Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum
Desert death camas
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Melanthiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum (Desert death camas) is a native California herb in the Melanthiaceae family.
Desert death camas is a California native perennial found in the Tehachapi Mountains, western Transverse Ranges, and Mojave Desert in sandy desert habitats at elevations of 600 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white to pale green flowers in an open panicle 10 to 35 centimeters long with distinctive spreading branches. Growing with tall, smooth stems 30 to 60 centimeters high emerging from a large ovoid bulb 10 to 40 millimeters in diameter, it has a dark brown to black outer bulb coating. Its leaves are long and narrow, reaching 10 to 30 centimeters in length and 3 to 10 millimeters wide, with rough, hair-fringed edges. The fruit is an oblong capsule 8 to 20 millimeters long, developing from flowers with perianth parts 5 to 8 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 2 species; habitat and bract size are key differentiators
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy desert
Elevation: 600-1800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Inyo, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles
Bloom period
Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Zigadenus: Zigadenus is an outdated synonym for Toxicoscordion - they are the same plant.; vs Chlorogalum: Toxicoscordion flowers have distinct glands at petal bases and open during the day, while soaproot flowers lack glands and open in evening.; vs Anticlea: Anticlea is another outdated synonym for Toxicoscordion - they are the same plant.; vs Nothoscordum: Toxicoscordion flowers have visible glands at petal bases and no onion smell, while false garlic lacks glands but smells mildly onion-like.; vs Allium: Crush a leaf - Allium smells strongly of onion, Toxicoscordion has no onion scent and shows glands at flower petal bases.
Frequently asked questions
Is Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum native to California?
Yes. Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum bloom?
Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum grow?
Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum occurs in San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Inyo, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, at elevations of 600-1800 m.
What plant family does Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum belong to?
Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum is in the Melanthiaceae family, genus Toxicoscordion.
What habitat does Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum grow in?
Toxicoscordion brevibracteatum grows in Sandy desert.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.