Description:
Some of the very first green of spring is the leaf of Deathcamas. The leaves are drooping; narrow and long, bent down the middle as folded paper, smooth, growing about 18 inches tall, bright to dark green.
From the scaly bulb one tall stem arises, topped by a cluster of showy creamy white flowers on the upper portion. The flowers on short stems become more crowded upward on the main stem. Flowers develop into three seed pods; joined, upright, brown, narrow, sack like, open at the top, about ¾ inch deep, filled with many narrow brownish seeds.
Although the bulb and seed capsules are most toxic, all parts are poisonous including the nectar or pollen(1). In the spring when little is green, animas will often eat the death camas leaves. Sheep are the most frequent terminal victims but horses, cattle, humans, fowls, and insects may fall prey. Pigs vomit so readily that they seldom have adverse affects. (extension.usu.edu)
Symptoms:
The toxin is a glycosidal steroid which causes convulsions, vomiting, staggering, heart failure and death. There is no antidote to Deathcamas.
(1) Kingsbury 1964, Barker 1978)