The Sego Lily and the Death Camass

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In addition, keep in mind that a wild onion smells like an onion, and a death camass does not. (It's important, though, when checking for the onion odor, to be sure you're not simply smelling the scent of previously picked plants on your hands.) Remember, too, that wild onion and sego lily bulbs are generally smaller than death camass bulbs. Unfortunately, even the foregoing tips won't help you distinguish between the edible blue camass (Camassia quamash) and the death camass, so collect blue camass only when the fully identified flowering plant is still attached to the bulb.

Should you or someone with you ever make the mistake of eating Zigadenus, the symptoms will be a slowed heartbeat, stomach and abdominal pains, and vomiting. Give the victim fluids and induce vomiting if it doesn't occur spontaneously. In either case, administer fluids to help flush the stomach. Then the patient should be hospitalized as soon as possible . . . so that his or her potassium levels and heart function can be monitored.

If you're always careful to check the rings, the smell, and (for blue camass) the color of the flower, accidental poisoning should never occur. Once the proper precautions are taken, you'll have no reason (except where there's a scarcity of this tasty plant) to fear or forgo the epicurean delight of a sego lily dish.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Larry Wells has taught Stone Age living skills and primitive survival since 1970, and is currently field director and chief instructor at the School of Urban and Wilderness Survival, Idaho Section. He's also coauthor of You Can Stay Alive, a concise how-to book on wilderness living and emergency survival, which can be obtained by sending $5.95 to Larry Wells, Dept. TMEN, P. O. Box 431, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402.

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