Mountain deathcamas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain deathcamas |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Anticlea (plant)
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| Species: |
elegans
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| Synonyms | |
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Zigadenus elegans Pursh |
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The Mountain deathcamas is a plant with a few different names, like Anticlea elegans, elegant camas, or even "alkali grass". Even though its leaves look like grass, it's actually not a grass at all! It belongs to the trillium family called Melanthiaceae.
Mountain Deathcamas
This plant has pretty white flowers that look a bit like lilies. Each petal has two greenish-yellow spots that help tell it apart from other similar plants. You can find the Mountain deathcamas all over North America, growing in many different places. Plants found in the western parts of the continent are usually smaller than those in the east, but their flowers grow closer together.
Is it Dangerous?
It's very important to know that the Mountain deathcamas is extremely poisonous. This means you should never touch or eat any part of this plant. It can be very harmful if someone comes into contact with it or tries to eat it. Always be careful and admire this plant from a safe distance!
A Bit of History
A famous explorer named Meriwether Lewis, who was part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, found a sample of this plant in 1806. He collected it near the Blackfoot River during his journey.
