Small-flower death camas

Toxicoscordion micranthum (Eastwood) A. Heller; Zigadenus venenosus S. Watson var. micranthus (Eastwood) Jepson

Plants 1–7 dm, from bulbs; bulbs not clumped, tunicate, ovoid, 10–35 × 8–30 mm. Leaves: proximal blades 12–45 cm × 2–10 mm. Inflorescences usually paniculate with 1–5 branches, occasionally racemose, 10–60-flowered, narrow, terminal raceme often pyramidal in early anthesis, 3–40 × 3–7 cm, proximal branches 2–13 cm, 1/10–1/2 length of entire inflorescence, diverging from main axis at 60°–90° when in fruit. Flowers: perianth hypogynous, campanulate, 5–12 mm diam.; tepals persistent in fruit, cream colored, 3–8 × 1–4 mm, outer sometimes with basal claw to 5 mm, usually with acute apex; gland 1, obovate, distal margins evident, dentate; filaments straight, ± equaling tepals or rarely longer, thickened proximally; pedicel usually perpendicular to stem in flower and in fruit, 12–40 mm, bracts white and membranous to green and foliaceous, narrowly lanceolate, 5–40 mm. Capsules 6–18 × 2–7 mm. 2n = 22.

Flowering Apr--Jul. Serpentine hillsides; 0--1000 m; Calif., Oreg.