Zigadenus

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Plant Characteristics
Habit   bulbous

Lifespan: perennial
Origin: N America, N Asia
Poisonous: highly
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Melanthiaceae >

Zigadenus >



Read about Zigadenus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

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.


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


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. ITIS lists the following:

Gallery

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References

External links