cells separate at the top or for their entire length.— About 25 species have been described, one of which is Siberian, one Japanese, and the remainder from N. Amer. including Mex. The species of Zygadenus are little known in cult. They are sometimes recommended for the wild-garden, where they thrive in wet or boggy places. Increased by division; also rarely by seeds. Some or all of the species have poisonous seeds, bulbs, rhizomes, and foliage, being known as "death camas" (see Bull. No. 125, Professional Paper, U. S. Dept. Agric., May 13, 1915). Monographed by Watson. Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts & Sci. 14:278 (1879), so far as American species were then concerned.
}}

18 bulbous or rhizomatous perennial herbs. 
in the lily (Liliaceae) family. 
native of temperate climates. 
Leaves are narrow and curved with a fold. 
leaves emerge from central base. 
Whitish colored bisexual flowers. 
Flowers have 6 petal-like tepals with green basal glands. 
Summer bloomer. 
Fruit is a capsule. 

All species are highly poisonous.

==Cultivation==
Full sun and well-drained soils of many types.

===Propagation===
Divide bulbs or rhizomes, or grow from seed.

===Pests and diseases===
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==Species==
There are about 15 species of Zigadenus.  [[Integrated Taxonomic Information System|ITIS]] lists the following:
*[[Desert Deathcamas]], ''Zigadenus brevibracteatus''
*[[Osceola's Plume]], ''Zigadenus densus''
*[[Mountain Deathcamas]], Elegant Camas, Alkali Grass : ''Zigadenus elegans''
*[[Giant Deathcamas]], ''Zigadenus exaltatus''
*[[Common Star Lily]], Fremont's Deathcamas or Star Zigadene, ''Zigadenus fremontii'' (several varieties are recognised)
*[[Sandbog Deathcamas]], ''Zigadenus glaberrimus''
*[[Pinebarren Deathcamas]], ''Zigadenus leimanthoides'' 
*[[Smallflower Deathcamas]], ''Zigadenus micranthus''
*[[Mogoll Deathcamas]], ''Zigadenus mogollonensis''
*[[Nuttall's Deathcamas]], ''Zigadenus nuttallii''
*[[Foothill Deathcamas]] or Sand-corn, ''Zigadenus paniculatus''
*[[Sheathed Deathcamas]], ''Zigadenus vaginatus''   
*[[Death Camas]] or Meadow Deathcamas, ''Zigadenus venenosus'' (several varieties)
*[[Green Deathcamas]], ''Zigadenus virescens'' 
*[[Lava Deathcamas]], ''Zigadenus volcanicus'' 

==Gallery==
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==References==
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
*Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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