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Toxicoscordion fontanum  (Eastw.) Zomlefer & Judd
Marsh zigadenus
© 2020 Susan McDougall
© 2020 Susan McDougall
© 2021 Cynthia Powell
© 2021 Cynthia Powell
© 2020 Paul Aigner
© 2020 Paul Aigner
© 2020 Paul Aigner
© 2024 Julia Wong
© 2024 R.A. Chasey
© 2022 R.A. Chasey
© 2019 Michael Sturtevant
© 2011 Neal Kramer
Toxicoscordion fontanum is a perennial herb that is native to California, and endemic (limited) to California.
California Rare Plant Rank: 4.2 (limited distribution).
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
Observation Search
~142 records in California
yellowone or more occurrences
within a 7.5-minute quadrangle
DJJJASONAFMM

Bloom Period
Genus: Toxicoscordion
Family: Melanthiaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
Jepson eFlora section: monocot

Toxicity: Do not eat any part of this plant.

Wetlands: Occurs in wetlands

Ultramafic affinity: 3.8 - broad endemic / strong indicator

Communities: Mixed Evergreen Forest, Chaparral

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + CNPS + POWO

Alternate Names:
JEFZigadenus fontanus
JEF + CNPSZigadenus micranthus var. fontanus
PLANTSZigadenus micranthus var. fontanus
Information about  Toxicoscordion fontanum from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
Commercial availability unknown.
Jepson eFlora

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ID Tips on PlantID.net

[Wikipedia] Habitat, Range, Toxicity: Toxicoscordion fontanum, common name small-flower death camas, is a rare plant species known only from serpentine marshes in California. It is found primarily in the Coast Ranges from Mendocino County to San Luis Obispo County, with an additional report of an isolated population in the Sierra Nevada foothills in Kern County east of Bakersfield.[3][4] As with many other species formerly included in Zigadenus, this species is highly toxic and potentially lethal to humans and to livestock.[9] Some people have eaten it confusing it with wild onion, Allium spp. Zigadenus, despite Toxicoscordion not having the characteristic onion scent associated with Allium spp.[10][11] (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]. 2025. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 03/28/2025).