BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Zigadenus venenosus | Deathcamas 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Deathcamas is a native, perennial, cool-season forb.  It grows from 8
to 24 inches (20-61 cm) in height.  Leaves are grasslike, and usually
shorter than the flower stalk.  Flowers are borne on a terminal panicle.
The bulb, which is 0.5 to 1.5 inches (1.3-3.8 cm) in diameter, occurs
from 2 to 8 inches (5-20 cm) under ground.  Roots are short and sparse.
The small seeds are contained in three-celled pods [13,16,17,]


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Geophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Sexual:  Deathcamas reproduces by seed [16,17].  Information concerning
regeneration is sparse.  One source reports that seedling establishment
is poor in this species [16].  Deathcamas may require 2 to 3 years to
attain sexual maturity [10].

Asexual:  Deathcamas reproduces vegetatively by bulb offsets [24].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
The two varieties of deathcamas differ somewhat in their site
requirements and are discussed separately.

Grassy deathcamas:  This variety is found from 4,000 to 7,000 feet
(1,219-2,134 m) in elevation, in sandy- or gravelly-textured soils.  It
occurs in scattered stands in sagebrush (Artemesia spp.) and various
open woodland communities [3].

Meadow deathcamas:  This variety occurs from 1,400 to 8,000 feet
(427-2,438 m) in elevation.  It grows in sandy-, loamy-, or
clayey-textured soils which may contain gravelly or rocky components.
It occurs in a variety of sites including moist to wet meadows, dry
rocky hillsides, and on flats.  Best growth is attained on moist,
seeping sites [3,9].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Development of deathcamas varies with elevation and latitude.  The
following development was reported in western Montana at 7,100 feet
(2,164 m) [15]:

                     growth starts:  April - May                       
                     flowering begins:  June
                     flowering over:  June - July
                     plant dried:  June - August
                     seed dissemination:  August

Related categories for Species: Zigadenus venenosus | Deathcamas