Toxicoscordion
{{short description|Genus of plants}}
{{Automatic taxobox
|image = Zigadenus paniculatus 9369.JPG
|image_caption = Toxicoscordion paniculatum
|taxon = Toxicoscordion
|authority = Rydb.
|synonyms =
- Chitonia Salisb. 1866, illegitimate homonym, not D.Don 1823 (Melastomataceae) nor DC. 1824 (Zygophyllaceae)
}}
Toxicoscordion is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melanthiaceae, tribe Melanthieae, first described as a genus in 1903.[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/712972#page/316/mode/1up Rydberg, Per Axel. 1903. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 30(5): 272–273] in English[http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40015877 Tropicos, Toxicoscordion Rydb.] The genus is mainly distributed in the midwestern United States and western North America, with some species in western Canada and northern Mexico.{{Cite web|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:289346-2|title=Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families}}{{cite journal|
last = Zomlefer|
first = W. B.|author2=N. H. Williams |author3=W. M. Whitten |author4=W. S. Judd |
title = Generic circumscriptions and relationships in the tribe Melanthieae (Liliales, Melanthiaceae), with emphasis on Zigadenus: Evidence from ITS and TRNL-F sequence data|
journal = American Journal of Botany|
volume = 88|
issue = 9|
jstor = 3558411|
pages = 1657–1669|
publisher = Botanical Society of America|
year = 2001|
doi = 10.2307/3558411
Molecular phylogenetic studies in the 21st century have resulted in number of changes to placements within this tribe. Toxicoscordion was long submerged into the genus Zigadenus, but its separate position in the phylogeny of the Melanthieae has been confirmed.{{cite journal| last = Zomlefer| first = W. B.|author2=W. S. 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}} Members of Toxicoscordion may also be distinguished from other similar members of the deathcamas tribe by the presence of narrow, clawed tepals with a single, conspicuous, rounded gland.
All parts of the plants are poisonous causing neurological and cardiac symptoms. Following the eating of a plant part there is a burning sensation in the mouth that only lasts a short time. Several hours later other digestive symptoms develop including watering of the mouth, vomiting, and diarrhea. These are accompanied by a tingling sensation in the skin. Other frequent symptoms include headache, reduction of vision, and muscular weakness. In severe cases there may be heart beat irregularities, abnormal blood pressure, coma, or convulsions, potentially followed by death. Patients are supported with fluid replacement, assistance in breathing if difficulty develops, and medication to manage blood pressure. When patients survive they generally have a complete recovery within twenty-four hours.{{cite book |last1=Nelson |first1=Lewis S. |last2=Shih |first2=Richard D. |last3=Balick |first3=Michael J. |title=Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants |date=2007 |publisher=New York Botanical Garden : Springer |location=New York |isbn=978-0-387-31268-2 |pages=305–306 |edition=2nd |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofpoison0000nels/page/305 |access-date=22 June 2024 |language=en}}
; Species[http://bonap.net/NAPA/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Toxicoscordion Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution maps]
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum (syn. Zigadenus brevibracteatus) | desert deathcamas | Baja California, Sonora, California | |
| 120px | Toxicoscordion exaltatum (syn. Zigadenus exaltatus) | giant deathcamas | California, Nevada |
| Toxicoscordion fontanum (syn. Zigadenus fontanus) | smallflower deathcamas | California | |
| 120px | Toxicoscordion fremontii (syn. Zigadenus fremontii) | Frèmont's deathcamas, star zigadene (several varieties) | Baja California, Oregon, California |
| 120px | Toxicoscordion micranthum (syn. Zigadenus micranthus) | smallflower deathcamas | Oregon, California |
| 120px | Toxicoscordion nuttallii (syn. Zigadenus nuttallii) | Nuttall's deathcamas | SC United States |
| 120px | Toxicoscordion paniculatum (syn. Zigadenus paniculatus) | foothill deathcamas, sand-corn | W United States |
| 120px | Toxicoscordion venenosum (syn. Zigadenus venenosus) | death camas, meadow deathcamas | W Canada, W USA, Baja California |
References
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