Desert death camas

Zigadenus fremontii (Torrey) Torrey ex S. Watson var. brevibracteatus M. E. Jones, Contr. W. Bot. 12: 78. 1908 (as Zygadenus); Toxicoscordion brevibracteatus (M. E. Jones) R. R. Gates

Plants 3–6 dm, from bulbs; bulbs not clumped, tunicate, ovoid, 18–40 × 9–35 mm. Leaves: proximal blades 10–30 cm × 3–8 mm. Inflorescences usually paniculate, 20–80-flowered, with 1–8 branches, terminal raceme 10–45 × 3–8 cm. Flowers: perianth hypogynous, 10–20 mm diam.; tepals persistent in fruit, cream colored, elliptic, 4–7 × 2–5 mm, outer not clawed; gland 1, obovate, distal margins evident; filaments thin and curved, shorter than tepals; pedicel usually perpendicular to stem in fruit, 12–40 mm, bracts green, 2–8 mm. Capsules 8–16 × 5–10 mm. 2n = 22.

Flowering Apr--Jun. Creosote bush scrub, Joshua tree woodlands, sandy areas of the Mojave and Colorado deserts; 600--1500 m; Calif.