Amianthium

Amianthium
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Liliales
Family:	Melanthiaceae
Genus:	Amianthium A.Gray
Species:	A. muscitoxicum
Binomial name
Amianthium muscitoxicum (Wakter) A.Gray
Synonyms
Amianthium macrotox Raf. Chrosperma muscitoxicum (Walter) Kuntze Melanthium muscitoxicum Walter Zigadenus muscitoxicus (Walter) Regel

Amianthium is a monotypic genus of perennial plants growing from bulbs. It contains the single species Amianthium muscitoxicum, known in English as fly poison from a literal translation of the Latin muscitoxicum, and is noted for its pretty flowers and its toxic alkaloid content. While all parts of the plant are poisonous, the bulb is particularly toxic. The scientific name was given to it by Thomas Walter when he published his Flora Caroliniana in 1788. The epithet is sometimes spelt "muscaetoxicum".

The bulb was mixed with sugar by American colonists to kill flies.

The toxic alkaloids present in the roots and leaves include jervine and amianthine. Amianthium is self-incompatible and is pollinated mostly by beetles. It is native to eastern North America, as far north as Pennsylvania, west roughly to the Appalachian Mountains (with an additional area in the Ozarks), and south to northern Florida.

Within the family Melanthiaceae, Amianthium is a member of the tribe Melanthieae. Molecular phylogenetic studies in the 21st century have resulted in number of changes to placements within this tribe. A. muscitoxicum has sometimes been placed in the genus Zigadenus (as Z. muscitoxicus); however its position as a separate genus has been confirmed. (See also Phylogeny of Melanthieae.)

Amianthium species which have been placed in other genera include:

• Amianthium angustifolium A.Gray = Stenanthium densum (Desr.) Zomlefer & Judd
• Amianthium aspericaule A.Gray) = Triantha glutinosa (Michx.) Baker
• Amianthium leimanthoides A.Gray) = Stenanthium densum (Desr.) Zomlefer & Judd
• Amianthium nuttallii A.Gray = Toxicoscordion nuttallii (A.Gray) Rydb.
• Amianthium texanum (Bush) R.R.Gates = Stenanthium densum (Desr.) Zomlefer & Judd

References

• NC State University

Illustration of Chrosperma muscitoxicum (a synonym of Amianthium muscitoxicum) from Britton & Brown's An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. (1913)