Amianthium

{{short description|Genus of plants}}

{{Italic title}}

{{speciesbox

|name = Fly poison

|image = Amianthium muscitoxicum (homeredwardprice) 003.jpg

|image_caption=in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

|display_parents = 2

|genus = Amianthium

|parent_authority = A.Gray

|species = muscitoxicum

|authority = (Walter) A.Gray

|synonyms =

{{collapsible list|bullets = true

|title=Synonymy

|Amianthium muscaetoxicum, common misspelling[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10001193#page/132/mode/1up Walter, Thomas 1788. Flora caroliniana : secundum systema vegetabilium perillustris Linnaei digesta; characteres essentiales naturalesve et differentias veras exhibens; cum emendationibus numerosis: descriptionum antea evulgatarum: adumbrationes stirpium plus mille continens: necnon, generibus novis non paucis, speciebus plurimis novisq. ornata 125] in Latin, as Melanthium muscaetoxicum[http://www.iapt-taxon.org/nomen/main.php?page=art60 International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Melbourne Code), section 60.8]

|Melanthium muscaetoxicum Walter

|Melanthium muscitoxicum Walter

|Zigadenus muscitoxicum (Walter) Regel

|Chrosperma muscitoxicum (Walter) Kuntze

|Chrysosperma muscatoxicum (Walter) Kuntze

|Melanthium laetum Aiton.

|Anthericum subtrigynum Jacq.

|Melanthium myoctonum J.F.Gmel.

|Melanthium phalangioides Desr.

|Helonias erythrosperma Michx.

|Helonias laeta (Aiton) Ker Gawl.

|Leimanthium laetum (Aiton) Willd.

|Leimanthium pallidum Willd.

|Chrosperma laetum (Aiton) Raf.

|Amianthium macrotox Raf.

|Crosperma laeta (Aiton) Raf.

|Crosperma phalangioides (Desr.) Raf.

}}

|synonyms_ref=

}}

File:Amianthium muscitoxicum 001.jpg

Amianthium is a North American genus of perennial plants growing from bulbs. It contains the single known species Amianthium muscitoxicum, known in English as fly poison from a literal translation of the Latin epithet muscitoxicum, and is noted for its pretty flowers and its toxic alkaloid content. While all parts of the plant are poisonous, the bulb is particularly toxic. The scientific epithet was given to it by Thomas Walter when he published his Flora Caroliniana in 1788.

The bulb was mixed with sugar by American colonists to kill flies.Appalachian Wildflowers by Thomas E. Hemmerly. University of Georgia Press, {{ISBN|0-8203-2181-8}}

The toxic alkaloids present in the roots and leaves include jervine and amianthine.{{cite web | url = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=101358 | website = Flora of North America | title = Amianthium}} Amianthium is self-incompatible and is pollinated mostly by beetles. It is native to eastern North America, as far north as Pennsylvania, west roughly to the Appalachian Mountains (with an additional area in the Ozarks), and south to northern Florida and eastern Louisiana.[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Amianthium%20muscitoxicum.png Biota of North American Program 2014 county distribution map]

Within the family Melanthiaceae, Amianthium is a member of the tribe Melanthieae. Molecular phylogenetic studies in the 21st century have resulted in some changes to placements within this tribe. A. muscitoxicum has sometimes been placed in the genus Zigadenus (as Z. muscitoxicus); however its position as a separate genus is consistent with currently available information.{{cite journal| last = Zomlefer| first = WB|author2=WS Judd| title = Resurrection of Segregates of the Polyphyletic Genus Zigadenus s.l. (Liliales: Melanthiaceae) and Resulting New Combinations| journal = Novon| volume = 12| issue = 2| pages = 299–308 |year = 2002 |jstor = 3392971 |doi = 10.2307/3392971| url = https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/36508}} (See also Phylogeny of Melanthieae.)

Amianthium species which have been placed in other genera include:{{cite web|url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/|title=WCSP |website= World Checklist of Selected Plant Families|accessdate=2013-02-03}} (search on Amianthium)

• Amianthium angustifolium {{au|A.Gray}} now called Stenanthium densum {{au|(Desr.) Zomlefer & Judd}}
• Amianthium aspericaule {{au|A.Gray)}} now called Triantha glutinosa {{au|(Michx.) Baker}}
• Amianthium leimanthoides {{au|A.Gray)}} now called Stenanthium densum {{au|(Desr.) Zomlefer & Judd}}
• Amianthium nuttallii {{au|A.Gray}} now called Toxicoscordion nuttallii {{au|(A.Gray) Rydb.}}
• Amianthium texanum {{au|(Bush) R.R.Gates}} now called Stenanthium densum {{au|(Desr.) Zomlefer & Judd}}