Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: DEATH CAMAS

Phylum: MAGNOLIOPHYTA

Class: LILIOPSIDA

SubClass: LILIIDAE

Order: LILIALES

Family: LILIACEAE

Genus: ZIGADENUS

Species: NUTTALLII

Taxonomic Authority: (GRAY) S. WATS.

Taxonomy References: 001

Status

STATE RANK S1
GLOBAL RANK G5

Status References: 002

Habitat Summary

"Prefers calcareous warm-season grass-dominated prairies, glades, and woodlands where succession is kept under control by fire *004,009*. Found on dolomite glades *006*."

Primary Habitat: ""

References: 004 , 010

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Uncommon, known only from Oregon Co. *003*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
OREGON

References for distribution: 003

Distribution by Watersheds

Eleven Point R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark
Ozark: Lower Ozark

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Terrestrial" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Aquatic Associations:

References for Aquatic Associations:

Habitat Types:

Limestone Glade
See Comments
Perennial Grass (Warm season)
Eastern Red Cedar (30-70% crown closure)

References for Habitat Types: 003 , 004 , 006 , 010

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Upland Limestone/Dolomite Forest
Limestone/Dolomite Prairie
Limestone Glade
Dolomite Glade
Sandstone Glade

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 003 , 004 , 006

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

""

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements:

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for resting juvenile niche requirements:

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

References for feeding Adult niche requirements:

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

References for feeding adult niche requirements:

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

References for resting adult niche requirements:

Niche Requirement Summary

Life History Information

Reproduction (plants):see comments(042)
Duration of plant:perennial
Pollination by:insects
Life form:herb
Flowering period begins: April
Flowering period ends: May
Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Closely associated plant or animal species specified in comments(003)

References for life history: 003 , 004 , 005 , 006 , 007 , 008

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Grassland - other (specify in comments)
Grassland - prevent woody invasion
Barren land - maintain glades
Barren land - prevent cedar invasion on glades
Forest - prescribed/controlled burning
Forest - create/maintain internal forest openings
Grassland - maintain early stage of ecological succession
Grassland - control grazing of domestic livestock
Grassland - prescribed/controlled burning
Grassland - haying/mowing

Beneficial Management References: 004 , 008 , 009 , 011

Adverse Managment Practices:

Grassland - other (specify in comments)
Forest - suppression of wildfire
Grassland - application of herbicides

Adverse Management References: 008 , 009 , 011

Comments on Management:
The greatest potential threat to Zigadenus nuttallii is succession without fire supression or other natural control to prevent encroachment by woody species. Other threats include herbicide application to prairie populations and pressure from heavy grazing. Urban development is a possible threat. Prescribed burning is the preferred management activity, but in areas where fire management is not a possibility, manual cutting of woody growth, timed mowing, and rotational grazing may substitute *011*.

References for Management Comments: 004 , 011

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Unpb The PLANTS Database, database (version 5.1.1). 2000. National Plant Data Center, NRCS, USDA. Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. http://plants.usda.gov.htm Zigadenus nuttallii.
002 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
003 Unpb Missouri Department Of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102. 573-751-4115.
004 Knapp, AK. 1986. Ecophysiology of Zigadenus nuttallii, a toxic spring ephemeral in a warm season grassland: effect of defoliation and fire. Oecologia (Berlin) 71: 69-74.
005 Steyermark, J.A. 1963. The Flora Of Missouri. The Iowa State University Press. Ames, IA. 1728 pp.
006 Unpb Smith, T. Missouri Dept of Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
007 Gleason, H.A. 1952. The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. Hafner Press, New York. 3 vol.
008 Tepedino, V.J., A.K. Knapp, G.C. Eikwort, and D.C. Ferguson. 1989. Death camas (Zigadenus nuttallii) in Kansas: pollen collectors and a florivore. Journal of the Kansas Emtomological Society 62(3): 411-412.
009 Hamilton, R.G. 1994. Director of Science and Stewardship, The Nature Conservancy, Tall Grass Prairie Office, Oklahoma. Personal comm. with G. Fuller, MRO. September 1994.
010 Fernald, M.L. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany (8th ed.). American Book Company: New York. 1632pp.
011 Unpb Natureserve: An Online Encyclopedia Of Life [Web Application]. 2000. Version 1.0. Arlington (Va): Association For Biodiversity Information. Available: Http://Www.Natureserve.Org/. (Accessed: December 9, 2003).