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
March 25
| April 2
| April 15
April 20
| April 20
| April 23
May 1
| May 8
| May 15
May 24
| June 11
| July 2
July 17
| July 23
