Nothoscordum bivalve

Crowpoison - Nothoscordum bivalve'''

Habitat This flower blooms in early spring, appearing on lawns, in meadows, or on roadsides before many other spring flowers. The plant will sometimes bloom again in the fall.

Range Its range is within Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Louisiana.

Description Other names include False Garlic and Crow poison. Leaves are quite narrow, but often quite long, from 1/8 inch wide and 4-15 inches long, and stay at the base of the plant. It grows from a bulb similar to wild onion but lacks the smell and has fewer and larger flowers. There are 6 tepals and 6 stamens on the white flower, with each individual being about 1/2 inch across, growing in loose clusters on stalks 8-16 inches tall.

Ecological Notes This plant requires sun. It is not known whether or not Crowpoison is toxic, but based on the name it is recommended that one not try and consume it. It spreads by seed, collected in May and June.

Personal Information I saw this plant near the visitor center for Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head, North Carolina.

References https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=nobi2 The is where the information about the plant was found.

Journal Articles I could not find any recent journal articles concerning Nothoscordum bivalve.

Contributed by Jonathan Ahrens - 2018

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