Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

California Corn Lily
Veratrum californicum
Trillium/Death-Camas family (Melanthiaceae)

This plant of wetlands is conspicuous in the early summer as it grows and flowers. The plant withers in late summer. Corn Lily is extremely poisonous and can be lethal in small doses. Alkaloids concentrated in the root and young shoots often poison livestock in the early spring when the plant is just emerging. This poisoning interrupts normal growth and has been frequently documented producing Cyclops lambs. The very same cell growth interrupters are now being studied to interrupt cancer cell growth in human being. In the past humans have used the plant for everything from ridding themselves of head lice to slowing heart rate and reducing blood pressure. "Veratrum" is Latin for "true black," referring to the black roots.


©2009 Keir Morse

Description

Robust , to 7'' tall, that grows cornstalk-like in dense patches often covering acres. Conspicuous large broad pleated leaves, up to 14" long, are and have deep parallel veins. Numerous small yellow-green star-shaped flowers with dark green centers are densely clustered in a branched .

Field Marks

Robust leafy plant with large prominently leaves and yellow-green star-shaped flowers.

© Al Schneider

meadow -- Large grass and wildflower filled area with few, if any, trees.

A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.

ribbed -- having prominent, narrow parallel protrusions that extend over most of its length or circumference.

A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. The bottom flowers in a panicle open first.

alternate -- leaves alternate along the main stem and are attached singly.

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.