Zigadenus elegans (mountain death camas)

General

Bulb-forming perennial plant with stems up to 24 inches. All parts of the death camas are toxic, including the pollen and nectar.

Leaves

Narrow and grass-like, grow from the base of the plant to 1 foot long.

Flowers

Whitish or cream-colored bowl-shaped flowers about one-half inch across are arranged in terminal clusters. Petals have one to two yellow to green nectar glands.

Bloom

June through August.

Ecology

Mountain meadows, rocky slopes and forests.

Pollinators

Only one specialist bee, Andrena astragali, utilizes the pollen for provisioning nests.

References

This piece is part of the collection Native bee interactions with plants

Photo by Krampien and Low

Sep 2020

Authors

Jeannette Krampien

Master Melittologist

Greg Low

Master Melittologist

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