Fly Poison
Amianthium muscitoxicum
Family: Melanthiaceae
What it is like
Amianthium muscitoxicum is a BULB growing to 1.2 m (4ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower from May to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Beetles. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 1.2
Where it is found
Dry or mesic wooded slopes, meadows and savannas from sea level to1500 metres.
Southeastern N. America - New York to Florida.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 1
Native Cherokee used the plant as a dermatological cure for itch.
Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.
Other
Rating:
Root extracts mixed with molasses or honey have been used as a housefly insecticide.
Insecticide: Kills insects.
How it is grown
Prefers a deep rich moisture-retentive soil in partial shade. Plants like plenty of moisture in the spring and summer when they are in full growth. Grows well in a woodland garden.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed can also be sown in a cold frame in spring. It usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c, but it can be erratic. Sow the seed thinly so that it does not need to be thinned and allow the seedlings to grow on undisturbed for their first year. Give an occasional liquid feed to ensure that the plants do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants are dormant in late summer, pot up the small bulbs putting 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another one or two years in a cold frame before planting them out when dormant in late summer.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Bulb
Hardiness: 4-8
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
All parts of the plant are highly toxic, containing the alkaloids jervine and amianthine