Flowers are borne on pedicels about a half inch long. Fruits are three quarters of an inch long, three-lobed capsules containing a few seeds. Look for narrowleaved death camas from late May to July in dry, moderately grazed pastures. Alkaloids found in Zigadenus are notorious for poisoning of sheep and occasionally cattle and horses. However, plants are usually distasteful to well-fed livestock and must be consumed in quantity before trouble begins.
Conditions where poisoning occurred usually are the result of poor livestock or range management.
Cases of human poisoning from ingestion of bulbs have been reported. There are about 3,800 species and 310 genera in this family, which includes the edible onion, garlic, and asparagus, as well as the poisonous hellebore and autumn crocus. Camas, also spelled quamash, is the Amerindian name for similar, blue-flowered western plants that bear bulbs relished for food. There are about 18 species of Zigadenus in North America and Asia.