Fly Poison (Amianthium muscitoxicum), The Shenandoah Valley , 1996
Amianthium muscitoxicum
Amianthium muscitoxicum (Walter) A. Gray
Fly poison, Crow poison
Liliaceae (Lily Family)
Synonym(s): Chrosperma muscitoxicum, Zigadenus muscitoxicus
USDA Symbol: AMMU
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
The numerous narrow, elongated leaves and the 12-24 in. flower stalk superficially resemble common hyacinth. Flowers, occuring in a dense, showy raceme are first white, then bronzy-green. Leaves tend to spread outward and arch downward.
Pulp from a crushed bulb, mixed with sugar, is used to poison flies, hence the species name, from the Latin muscae (flies) and toxicum (poison). Bunchflower (Veratrum virginicum) has a somewhat similar white flower; its three petals and three sepals have narrow, stalk-like bases with two dark glands on each; there are several spikes in a cluster.
Native Cherokee used the plant as a dermatological cure for itch, colonists used the bulb mixed with sugar to kill flies.
No comments:
Post a Comment