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Amianthium muscitoxicum - (Walter.)A.Gray.

Common Name Fly Poison
Family Melanthiaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards All parts of the plant are highly toxic, containing the alkaloids jervine and amianthine[200, 270]
Habitats Dry or mesic wooded slopes, meadows and savannas from sea level to1500 metres[270].
Range Southeastern N. America - New York to Florida.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Amianthium muscitoxicum Fly Poison


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Amianthiummuscitoxicum.jpg
Amianthium muscitoxicum Fly Poison

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of bulb
Amianthium muscitoxicum is a BULB growing to 1.2 m (4ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower from May to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Beetles. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Skin

Native Cherokee used the plant as a dermatological cure for itch[270].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

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Other Uses

Insecticide

Root extracts mixed with molasses or honey have been used as a housefly insecticide[270].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a deep rich moisture-retentive soil in partial shade[200]. Plants like plenty of moisture in the spring and summer when they are in full growth[200]. Grows well in a woodland garden[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[134]. The seed can also be sown in a cold frame in spring[134]. It usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c, but it can be erratic[138]. Sow the seed thinly so that it does not need to be thinned and allow the seedlings to grow on undisturbed for their first year. Give an occasional liquid feed to ensure that the plants do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants are dormant in late summer, pot up the small bulbs putting 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another one or two years in a cold frame before planting them out when dormant in late summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba), United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia, New Mexico, Texas), Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Baja California (Norte), Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Colima, Jalisco, México, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Walter.)A.Gray.

Botanical References

200270

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Egle   Sun Jul 27 2008

Hi where in Europe we can buy that flower? Thank you Egle

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