Mendel’s Gardens

Anticlea elegans

Mountain Death Camas

Family MelanthiaceaeGenus Anticlea

Also published as Zigadenus elegans. You are in the right place.

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Toxicity
Poisonous to all. All, bulbs, leaves, flowers, pollen. Zygacine. Stated for Zigadenus spp.

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Source: Plants Poisonous to Livestock — Cornell University Department of Animal Science.

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: either

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 15 days to germinate.

100% germination in 11–15 days.

Every seed in a fortnight at 70, light or dark.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, ZigadenusPublic domain
Show the original text
Zigadenus (Liliaceae). Z. elegans germ. 70(100% in 11-15 d) and 40(100% in 6-8 w). Light had no effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Zigadenus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

    100%, over 6-8 weeks -- it germinates in the cold.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 56 days to germinate.

100% germination in 42–56 days.

Cold gets every seed too, and takes six weeks longer.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, ZigadenusPublic domain
Show the original text
Zigadenus (Liliaceae). Z. elegans germ. 70(100% in 11-15 d) and 40(100% in 6-8 w). Light had no effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Zigadenus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.