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Camas

Botanical name: Amianthium

Camas

Botanical name: Amianthium

Description

Camas are a North American genus containing a single flowering perennial species. One of its common names is "fly poison" because every part of it contains extremely toxic alkaloids, and its bulbs were once mashed up and sugared by American colonists to attract and kill flies. It is largely pollinated by beetles, which are some of the few creatures that can tolerate its nectar.

Species of Camas

Fly poison

Fly poison (Amianthium muscitoxicum) is an herbaceous perennial and all parts of the plant (as its name suggests) are poisonous. It grows in shady locations in rich soil. Blooms in summer with showy white flowers. Blossoms are tiny, star-shaped flowers growing along a flowering stem. The foliage looks like wide grass.

Scientific Classification

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Monocotyledons

Order

Lilies, supplejacks and allies

Family

Bunchflower

Genus

Camas

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