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Anticlea mogollonensis
(Mogollon death camas)
[taxon report][distribution map][photos][line drawing]
Family: Liliaceae
Scientific Name: Anticlea mogollonensis (Hess & Sivinski) Zomlefer & Judd
Synonyms: Zigadenus mogollonensis Hess & Sivinski
Vernacular Name: Mogollon death camas
R-E-D Code: 2-1-3
Description: Perennial, to 8.5 dm tall from slender ovoid bulbs; basal leaves linear, to 35 cm long; stem leaves fewer and smaller; flowering stem, one per bulb; inflorescence sparsely branched or a single raceme with small leaf-like bracts below each flower that equal or exceed the length of the subtended pedicel; pedicels stout, curved downward when flowering then curved upward in fruit; flowers bell-shaped and nodding; tepals 12-16 mm long, reddish-purple along the margins and blending to yellowish-green at the middle, a greenish-yellow bilobed gland is evident at the interior base of each tepal; ovary partially inferior; capsules erect, 12-15 mm long. Flowers late July to early September.
Similar Species: Anticlea virescens also has nodding flowers but is distinguished by its small white to pale green tepals only 4-8 mm long and shorter bracts (usually less than the length of the pedicel). Anticlea elegans has erect flowering pedicels and broadly spreading flowers (nearly rotate) with white tepals less than 10 mm long.
Distribution: New Mexico, Catron County, Mogollon Mountains.
Habitat: Organic soils in understory of upper montane and subalpine coniferous forest, often with aspen; 2,650-3,200 m (8,700-10,500 ft).
Remarks: A very narrow endemic, known only from the Mogollon Mountains in the area of White Water Baldy and adjacent peaks. Most of its range is within the northwest corner of the Gila Wilderness where it is a common and often abundant forest understory species. Some death camus species are reported to be poisonous, but free-ranging livestock do not intentionally eat them. This is the most beautiful species in the genus and worthy of cultivation.
Conservation Considerations: Most of this species' range is inside the Gila Wilderness where it is protected from logging operations. It is not threatened by current forest uses, but forest fire effects on this plant need study.
Important Literature (*Illustration):
*Hess, W.J. and R.C. Sivinski. 1995. A new species of Zigadenus from New Mexico, with additional comments on the Section Anticlea. Sida 16(3):389-400.
Zomlefer, W.B. and W.S. Judd. 2002. Resurrection of segregates of the polyphyletic genus Zigadenus s.l. (Liliales: Melanthiaceae) and resulting new combinations. Novon: A Journal for Botanical Nomenclature from the Missouri Botanical Garden 12:299-308.
Information Compiled By: Robert Sivinski, 1999; last updated, 2002
Agency Status:
