Fly Poison
Amianthium muscaetoxicum

Picture Taken May 26, 2000

This member of the lily family bears a terminal cluster of white flowers from May to July. Each flower has three petals and three sepals which persist after germination and turn green. The leaves are mostly basal and have distinct V-shaped ribs. The roots and leaves of this plant contain a toxic alkaloid which can kill livestock. Supposedly, the crushed bulb of this plant mixed with sugar has been used to kill flies. It grows throughout North Carolina.
Lily Family
Liliaceae

Plant Name Index  |  Pictorial Index
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April 23  |  May 2  |  May 7
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June 11  |  July 7  |  July 26
August 21