Death-camas

Death-camas, or plants of the genus Zigadenus, are a stunningly beautiful, deadly, and widely distributed group of plants. They were well known by Native Americans and settlers, but now they bloom silently on the hill that overlooks the paved and densely inhabited Mission district of San Francisco. 

One of the coolest things about this city for nature-lovers as myself is that many of the highest vistas of the City have been preserved as parks. And of those parks, a few have been preserved with the authentic plants, minerals, and soil that nature placed there over the millenia preceding European settlement. The City's wildlife has been removed or altered, either intentionally (probably, as in the case of grizzly bear and puma), or unintentionally (as in the tragic case of the Xerces blue butterfly, the last known individual of which was collected by a scientist wishing to assist the species, I've heard; this species also has the distinction of being the first extinction caused by development). 

Death-camas -- in some cases, even when it flowers -- looks very much like camas -- an edible species of a different genus Camassia. Another kicker is that they often grow together. Camas is (or once was) also a plant that enjoyed a widespread range in North America, making it a staple in the native diet. They say it tastes like a sweet potato.

Fremont's death-camas, Bernal Hill, March 2012.

 

The photo here was taken on Bernal Hill. A small population of Fremont's death-camas (Toxicoscordion fremontii) lies on the north-facing slope of the hill, which lines up directly with the street on which I live, South Van Ness Avenue. I was delighted to find it one day upon walking the hill in an area where I'd seen other natives in bloom in spring before. I returned as soon as I could in the following days, early enough for dew, with a tripod and fresh roll of film and did some shooting.