Taxon Report

Toxicoscordion fontanum (Eastw.) Zomlefer & Judd

marsh zigadenus

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Toxicoscordion fontanum, commonly known as marsh zigadenus, is a perennial bulbiferous herb in the Melanthiaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Lower montane coniferous forest, Marshes and swamps, and Meadows and seeps, growing at elevations from 15 to 1000 meters. Toxicoscordion fontanum is ranked 4.2, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Toxicoscordion fontanum (Eastw.) Zomlefer & Judd
Common Name:	marsh zigadenus
Family:	Melanthiaceae
Element Code:	PMLIL28050
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:	Zigadenus micranthus var. fontanus

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial bulbiferous herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jul	Apr-Jul
Elevation:	15-1000 (50-3280)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Lower montane coniferous forest, Marshes and swamps, Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:	Serpentine (often), Vernally Mesic
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.2
Global Rank:	G3
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_UCSC
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	0
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	0

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Colusa (COL), Lake (LAK), Marin (MRN), Monterey (MNT), Napa (NAP), San Benito (SBT), Santa Cruz (SCR)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Aetna Springs (3812264), Alder Peak (3512183), Bolinas (3712286), Burro Mountain (3512173), Clearlake Highlands (3812286), Felton (3712211), Hepsedam Peak (3612037), Jericho Valley (3812274), Jolon (3512182), Knoxville (3812273), Leesville (3912224), San Rafael (3712285), St. Helena (3812254), Walter Springs (3812263)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	0 %

Notes



See Leaflets of Western Botany 2:41 (1937) for original description, and Phytologia 73(4):307-311 (1992) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 31 January 2025].